Mid Grit Belts - They all suck?

T

Travis Fry

Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
489
I'm in love with the gold 3M 967F ceramic belts for my rough grinding (I use 40s), and I really like the Klingspor Flex belts (the yellow ones) for handle shaping and whatnot in 220 and 400. I've been pretty happy with Norton Blaze in 120, but they're pricey. For the 120-400 range for finish grinding after HT, or even before, I still haven't really found what I'm looking for. The mid grits are populated by 1) J weight stuff that's good for handles, and 2) a lot o' shite. Anyone found THE THING, or can you suggest?
 
120, 220 3M 707's.

Those are my favorites.

Anything past that is just varying degrees of suck.
 
I was had the same problem, norton makes a ceramic version of their norax belt it runs from 120 down to 800 or finer, it was the only fine grit belts that would take the 120grit marks out of hardened S90V for me.
 
I have switched to the gators lately and they are ok. I like the weight of them because they are somewhat forgiving. I just bought my first cubitron ceramic belts and I love them. I only got the 60 for now but will try some of the others.
 
The Norton Blaze goes to 120. Cuts clean, works wet and they've addressed the gunk issue. Very productive belt that leaves a clean 120 grit. Beyond that I like the 220 grit Norton R945, it works wet and doesn't have issues with grit pulling out and galling your work or a few pieces of coarser grit hidden in there. Beyond that I like the yellow Klingspore belts dry run pretty slow.

You're only goanna do maybe a couple blades out of a fine grit belt, they don't last long.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
120, 220 3M 707's.

Those are my favorites.

Anything past that is just varying degrees of suck.
Click to expand...
X10! those are pretty nice, I run them wet and dry but belts that are 220+ you just have to suck it up and use new ones more often IMHO I'm guessing the 220 grit Norton R945 is pretty much the same thing in norton's brand

I like the VSM 120 Grit ceramic belts to.
 
I've been getting VSM belts lately and so far I tend to like them for general use. Not as expensive as the blaze, and seem to have decent life. YMMV
 
For steel I use 50 or 60 grit to get the desired geometry after heat treat and only use gator a160, than a45 and sometimes a30 for scratch removal. I don't try to change the geometry at all with the higher grit belts.
 
Gators and Norax micron grits.
I use both, really fond of the 45 and 65 Norax, and gators are just an absolute workhorse. 100, 45, 30 for me.
 
I don't have a lot of choice in my area, and with the weaker Canadian dollar, ordering from the state's isn't cost effective anymore. I'm using the norax belts too. I don't love them, but they are ok. I find I get some rough grit scratches from them at times. After the blaze 120, I go norax 200, 100, 65, and sometimes 45.
 
984F cubitron ii's available in 120 now, and seriously good imo. X weight. I also buy y-weight belts up to 800 for steel. 3m makes them, ask Pop. Not home so I can't give the model numbers. They're AO belts, but anything above 120 is a waste in ceramic IMO.
 
+1 for gators, in 100, 45, and 30. That's what I mostly clean up with. They are better on some steels than others- not great for hardened wear resistant steels, but good for lower alloy carbon steels and stuff with less vanadium. I really like how they grind hardened AEB-L.
 
I would like to see some X weight ceramics in 220. That is kind of the dividing line where scratches get easier to remove IMO. the 984 120's are great though.
javand said:
984F cubitron ii's available in 120 now, and seriously good imo. X weight. I also buy y-weight belts up to 800 for steel. 3m makes them, ask Pop. Not home so I can't give the model numbers. They're AO belts, but anything above 120 is a waste in ceramic IMO.
Click to expand...
 
i hog with 50 grit (i like how smooth they are grinding thin stock) super grit deerfos 120s now and then before i jump to the gators A300-A45 dress the gators whe they slow down. other then that i keep wood working belts in 50grit and 220J and the odd ball 400 and 800 +3micron wet belts for sharpenig (do have scotbrite and felt belts also)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top