kd5jbk Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Ok all here is a question for ya. I just got started making knives and was wondering what the difference in belts are. I was given a well used (abused) 1x30 grinder and was out pricing 80 grit belts. Harbour freight sells a 5 pack for 2.99 but some other belts I see can go for $3 each. Do the more expensive belts last longer? It generally takes 1 belt per knife for the cheapies. for me. (5/32 O1 is my current steel choice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 i have a 4 x 36grinder..so i don't know about 1 x 30,sorry, but i do turn the belts around after a while and it seams to last longer, you may get a "better" belt or 2 and try them, bol jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me miller Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Best place is probably tru grit for the belts you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Yes the more expensive belts last longer. Also, if you talk to any of the "guru's", they're gonna tell you to use belts as if they are free. Ei. in other words new belts (good quality) work so much better, cleaner, faster, etc. that it's not worth the heartache to try to stretch the life of a belt. Myself, I rotate what the belt gets used for with each few uses. Once I've done the main grind on a blade with my coarse belt, it get's relegated to general purpose grinding. I can't always keep to this schedule, but there's is a significant enough difference between low quality and high quality (and expense), and whether a belt it new or used... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 When I worked at the Jelly Belly Candy Co. as a mechanic we started using 3M Blue Grit discs, and belts. They were not cheap, but they lasted noticeably longer than the standard brown aluminum oxide belts. Get some cheapie belts, and use them. Get some better belts, and use them. Get some expensive belts, and use them too. Keep track of what type of grinding that you did with them , and compare how well each does. Compare use vs cost vs performance to determine which is best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob sutton Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 go to " texas knifemaker supply " for info on different belts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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