Don - I have the book you mention. I will go back and read the section you suggest. I don't recall any mention of the use of 36 grit belts, the author used 60 grit to profile the knife.

I take it that profiling means to grind out the outline of the knife as opposed to the bevels. I have an 8 inch contact wheel and I find that after profiling, there is a slight angle to the edge and is not exactly 90 degrees (square). That is why I was wondering if the platen was used.

What I meant by my original question "What belts should a beginner start out with?" was this - If I was to order, say a dozen belts or so, which ones should I order to start with. Do you use more 60 grits than say 400 grits?