2" x 72" Surface Conditioning Belts (Non-Woven)

A satin finish on a blade or a handle bolster is a blending job, not a grinding job, and that is what a non-woven belt does. These 2" x 72" surface conditioning belts are nylon web loaded with aluminum oxide grain on a reinforced scrim backing, so they hold tension on a 2 x 72 knife grinder without stretching, run cool, and take out the scratch left by a 120–220 grit coated belt without changing your bevel geometry.

We offer them in four grades, Coarse, Medium, Very Fine and Ultra Fine, sold one belt at a time or as a 4-pack with one of each color. They are bought mostly by knife makers and fabricators who want a repeatable brushed finish on stainless, carbon steel, titanium and aluminum, and they can be run wet or dry.

• Standard 2 x 72 length for Bader, KMG, Reeder, AmeriBrade, Burr King and Grizzly belt grinders
• Reinforced scrim backing resists stretch under grinder tension and can be shaped for edge work
• Four grades from a 40–60 grit scratch to a 320–400 grit pre-polish
• Open web runs cool and resists loading, protecting the temper on thin edges
• Waterproof web: use it dry or with water or a light lubricant
• Buy single belts or the 4-pack with one of each grade; free shipping over $200

Which grade should you put on the grinder?

Non-woven grades are named by the scratch pattern they leave, not by a grit on the belt. The industry color code is printed on every belt.

• Coarse (40–60 grit scratch), brown: heavy blending of grind lines, stripping mill scale and rust, first pass on forge scale. It removes more than you expect, so use a light hand on thin blades.
• Medium (80–120 grit scratch), maroon: the working grade for most shops. It blends the flats after a 120 grit ceramic or zirconia belt and leaves a matte, even scratch that hides small defects.
• Very Fine (180–240 grit scratch), blue: the grade for a directional #4-style brushed finish on stainless and the usual final pass on a working knife.
• Ultra Fine (320–400 grit scratch), grey: a soft satin pre-polish for handle hardware, guards and show blades. We are one of the few converters offering this grade in 2 x 72; follow it with a cork or buffing wheel for mirror.
• 4 Pack (1 each color): one belt of every grade. Buy this first if you have not used non-woven before; most makers settle on Medium and Very Fine as their repeat purchase.

A single grade is enough when the previous coated belt is the right grit. If you are jumping from a coarse ceramic belt straight to non-woven, expect to need two grades.

Grade guide for knife and metal finishing on a 2 x 72

Run them in sequence as you would coated grits: the Medium belt will not remove a 60 grit scratch, and the Ultra Fine belt will not remove a 120 grit scratch.

Which 2 x 72 grinders do these belts fit?

• Beaumont Metal Works KMG and Stephen Bader BIII
• Reeder Products and AmeriBrade 2 x 72 grinders
• Burr King 960-272
• Grizzly G1015 knife belt grinder
• Brodbeck and other 2 x 72 knife grinders: any machine that tracks a standard 2" x 72" coated belt takes these

Fitment notes: the belt is a true 2" x 72" and mounts like any coated belt, with tracking adjusted the same way. Non-woven belts are thicker than cloth belts, so back off tension slightly if your tensioner is set for a thin belt; the scrim backing keeps them from stretching once set. There is no direction arrow on the web; run them either way. On a variable-speed grinder, slow down. If your grinder is single speed, use lighter pressure and shorter passes.

How to get the most out of them

1. Finish your coated progression first. Get the blade to an even 120 grit (for Medium) or 220 grit (for Very Fine) with ceramic, zirconia or aluminum oxide belts. Non-woven refines a scratch; it does not remove a deep one.
2. Drop the speed and the pressure. Run the grinder at the low end of its range and let the web contact the steel with the weight of the blade. Leaning on it compresses the web, glazes the grain and tears fibers.
3. Work on the platen or a slack section deliberately. The platen gives a straight, consistent scratch for flats and #4-style finishes; the slack belt or a contact wheel wraps handles, finger grooves and spine chamfers.
4. Move in one direction only. Pull the blade across the belt tip to plunge in one continuous pass and lift. Every pass in the same line gives a clean brushed grain; crossing passes looks like swirl marks.
5. Run wet on titanium and aluminum. The web is waterproof. A water mist or a light cutting lubricant keeps aluminum from smearing into the web and keeps titanium from discoloring.
6. Clean and store like a coated belt. Blow out the web with compressed air, hang the belt, keep it out of sunlight. Loaded webs can be refreshed with a belt eraser at low pressure.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Satin and brushed finishes on stainless, carbon steel and Damascus blades before etching
• Blending grind lines and plunge transitions after coated belts
• Deburring edges and slots on guards, liners and folder parts without changing dimensions
• Removing forge scale, mill scale, light rust and heat tint
• Cleaning and prepping stainless, aluminum and titanium fittings before polishing or anodizing
• Uniform finishes on fiberglass, plastics and non-ferrous alloys

Don't use it for

• Setting or shaping bevels; the web removes almost no stock
• Removing a 36–80 grit scratch in one step
• A mirror finish; go to cork belts, then buffing wheels and compound
• Heavy pressure on a small-diameter contact wheel; it tears the web

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All surface conditioning belts, discs and flap discs
• Knife-making belts, cork belts and buffs
• 2" x 72" Surface Conditioning Belt Kit
• 2" x 72" coated sanding belts for steel, stainless and aluminum
• 2" x 72" Cork Sanding Belts for pre-polish