Best Belt Sander for Knife Making - Guide and Reviews
In the world of knife making, there are many tools that you can have at your disposal to make the job easier. However, one piece of equipment that is becoming much more desirable in this field is the belt sander. This powerful device makes grinding and sharpening knives much easier, provided that you know what you’re doing. If you are a novice at the craft, then a belt sander may be too advanced for you. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get better at it, so you might want to start with a cheaper model and improve your skills as you go.
So, with that in mind, we are going to take a look at some of the best belt sanders for knife making, as well as go over the ins and outs of making sure that you use the machine to your advantage.
5 Best Belt Sander for Knife Making
Picture | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Kalamazoo 1SM | |
 | Grizzly H6070 Belt | |
 | ||
 | ||
 | Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt |
Top 5 Best Belt Sander for Knife Making Reviews
1. Kalamazoo 1SM 1" Belt Sander, 32 lbs, 1725 RPM, 1/3 HP Motor, 1" x 42" Belt, 4" Contact Wheel
Editor Rating:
As far as sanders go, Kalamazoo is one of the more well-respected brands out there. However, most of the company’s sanders are built for wood, so this isn’t technically made for knife sharpening or creation. Nonetheless, the power and features of this product are decent enough that you can alter it to fit your needs, which is why it’s on this list.
As for power, this sander is on the lower end with an rpm speed of 1725. This means that it can be great for sharpening but grinding and shaping will take a bit longer overall. The size of the belt is perfect for novice or experienced users, as having a 1” x 42” belt is great for most knives.
The only major downside is the contact plate, which is both small and limited in how much it can tilt.Sharpening can be difficult as a result, but you can modify it to fit your needs relatively easily, provided that you know what you’re doing.
PROS
- Powerful ⅓ horsepower motor
- Operates at 1725 rpm
- Uses 1” x 42” belts
- Four-inch contact wheel
- Weighs thirty-two pounds
- Little vibration when operating
- Easy to change belts
- Contact plate angles up to 45 degrees
- One-year limited warranty
CONS
- Contact plate is too close to the motor
- Layout can be a bit awkward for some users
2. Grizzly H6070 Belt and 5-Inch Disc Sander, 1 x 30-Inch
Editor Rating:
If you want to get more bang for your buck, then this two-in-one belt and disc sander from Grizzly can be a great buy. Having both sanding options means that you can do a lot more with this machine, both in knife creation as well as woodworking or buffing.
Although the belt on this unit is a bit small, it can get the job done, and the size of the contact plate means that you can work with all kinds of knives.
Best of all, it operates at 3,450 rpm, making it one of the faster belts you can use. Overall, this is an excellent model for new and semi-experienced knife makers.
PROS
- Powerful ⅓ horsepower motor
- Operates at 3,450 rpm
- Two-in-one unit
- Belt sander and grinder
- Contact plates tilt up to 45 degrees
- Uses 1” x 30” belts
- Five-inch disc sander
- Two dust ports to reduce mess
- Weighs twenty pounds
- One-year limited warranty
CONS
- Assembly can be tricky
- Can be very loud
- Tables have rough surfaces which can make sliding difficult
3. Generic Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander 3400 RPM
Editor Rating:
If you’re just starting out and want an inexpensive model on which to practice your skills, this mini belt sander is just the ticket. The size and price are ideal for anyone who wants to see how well they can work with such a machine before they graduate to a more industrial-strength unit.
Overall, we recommend using this sander for sharpening and light shaping, but don’t expect to create knives from scratch with this machine.
Although it operates at 3400 rpm and has a decent contact plate, the size and durability of the sander are not enough to make it worthwhile for long-term knife making.
PROS
- Powerful ⅓ horsepower motor
- Operates at 3400 rpm
- Contact plate tilts up to 45 degrees
- Uses 1” x 30” belts
- Quick change setup
- Dust collection system included
CONS
- Some components are not as durable as others
- Can be difficult to assemble
4. JET J-4002 1-Inch by 42-Inch Bench Belt and Disc Sander
Editor Rating:
Next, we have another two-in-one model, but this one is far more industrious than the other one we’ve seen. The J-4002 from Jet is built to be a powerhouse of a machine, meaning that you can do a lot with this sander. Having both a belt and disc sander means that you can work with metal, wood, or plastic and get perfect results every time.
The size of the belt is decent, although a bit small for hardcore knife makers.
Also, the speed of the belt is a little lower than we would like, operating at 3000 rpm instead of 3400 or more. Nonetheless, the durability and reliability of this machine make it more than worthwhile.
PROS
- Two-in-one unit
- Belt sander and disc sander
- Powerful ⅓ horsepower motor
- Operates at 3000 rpm
- Uses 1” x 42” belts
- Heavy duty construction
- Contact plates tilt up to 45 degrees
- Four-inch disc sander
- Weighs sixty-two pounds
- Two-year limited warranty
CONS
- Assembly can be tricky
- Heavier than other models
- Some components are not as durable as others
5. Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander/Buffer
Editor Rating:
Our final stop is with a sander that is made for knife creation. The size and power of this unit are enough to be industrial grade, meaning that if you’re serious about making knives, this could be the best option for you. The size of the belt is perfect, measuring 2” x 74 or 76”, and having a one horsepower motor means you can power through your work in no time.
The only major flaw that we see with this sander is the size of the contact plate, but you can easily attach a larger piece to it to make it a better system overall.
Also, it comes with an auxiliary arbor that you can use as a buffer to make your knives shine.
PROS
- Powerful one horsepower motor
- Belt operates at 3600 rpm
- Uses 2” x 74” belts
- Auxiliary arbor works with buffers or sanding drums
- Runs at 1,725 rpm
- Cast iron body for stability
- All ball bearing construction
- Quick release mechanism for belt changes
- Weighs sixty pounds
- Contact plate tilts up to 45 degrees
- Low noise operation
- Belts last longer due to length
CONS
- More expensive than other similar models
- Contact plate is rather small
After looking through these different sanders, our top pick has to be the Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander as it has the ideal specifications for making your blades. However, its features and powerful motor are best used for those who have a lot of skills, so if you’re still mastering your technique, then we would recommend the Jet J-4002 model instead. Both of these sanders are well built and provide the performance you need to create awesome knives every time.
After looking through these different sanders, our top pick has to be the Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander as it has the ideal specifications for making your blades. However, its features and powerful motor are best used for those who have a lot of skills, so if you’re still mastering your technique, then we would recommend the Jet J-4002 model instead. Both of these sanders are well built and provide the performance you need to create awesome knives every time.
Why Belt Sanders for Making Knives?
There is a distinct advantage to using this kind of sander to make a knife, and the reason is that you are creating a convex edge rather than a concave one. Traditional knife-making techniques shave away the metal to create a sharp edge, but that means that you are reducing the overall integrity of the knife. Also, having a concave blade will also cause the edge to get duller faster.
Thus, having a belt sander means that you are not going through as much metal as you normally would, and you can create an edge that will retain its sharpness for much longer. Overall, this is an ideal situation for making knives, which is why belt sanders are becoming so popular.
How to Choose a Belt Sander for Knife Making
So we understand why you want a belt sander, but how do you know which one will be best for your needs? Well, here are the most important factors you should be paying attention to when picking out the right sander for your knives.
Size
When talking about size, we are referring to two things. First, the size of the sander itself can be important as you need to make sure that you have enough space for it and it won’t be too heavy for you to install. Belt sanders can be small or large and weigh as little as twenty pounds or as much as seventy, so make sure that you know what space limitations you have before picking out a model.
The second thing to consider is the size of the belt. Most of these sanders use belts that are an inch wide and either thirty or forty-two inches long, but the best size for making knives is actually two inches by seventy-four inches. The reason that a larger belt is ideal is that you can get better grinding and sharpening while shaping the knife, and the belt lasts longer because there is more surface area, thus reducing the amount of wear and tear that it gets overall.
Motor
For most belt sanders, the motor will tell you how much power is behind the belt as well as how fast it can potentially spin. Smaller units will have a ⅓ horsepower motor, but you can get a full-size model that has a full horsepower running it. The bigger the motor, the more versatile the machine is and the easier it can be to shape and grind your knives. However, don’t assume that a larger motor means that the whole thing is better, as size and speed are also crucial, as well as the contact point.
Contact Point
When making your knives, it’s imperative that you have a sufficient plate on which to work so that you can make all of your adjustments without having the knife hanging off the side. Some belt sanders have a wide platen while others have a small one, meaning that you may need to adjust it manually to ensure you have enough room. Changing the plate simply means attaching a larger one on top, so you may have to either weld one on or affix it some other way.
Another necessary function of the plate is that it has to be able to tilt at forty-five degrees or more. This will be important when it comes to sharpening the knife; otherwise, you won’t be able to do that with the sander, which is kind of a waste of time.
Speed
Finally, the speed of the belt is crucial to ensure that you can work efficiently. If the belt moves too slowly then you will take a lot longer to complete each piece, so don’t buy one that has two few rpms. The bare minimum that you need is 1725, but we highly recommend getting a unit that operates at 3000 or higher, as that will make grinding and shaping much easier to do overall.
Tips for Using a Belt Sander
If you’re just starting out with using a belt sander to make your knives, then you will want to follow this advice to ensure that you don’t injure yourself or ruin your material as you work.
Wear Heat-Resistant Gloves
The blade will get scalding after a few minutes, so don’t risk burning your fingers and wear gloves. If you don’t have them, then place some tape over your fingers before you start working.
Keep Water Handy
As the blade heats up, you will have to cool it off repeatedly to avoid damaging it or the sander. If the knife gets too hot, it could burn the belt and cause it to snap, which could result in injury. Have a water bucket next to you at all times to cool the blade regularly.
Use Your Body
You may think that it’s best to use your hands and fingers to shape the edge, but that can lead to imperfect lines or the potential for accidents. Instead, get a solid grip and use your body to maneuver while keeping your elbows tight. This will ensure that you have proper control at all times.
Use Both Hands
To make sure that you’re shaping and sharpening evenly on both sides you will have to switch the knife around on the plate. This means that you have to practice working with both hands. Hone your skills so that you can do this with your less dominant side and still create perfect lines.
About the Author Darrell Webster
I believe there is a handyman in all of us as long as you have the right tools. I started this blog to help anyone who is interested in fixing things to learn their way around the different tools and to know how to perform different DIY tasks. I have been doing this for years and believe I am a master of this art.