Anyone using a leather honing belt with the strip sander?

[ibskot]

If so, which one? I was hoping SS sold one but they don't, nor do they recommend one in particular.

Thank you

[nuhobby]

I have come close to buying one but didn't spring for it yet. I forgot who the supplier is, but a 1" x 42" leather belt does exist, possibly even on e#ay auctions. It may be specified in one of the Nick Engler videos as well.

If I had 2 strip-sanders (may happen one day!), I would more readily go for a leather belt. But right now I was thinking I'd be switching belts a little too often.

I do have a flat-surface leather belt with a couple of types of stropping compound, and I love how it enhances my bench-plane irons.

Chris

[rpd]

I bought one from Lee Valley, http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.a ... 3072,48040, but have not used it yet.
So far I have been using a piece of leather glued to scrap of 2x4 for honing.

[benush26]

Sorry I don't own the strip sander, however, a friend has one and had a local shoe repair shop make him a leather honing belt. He took in one of the sanding belts for the man to use as a reference. No clue about the price but it was years ago so that number would probably not be relevant. I do remember that the ends were beveled where they attached and the leather was thick enough that there was only stitching on the back side, I am pretty sure it was also glued at the seam. The original plan was to glue a thinner piece of leather to an existing sending belt was was changed to the leather only.
Not certain any of this helps, but it may be an alternative.

Be well,
Ben

[ibskot]

RPD, that LV one iside the one I was looking at especially with the current free shipping.

THanks for all the replies

[ibskot]

RPD, that LV one iside the one I was looking at especially with the current free shipping.

THanks for all the replies

[BuckeyeDennis]

I bought a leather belt for my 1x30 belt sander, but haven't had a chance to really try it out.

Amazon has a 1x42 leather belt listed for for $26. But there appears to be a typo in the listing, as it says "for 1x30 belt sanders". The two reviews are somewhat mixed.

So I Googled the actual seller, Pro Sharpening Supplies. They have the same typo, but it does appear to be a 42" belt. It costs $27 direct, with a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

When researching my own belt, I read that you should not leave these tensioned on the sander, lest they stretch too much to be useable.

[moose]

I have been using a belt for over 5 years now, yes the same belt. I purchased it at a woodworking supply store in NC. The brand name is Surgi-Sharp and manufactured by Wheatland Construction Company out of Oklahoma. The Surgisharp web site is http://www.surgisharp.com. It came with everything you need to know about using it. I am not endorsing this belt. It just happened to be the belt I came up on while shopping and I wanted one. Since my purchase, I have seen them in at least a dozen online and physical stores so you won't have trouble locating one.

As for the quality, I have no way of comparing mine with that of another manufacturer. I guess one could talk to the cow who wore it but I would think one cow butt would be about as good as another.

The belt can be used on both sides. One side is rough, the other is smooth. It will last a long time as long as you remove the tension or remove it from the sander when not in use. It will stretch over time if you don't.

There is a slight learning curve when first starting out and it is easy to roll over your precise edge if not careful. One thing for sure, it will put on an edge like no other and as JPG would say...JMHO of course. Thing I can't figure out is just when did his opinions ever become humble.

Moose

[ERLover]

@ Moose > "as JPG would say...JMHO of course. Thing I can't figure out is just when did his opinions ever become humble." ILMAO

[reible]

I've had and used the Lee Valley one, it is very thin material and you need to condition it before getting good results.

They do wear out and currently I don't have one, I'd like to find a thicker version like I use to have for my 1x30 unit but haven't really looked. Its on the list but hasn't got to the top yet.

The lee Valley one is I don't think even a 1/16" thick and the other version I use to have in the 1 x 30 sized was at least 1/8" thick but I don't recall where I got it and it was years and years ago at that.

There are some post here about the leather belts, I try and did them up later unless someone else does first.

Ed