Advice needed on 6x48 belt sander.

[R.C.Reichert]

I have a 6x48 belt sander that I use to make knives, but I would like to know how I could get the most life out of my belts. I usually just get the regular red aluminum oxide belts from the hardware store, but they only seem to last through a couple grindings till they get really dull and stop cutting. Is it worthwhile getting the more expensive blue Zirconia diamond belts (costing around $22 per belt), or should I just get a different machine to grind altogether? I want to make some large bowie knives so I need to hog off a lot of steel. How about the 2x48 Hurricane grinder (see link) from Trick Tools? Seeing as the belt moves so much faster, would it grind more efficiently? Would I get more life out of the belts? For that price range (which I like), are these good grinding machines? Would really appreciate your opinions, thanks.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.vansantent.com/images/Multitool/MT482-075.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.vansantent.com/multitool_hurricane.htm&usg=__JVw_TGpXhiHt8wBUmsBe0mggPZk=&h=122&w=200&sz=11&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=6CWA4KrKkdZS2M:&tbnh=63&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhurricane%2B2x48%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

The 2x72 grinders that I've seen available in Canada so far are more $$ than I'd like to spend at the moment.

 

[SBuzek]

I think before buying one of those you should consider building a NWG for maybe a hundred bucks more you would have much more grinder.
Stan

 

[AcridSaint]

If you order belts it will be far less than $22 each. I would go with a 2x72 though.