Reach for ceramic when you still have steel to move. Reach for aluminum oxide when the shape is close and you want a controlled pass on a flat or a flexible belt on a handle. Start with the job in front of you and the scratches already on the piece.
Use ceramic for profiling and grinding bevels
If your blank needs substantial profiling, start with 36 grit ceramic. If it’s already close to shape, try 60. Use 80 as a bridge when 120 takes too long to clear the 60-grit scratches. The Ceramic Trial Kit contains two belts each in 36, 60 and 120 grit. Our ceramic six-packs include an 80-grit option when you want that extra step.
Use aluminum oxide when the grind needs refinement
Once the bevel is established and the scratch pattern is even, try 180 or 220 grit on a supported platen with X-weight aluminum oxide belts. For a curved handle, J-Flex aluminum oxide belts give you a more flexible backing. The grit tells you how fine the abrasive is. The backing tells you how the belt will sit against the work. Choose both for the pass you’re about to make.
What if both belts come in the same grit?
Havoc offers both ceramic and X-weight aluminum oxide in 120 grit. If you’re still cleaning up the grind on steel, 120 ceramic is a reasonable first choice. If you’re doing lighter cleanup and prefer the feel of the X-weight belt, try 120 aluminum oxide. Compare the scratch pattern under angled light before you move finer.
You can build the entire sequence from the 2x72 grit progression guide. If you’re stopping at satin, the satin finish guide covers the switch from coated abrasive to nonwoven conditioning.