Which grinding belts?

[sketchbag]

I'm going to go get a belt grinder, and I'm wondering which belt's I should get, and which ones tend to get worn out the fastest. Which grit's (if any) can be skipped? Should I get the coarsest available belt for anything?

Here's the selection available
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=48040&cat=1,43072

and here's a handy little chart
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=46224&cat=1,43072

 

[siguy]

i personally cannot recommend the blue grinding belts enough. i love these things. if you have large blades or really tough steels or alot of regrinding to do, i would say grab a few 40 grit to start with. i use these to grind out all my blades and to start sharpening machetes and kukris.

i would say the 80 grit is probably the best all around. the 40 grit can lose its bite pretty quickly. the 80 cuts for a really long time. it is good for setting bevels and thinning out edges. i've done a full flat grind with one of these on a 1" wide by 1/8" piece of A2 barstock...took a while but it works.

i would say you could probably get a couple 80, 120, then get one of each of the polishing belts. you will quickly find which ones you use the most and the next time you buy you can buy smarter.

 

[StretchNM]

I think Woodworker's Supply has a pretty good selection of 1x30 and 1x42 (and others) belts in the blue zirconia and ceramic.
www.woodworker.com