Suggested first belts?

[Greenberg Woods]

Well guys, I just ordered my very own pheer. Beyond some good maintenance and use videos, what belts do you think I should get? so far in my cart on pops i have mostly cheap AlO belts, a few finishing belts and some gator skin. Is there anything great im missing out on?

 

[Josh Mason]

I recommend trying out the VSM belts over at tru-grit. They're pretty cheap, and last quite a long time. I cant really find any problems with them. The 3m "gator" trizact belts are nice too. They leave an even finish, and you can revive them with a quick wire brush as they're running.

 

[trentu]

I really like the Norton Blaze 60 grit belts. Long lasting and cut very nice.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Cork belts in at least 400 and 600 grit, 800 is nice to have too. They make finishing LOTS faster. Another vote for the Gator Trizact belts, last a long time and are good finishers before the cork, I have the 45 and 65 versions.

I like the Blaze belts too, but haven't tried the competition, so can't recommend them over 3M, zirconia or whatever.

I can recommend Norax U936 engineered ceramic belts. I have a couple in x100 and they are awesome. Grinding the 36 or 60 grit scratches from hard stainless steel they just last and last. Unlike the Norax U243 belts which are AO and must be kept dry, the ceramic can stand a bit of damp from blade dunking and does not get glazed the way the U243s do.

I am biased towards buying premium belts because I live in the UK. Shipping is the same whether the package contains premium or cheap belts, but the premium last longer and I need fewer of them. It is also easier to store a few premium belts that last than 10 packs of something that wears out faster.

Anyway, cork belts are my best recommendation...and some green compound to go with them.

Good luck
Chris

 

[jdm61]

Or the latest 3M Cubitron belts, the 984 series. if you don't want to spend so much, then try and find some blue zirconia belts from Norton or Klingspor.

I really like the Norton Blaze 60 grit belts. Long lasting and cut very nice.

 

[drysideshooter]

I was recently in the same boat when ordering belts for my new grinder. I found a tutorial that Tracy at USAknifemaker had written. It included some suggest AO belts for handles, but quite a few ceramic.

Here is what my initial order from Trugrit consisted of, mostly going from that article:

4 ea. 2x72-80 CS912Y Ceramic
6 ea. 2x72-120 CS912Y Ceramic
2 ea. 2x72-150 X100 U254 Norax Engineered Aluminum Oxide
2 ea. 2x72-220 X65 U254 Norax Engineered Aluminum Oxide
2 ea. 2x72-320 X45 U254 Norax Engineered Aluminum Oxide
2 ea. 2x72-1200 X16 U254 Norax Engineered Aluminum Oxide
2 ea. 2x72-3000 X5 U254 Norax Engineered Aluminum Oxide
4 ea. 2x72-40 RB346MX Aluminum Oxide
3 ea. 2x72-60 CS912Y Ceramic
4 ea. 2x72-80 RB346MX Aluminum Oxide
10 ea. 2x72-120 CS310X Aluminum Oxide
4 ea. 2x72-220 CS310X Aluminum Oxide
4 ea. 2x72-400 CS310X Aluminum Oxide
3 ea. 2x72-80 RB406JF Aluminum Oxide
5 ea. 2x72-120 RB406JF Aluminum Oxide
3 ea. 2x72-240-RB406JF Aluminum Oxide
3 ea. 2x72-400 RB406JF Aluminum Oxide