gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Apr 23, 2023 8:32:35 GMT -5
Hi all, just wondering what brand diamond belts are best. I have been using Eastwind belts but see Cutting edge has Covington brand belts much cheaper. I tried a Crystalite nickel diamond belt but it came apart at the seam after very little use. I have expando belt machines and a Titan and am leaning towards the belts on drums in preference to the Titan. Main reason for this decision is that my expando machines have fully adjustable speed while the Titan is one speed only. I also feel the expando drums and belts are softer than Nova type wheels allowing for more drape and better faster flat removal. So which brand diamond belts seem to be better? Thanks!
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,496
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 23, 2023 12:41:20 GMT -5
I’ll have to go check what mine are. Blew one apart polishing fire obsidian last night 😂
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Post by perkins17 on Apr 23, 2023 14:52:55 GMT -5
I'm a personal fan of 3m belts. I've got exactly one of their diamond belts that's about 20 years old and cuts like new.  Expando drums are awesome, my personal preference for cabbing on. |
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Apr 24, 2023 9:30:11 GMT -5
Thanks perkins. Those 3M belts are about as expensive as 8" DP Nova wheels these days! I don't know what grit your 20 year old belt is but I do know the finer grit belts and wheels generally outlast the coarser grit ones. I have worn out a couple Eastwind 220 and 400 belts because they are used heavily for shaping. Are there no more dinosaur cabbers here who still prefer and use expandos rather than novas? I just thought I'd get a lot more diamond belt input.
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Post by perkins17 on Apr 24, 2023 22:48:31 GMT -5
Thanks perkins. Those 3M belts are about as expensive as 8" DP Nova wheels these days! I don't know what grit your 20 year old belt is but I do know the finer grit belts and wheels generally outlast the coarser grit ones. I have worn out a couple Eastwind 220 and 400 belts because they are used heavily for shaping. Are there no more dinosaur cabbers here who still prefer and use expandos rather than novas? I just thought I'd get a lot more diamond belt input. The belt is a 400, so I'll say you're definitely right thst higher grits last longer. Guess there aren't, too bad. It's the method I picked up because I can't afford a new machine, and I don't think I'll ever go back. |
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 25, 2023 0:39:04 GMT -5
For about 25-30 years I used canvas resin belts that I charged with diamond paste. Then for a few years I used 3M belts and for a while was happy with those. But about 15 years ago their quality went to crap. I was lucky to get two large agate cabs sanded before they wore smooth. So I switched to Diamond Pacific's NOVA wheels and have never looked back.
Since it's been 15 years it's possible that 3M may have recovered their quality somewhat out of necessity. I used to be a furniture repairman and had a contractor's account with our local 3M distributor so could get them at a good price. But there is no way I would pay current retail prices for 3M diamond belts based on my past experiences with them.
If using expandable sanding drums again I would try Eastwind or Crystalite. As for your Crystalite belt that came apart at the seam, back in the day that seemed to only happen to old stock belts (of all brands) where the adhesive had deteriorated with age. And learning to do all of your shaping on your hard wheels will work out better for you than using your 220 and 400 grit belts for shaping.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 25, 2023 7:12:22 GMT -5
Agglomerate silicon carbide belts from Kingsley 80 - 1200 will save you enough money to afford 3M diamond for the higher grits. These new silicon belts last a long time, cut aggressively, and a one of the best bridges between old style belts and diamon alternatives (in the size range).
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 25, 2023 12:04:55 GMT -5
I have used expandos but usually I just use them with SiC belts on nephrite and other materials that work better for me with SiC. Before I got the Genie I was getting the thin 3M belts for an expando on my Cabmate, which is a 2 speed machine. The problem I was seeing on the slow speed was the expando not expanding enough and the belt slipping. You definitely don't want to go over 1800 RPM with expandos, they can come apart on you.
I own a set of chinese diamond belts I got from Nan, they are 8" for my Crown arbor and I have never used them. Hopefully I soon will have that one set up, plan to put it on a wagon and run it outside to water my favorite mesquite while I sand cabs and specimens.
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 25, 2023 12:12:41 GMT -5
John Marshall of FB rock group fame, agate book author, and from my neck of the woods, has expandos on his Genie for cutting cabs. He said it cost less and worked well for him, but his friend and fellow FB moderator of multiple groups Denise, who is a national champion competitive cab cutter says Novas are better. I imagine both are correct for what they do.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 25, 2023 13:42:51 GMT -5
My friend and mentor who cuts a lot of quality cabs has access to nearly every kind of cab equipment is singing the praises of using arbors with an expando on each end for their versatility and results. I can say there are certain stones thar I can bring to a shine only with the expandos.
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Apr 25, 2023 19:07:37 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! I have two old Raytech GSP-8 machines which I like because they have fully variable speeds. The motor has a special pulley that is infinitely adjustable for diameter. Covington made a machine with the same variable speed pulley on it. I find on my Titan I have to push very hard to get much drape and on softer stones like variscite it just runs too fast. The Titan is fine for hard stuff like agate and jasper but slower speeds are very nice for softer material. The Raytechs also have pressure water feed and a drain which I much prefer to DP spitters for keeping wheels nice and wet. I may just sell the Titan I like the old machines that much better. I guess nobody has tried the Covington brand diamond belts which are very reasonably priced? How about re-gluing the seam on my Crystallite belt? Any tips? Type of glue? I was thinking Gorilla since it is a little flexible when dry.
Quail, I don't use the 400 for shaping but the 220 is great for final shaping after the hard wheels. I also have a custom machine with the little 2&3/8" DP wheels for tighter inside curves. The guy who built the little wheel machine made it so it has way less surface speed than a Genie or Titan and it works well on soft or hard stones and gets better drape. The little wheels do wear out faster than the big ones.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 475
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Post by herb on Apr 26, 2023 8:31:38 GMT -5
How about re-gluing the seam on my Crystallite belt? Any tips? Type of glue? I was thinking Gorilla since it is a little flexible when dry. There was a thread here about a year or so ago talking about gluing belts but I'm not finding it at the moment. You definately want a flexible glue. Inspired by that thread, I attempted to glue back together a belt I had laying around that had broke long ago. I used E6000. I put a piece of wax paper on either side and then placed a weight on the seam to let it dry. The fix didnt last very long. I was sparing in the amount of glue I used, worried about it getting on the face of the belt. I think I was probably too sparing. Unfortunately when it came apart, a .5 cm sized triangle of the diamond surface got torn off and I haven't tried to reglue it. A few months later the seam on a vintage belt I got at a local auction gave way and I tried again. I was more liberal with the E6000, and as an extra precaution I added a strip of duct tape over the glued seam after it dried. So far it has lasted for 30 or so cabs and it still is working. There is a slight bump that you can feel when grinding because of the duct tape, but it doesnt cause any problems for grinding |
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Apr 26, 2023 16:00:47 GMT -5
Thanks Herb!! I forgot about the search feature, did a search and found that Mohs had good luck with the Gorilla glue for belt repair. Whoopee, gonna fix a really expensive belt!
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Expando drums are awesome, my personal preference for cabbing on. 
