Comparison Between Belts?

W

Will Leavitt

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
3,953
Has anyone used the blue zirc belts from Pop's? How do they compare to 3M 967s? I currently use the 3Ms to clean scale, flat grind and do general clean up. Just curious before my next belt order.
 
For the money the Blue Zirconia belts are good. Less than $5 each from Tru-Grit. I used them exclusively for a long time, until the Blaze belts came out....now they are the tops as far as I'm concerned. I never liked the 967s because they would always glaze up on me, and once they did that, they were pretty much worthless.

If there is one thing I've discovered after all these years....Seems like each person has a different favorite for nearly every grit of belt. My suggestion is to order a couple, try them, and see how they work for you, in your shop.
 
I've been using the blue zirconia belts from pops (60 grit) for a while now and I really like them, for the money i get a LOT of use from them with the way that i use them. That said, i only run on a 1hp motor so i'm not leaning as hard into them as many people do.
 
There is always personal preference that differ. Applications, speeds and pressures can very too.
But I like 3m's 967, 2" x 72" Belts.
I even like it slightly better than Norton Blaze Belts for my set up.
 
I favor the Norton Blaze also, but have found that their productivity
is much better on my KMG than on my Square Wheel. My presumption is
that the Sq. Wheel is running too fast for the belts and knocking off
some of the grit before it gets to do much cutting. The KMG is set up to
run a good bit slower...for better precision... and seems to move more
steel for the $.
 
I was wondering how the 967's compare to the Blazes. I tried the "Gold" ceramics from 3m but didn't get as much use from them as I did 967s.

Ed, I know what you mean about different belts. I love my 307 Trizacs in the 180 and the Gators in 400.
 
I can kill any belt in short order...lol. For heavies, I would rate the Norton Blaze belts tops followed by the Klingspor zirconia ones. I haven't bought Blaze's for a good while because I am not sure that they are 70% better than the zirconia belts whihc is what the price difference it. The one good thing about Blaze belts in my limited experience is that you can use the next finer grit to do the same job (50 vs 36) so you save a little money. They also tend not to throw a lot of sparks.
 
Interesting comment Joe. I agree that the Blaze belts cut about 1 grit level coarser than they are rated. I also agree they are the most agressive and long lasting, but I'm not convinced it enough to justify the price differential.

I think the Norton Hoggers are about the equal of the 3M 967 belts.

FWIW, I have a 36 grit blaze that I intend to pass down to my knifemaking grandchildren (who will have to share it.)

I use Norton Hoggers for 60G and 120G and then switch to Norax (which I prefer to Trizact or Gators). After about X30, it's hand sanding.

Having said all that, I have some Hermes samples and the rep is challenging me to approach new ideas with an open mind. All ceramics are not created equal, nor are all backings and coatings. I'll keep you posted.

Rob!
 
I am always amazed how long I keep using the blaze, I like to use a new belt for bevels but keep taking the old blaze off the wall for profiles. They seem to cut forever.
 
Hi - I use the blue belts from Pop. They run just over $2 each and are very good for soft steel and handle shaping. Ceramic works much better on hardened steel in my opinion. I will continue to buy both and use the cheaper ones when the application suits, but the 967's will seriously outcut on hard steel.
 
I just made a belt order today from TruGrit. I ordered some Blaze belts in 60 and 120 grit because the price difference between them and the Klingspor zirconia belts is not as much as it was a year ago. Much of that probably has to do with the fact that the Klingspors have gone up because of the strong Euro. I still bought a bunch of Klingspors. I will not buy the Norton zirconias because the backing the last batch I got was so stiff and brittle that every one of them snapped and I got tired of being hit by flying 36 grit belts.
 
Rob! said:
Interesting comment Joe. I agree that the Blaze belts cut about 1 grit level coarser than they are rated. I also agree they are the most agressive and long lasting, but I'm not convinced it enough to justify the price differential.

I think the Norton Hoggers are about the equal of the 3M 967 belts.

FWIW, I have a 36 grit blaze that I intend to pass down to my knifemaking grandchildren (who will have to share it.)

I use Norton Hoggers for 60G and 120G and then switch to Norax (which I prefer to Trizact or Gators). After about X30, it's hand sanding.

Having said all that, I have some Hermes samples and the rep is challenging me to approach new ideas with an open mind. All ceramics are not created equal, nor are all backings and coatings. I'll keep you posted.

Rob!
Click to expand...
The blue-gray Hermes premium AO belts with the light, flexible (Y weight?) backing are very good......almost the equal of the Klingspor yellow belts, but costing a good bit less. Their standard reddish-brown AO belts are garbage barely suitable for hogging wood IMO.
 
We use VSM at the shop exclusively. Every year for the past 15 years or so a Klingspor rep comes out with a bottle and some samples trying to get us to buy their belts. I give them to the guys to try and they try one or two and tell me they suck and won't use them anymore so I take them home or give them away. This year they supposedly have a "new formulation" but they haven't brought them yet. Our abrasive bill is around $500.00 a month.
 
I'm surprised you guys have had trouble with Klingspor, the only reason I won't buy their AO belts is because I can get 3M considerably cheaper.
 
One of the 'problems' with the Klingspor belts is that we reuse the belts to make these 'discs' for the angle grinder and the amount of glue that comes out of the klingspor belts and sticks to product is ridiculous, where virtually nothing comes out of the VSM belts.



Heh, I was being conservative in my $500.00 per month estimate, it's actually a bit over double that.
 
I use 977 cubitrons from 50 to 120.but i hav'nt tried anything over that that is actually any good!what would you guys reccommend in 220-400 grit that will actually have bite after a couple passes????
 
If your east of the Mississippi, go with Pop's Knife supply in Washington, GA. If your west of the Mississippi, got with Tru-Grit in Ontario, CA.
 
I keep on finding myself going back and grabbing the orange blaze 60s. Worth every penny IMHO. :thumbup:
 
I must be the only one who doesn't like the blaze belts. They haven't done anything for me to justify the price. I have had great luck with the 967's, and if I can't get them, the 977's. Occasionally I see a thread like this and think I'm missing something, so I order up some blazes and then regret it. I do agree that your grinder, speed and style play a big factor in how different brands will work for you. Order up a few of each and compare them side by side, it's the only way to know for yourself.


Rick
 
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