I know this is a old thread but I did notice that tru grit had 1"x36" diamond belts for less than $20. They also have a ceramic trizac. Has anyone given either if these a try? I have a piece of M4 that I can't wait to try but I'm nervous about finishing it.
Diamond is not used for steel on power equipment. The reason is that diamond IS carbon and is soluble in the iron in the steel when used with enough pressure and heat.
Basically it detroys the abrasive faster and might not be ideal for the steel.
Some argue they are doing low speed grinding without getting high enough temperatures to cause problems.
However it's generally frowned upon to use diamond abrasives with power equipment. The diamond belts are for glass, ceramic and carbide.
Not designed for steel, not to mention the binder is too weak to hold the diamond on the belt for steel applications.
That's why CBN is so desirable but also why it was wayyyy to much money. They found a special way to bond the hard abrasive on a thin metal belt with a Kevlar backing.
But in the end, it's just too damn expensive.
Doesn't matter how good it is at that kind of cost $300-1200 plus depending on where you look PER BELT!
Just save the money and buy more ceramic belts.
In your case, if your using a 1x30 , a 2x72 is going to be a wayyyy more important upgrade then CBN or diamond belts
That's what's holding you back, and I understand why. The grinders are expensive.
But trust me, it's worth it.
Shawn
