Belts

[grepper]

Mark, or anyone else who goes through a lot of belts for that matter, I need to order some lower grit belts.  220 – 320 grits.  I know you have gone through more belts than I probably ever will, and I wonder what your personal choice would be.  AO, Trizact, Norax, Gator, etc.
 
Basic AO’s are cheap, but I don’t like how they aren’t very consistent through their wear cycle.
 
I know it’s an arguable question at best, but I’m curious about your personal  opinion and experience.

[wadebevan]

Good post grepper, I have the same questions.
For my first set, I just went with what I could find on Amazon, but, I am sure I will want better soon.

[Mark Reich]

What size machine do you have, Grepper?

Wade, you said 2x72, right?

[grepper]

1x42 Kally.

[Mark Reich]

1x42 Kally.

I don't know of anything like structured ceramic except for Trizacts, of which I'm no fan. Lots of people like them, but they're the only belt that builds heat at low speed, the backing is too flexible IMO, and it's hard to gauge wear. I think they're pretty expensive too.

From Klingspoor, the zirconia belts for coarser grit (but for me that's 50 grit up to 120 grit) and up. I like their yellow J weight for flexible belts. 

Deerfos belts work very well, but they have quirks. The cushioned backing developes static, so when I get a shock I just leave it running while I give the backside of the belt a few squirts of soapy water. 

To be honest, you generally get what you pay for, and I go by price as much as anything. I probably have 10 kinds of belts, but no cheap ones, and I'm never disappointed.

[wadebevan]

Mark,
Yes, 2"x72" Kally, and as of today, a 2hp variable speed DC drive... foot controller next week.
TW.

[Mark Reich]

For coarse grits of 36- 120 grit, 3m Cubitron IIs are amazing. They are bidirectional and water proof. They practically refuse to wear out. Norton's Blaze belts are also very good in all grits.

Norton's ceramic Norax belts are great for medium grits. Also bidirectional and water proof.

The structured ceramic of 3m's Gators and Trizacts are great, as are Deerfos mylar belts for finishing.

Most belts take some getting used to. You learn things like Gators hate water, and you have to be very gentle with Deerfos belts on the platen.

Cork belts, for use with greaseless abrasive, are also great finish belts. They are very expensive, but they last forever, as you apply fresh abrasive to suit.

As always, you pretty much get what you pay for, but you have to learn the quirks of the different belts.

[Rupert Lucius]

As Mark wrote "as always, you pretty much get what you pay for, but you have to learn the quirks of the different belts" is so true.

To tell a sharpener what belts to sharpen with - would be like trying to pick a girlfriend, live in, wife and or mistress for a friend.

My opinion impossible.

Mark, says it all in post # 7 about belts. Thanks for the post.

Rupert