zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on May 7, 2010 23:55:26 GMT -5
I've contacted www.lapidarytool.com via Tradekey.com & found their prices for Nova type wheels & diamond belts for expando drums very reasonable. Well, I'll just come out & say it - cheap! If I buy 8 wheels, with shipping it's about $45 per wheel. or If I buy 8 belts, with shipping it's about $22 per belt Has anyone bought their stuff? I was going to refurbish some used Novas, but I'm wondering if these Chinese ones are any good. BTW, what lasts longer, diamond belts, or Novas? Lynn |
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on May 8, 2010 9:24:09 GMT -5
5 days ago I ordered three wheels and some diamond burs from them to give a try. They said it takes about three weeks to get here so I can give them a review in a month or so.
Tim
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on Jun 4, 2010 9:18:46 GMT -5
After a little delay (a week) I received my order last Tuesday. It was delayed because one of my wheels was back ordered from the factory. Once they got the wheel they 3 day express shipped my package from China at no extra charge. Knowing international shipping that must have cost a small fortune.
I ordered a 280, 1500, 3000, and 50,000 Nova type wheels, diamond sanding pads and a few of there sintered diamond burs. So far I can say the wheels are great! They feel just like Nova wheels (not like the soft Covington wheels which are harder). The padding is just right, looks like good quality, well balanced and cuts a good cab. Time will tell how the wear over the next few months so I'll report back. Considering the price you could buy 3 of these for 1 real Nova.
I'm most impressed the the sintered diamond burs, they are freaking awesome and I'm ordering more today. These are the best I've used by far for a third the price of good plated burs and 1/10 the price of sintered burs. This time I only ordered 3 different 80 grit to test and they eat jade. I'm going to replace all my burs with these.
So, I recommend them. They went the extra mile to express ship my package, the wheels look good and the burs are very good.
Tim
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 4, 2010 23:10:36 GMT -5
I placed a sample order a couple of years`ago and was not impressed. Last year they sent me a sample 1200 new improved "nova" wheel and 3000 belt. I put them on my Genie. They work pretty well. The belt fits really tight but that is better than too loose. The only problem I've had is the bright colored material they use transfers to the rock if you hit any kind of edge. The belts are really thick and look like they are bonded to a thick rubber belt. The "nova" is same belt on a Diamond Pacific look alike wheel. Their new website opened them up for retail sales and PayPal. Previously they were wholesale only, TT funds transfers and 100 unit minimum orders. My trial order was held up in US Customs for almost two months and the funds transfer cost me $45. I was impressed with the belts enough to consider stocking them. Don't forget shipping charges from China. Some of my trial order items doubled in cost with shipping.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Apr 16, 2012 0:39:55 GMT -5
I should have reported back sooner. I've made several orders with the above mentioned company. I've had mixed experiences. Recently I bought an 8" 60 grit sintered wheel. It has 5mm of diamond. It cuts a little more aggressively than an 80 grit, but without the chipping I was used to. I expect it to outlive me. Perhaps that's an exaggeration, but I expect to cut several thousand cabs with it. The price is less than half of Inland's. The downside is that it is solid steel & weighs about 14 lbs.
I've bought some 6" & 8" diamond plated wheels. They are good. After a year of using the 6" wheels, they still have lots of life in them. I cut a few hundred cabs with those.
My friends & I have bought several Nova type wheels & expando drum belts. These are the ones I'm disappointed in. The 6" Nova clones seemed to wear out pretty fast. I recoated the 280 & 600 with fresh diamond powder after just a couple of months. (My sequence includes 80, 220, & 360 grit diamond plated wheels before the Nova clones) The higher grits are better, because I'm not asking as much of them.
Recently I built a new 8" machine with 4 expandos & got 280, 600, 1200, & 3000 belts. Right out of the box, the 280 wasn't able to get out the scratches from the 360 hard diamond wheel. Just last week I re-coated a belt with 300 diamond powder & it works just like it's supposed to. I have no idea how many carats the Chinese belts have. I used 15 carats for each 8x3" belt. At about $0.25 per carat it's the way to go. I also re-coated a 600 belt & it also does what the Chinese belt couldn't do.
To summarize - I'll probably buy diamond plated & sintered wheels again, but no Nova clones or belts.
Lynn
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 16, 2012 19:28:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the update.
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