United abrasives belts?

S

SeanMK

Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
43
Does anyone use aluminum oxide belts by United Abrasives. Good? Bad? so so? Any input is appreciated.
 
Maybe for wood. Aluminum Oxide, AO, is not commonly used for metal. It wears far too quickly. Zirconia Alumina is more common at the lower grits for metal, up to 220 grit. Norax, or other structured abrasives, cover the higher end grits.

This is the explanation about different belt types from Tracy at USA Knife Maker. It's far better than any explanation I could give.

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/abrasive-belt-basics-what-kind-should-i-buy-p-1393.html
 
zaph1 said:
Maybe for wood. Aluminum Oxide, AO, is not commonly used for metal. It wears far too quickly. Zirconia Alumina is more common at the lower grits for metal, up to 220 grit. Norax, or other structured abrasives, cover the higher end grits.

This is the explanation about different belt types from Tracy at USA Knife Maker. It's far better than any explanation I could give.

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/abrasive-belt-basics-what-kind-should-i-buy-p-1393.html
Click to expand...

don't mislead the man. A.O. belts have been used for a very long time on knives . I use them . They may not last as long as the better expensive belts but they do work and I find it easier to throw away a $2.00 belt than a $8.00 belt .
 
Ive used A/O belts for knives. However let me tell you, it is much cheaper in the long run to buy better belts. I pay $7 and change from Tracy for Blaze belts. That sounds expensive but I can get 3 to 4 times the life from one. Then I can still use them for profiling. In the higher grits I like Trizact gators, they dont seem to ever wear out. I have also used Norax they wear good too.
 
By far the biggest bang for the buck is with the cheaper aluminium oxide belts up into the 36 grit for initial grinding, in my experience. We just compared an $6.00 belt to a $2.00 aluminium oxide belt and the cheaper belt won. I suggest you try both with what you are using and compare them.
 
I was just asking, as I have access to UA, not to mention Norton also, for very cheap. right now im just playing with a 1 x 30 grinder, and working on building a 2 x 72. i dont want to waste money on belts in case i end up killing the little grinder.
 
Ed Fowler said:
By far the biggest bang for the buck is with the cheaper aluminium oxide belts up into the 36 grit for initial grinding, in my experience. We just compared an $6.00 belt to a $2.00 aluminium oxide belt and the cheaper belt won. I suggest you try both with what you are using and compare them.
Click to expand...


Only if you are grinding low-alloy steel that is annealed. If you are grinding high-alloy or hardened steel of any type then what Ed said is backwards. With grinding hardened O-1 its 8 belts to one and half the time.
Del
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top