1x30 belt choices

Joined
Nov 2, 2016
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So I've been using just cheap belts from harbor freight and I'm looking to up my belt game. I'm not looking to break my bank but i am looking to get a belt that doesn't come flying off the wheel at me after 2 or 3 knives. Any suggestions on good, affordable belts? Also I've been using 40 grit belts, then 120 grit, then hand finishing starting at 100 grit and going to 2500 and while this produces good results it sure is soul devouring. Would it be worth the extra money in higher grit belts for the 1x30? it seems that the higher grit belts i've had tend to wear out quicker and by 1 knife im done and need to replace it.
 
The problem with the HF 1x30 and the grits higher than 120 is the belt speed and the heat generated by the higher grits.
I tried "better" belts, used 2 of them and gave up on the higher grits (still have a half-dozen brand new 400 grits for it).
Then again, maybe it's just me and my technique.
 
TrueGrit has a nice selection of 1x30's. Before I built my 2x72, I was using the Norton Blaze plus ceramic R980P 60 grit & 120 grit belts, ceramic R984P 220 grit, and finish with the 3m Trizact 400 grit belts. Check 'em out at TrueGrit Inc.

Really does make a HUGE difference over the cheap belts. Even being a 1x30, you will quickly find you are capable of much more work. Ceramic belts make all the difference!
 
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I have a Grizzly 1x30 really similar to the HF 1x30. It's basically limited by the size and speed of the 1 inch belt and the lack of heat dissipation of the tiny platen. Post-HT, I use a water sprayer to spray the platen after every pass, and I dip the blade every pass as well. It takes quite a while.

The HF belts are total garbage for grinding metal, bought once, never again... I think making 1x30 loops out of duct tape with the sticky side out and sprinkling sand on them would work better than the HF belts. o_O
 
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