Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,982
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Post by Tommy on Aug 17, 2018 13:53:12 GMT -5
I want to purchase a 3000 grit 8x3 belt for expando and I'm looking for recommendations on where to purchase. I don't mind spending more to get good quality, American made if possible.
I see that Ebay is saturated with $25 Chinese belts as well as what looks like the same thing that someone has imported and is selling for $45.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,982
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Post by Tommy on Aug 17, 2018 14:00:51 GMT -5
I want to purchase a 3000 grit 8x3 belt for expando and I'm looking for recommendations on where to purchase. I don't mind spending more to get good quality, American made if possible. I see that Ebay is saturated with $25 Chinese belts as well as what looks like the same thing that someone has imported and is selling for $45. Let me expand the question a bit - has anyone tried the $25 Chinese diamond belts from Ebay and what kind of luck and longevity did you have with them? |
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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 Aug 17, 2018 14:10:21 GMT -5
Years ago, I bought 8x3" diamond belts from MoHan (LapidaryTool.com). They were OK, but not as good as I had hoped.
Since then I've just re-coated them with diamond as they wear down. I haven't bought a new belt since.
After re-coating several times, they get pretty stiff, so I got some worn silicon carbide belts & coat those with diamond.
I put 10-15 carats of diamond on a belt. That costs me about $3-4.
I just acquired a slant-lap & spin-on 6" pads & some diamond paste in syringes. I'm going to play with the paste & see if it helps stones that don't like cerium oxide or Zam.
I'll post after I've tried it out.
Lynn
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Aug 17, 2018 16:32:56 GMT -5
Back when I was a furniture repairman I used to have a commercial account with our local 3M industrial supplier and could get the 3M diamond cloth belts at a discounted price. Those used to be good belts until about twelve years or so ago the quality went to #&!! (I suspect 3M started outsourcing production overseas) so I switched over to DP's Nova wheels.
I've had a couple of Eastwind diamond belts in the past and they were very good at the time but were much more expensive than the commercial rate I could get on the 3M brand. I do not know if Eastwind has since outsourced production so would check before ordering those.
I have seen posts online by a few who use the Crystalite Diamond belts and who speak highly those. According to some, the Crystalite diamond plated belts (the ones with the plated dots) will outlast Nova wheels. But the plated belts only go up to 600 grit. Crytalite's polyester backed belts go up to 3500 grit.
I've ordered a couple of soft diamond flex wheels from both Hans and Kingsley in the past but not their belts. The Flex wheels were okay but not as good as DP's Nova wheels so I would assume that the same may be true for their belts.
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Post by Rockoonz on Aug 18, 2018 11:49:57 GMT -5
Self proclaimed agate expert and as opinionated as me local guy named John Maxwell (admin on several FB groups) replaced the nova wheels on his Genie with 6x1.5 expandos, and swears by the crystalite belts. He used to demo at a local show and I had an opportunity to see his setup, seemed decent, and he claimed the belts had a similar life expectancy to Novas.
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 566
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Post by vwfence on Aug 31, 2018 13:33:47 GMT -5
try Kingsley North , they aren't as cheap but they wear well
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Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Aug 31, 2018 15:43:12 GMT -5
I used to use these all the time. I bought them from santa fe jewelry supply. I think they were made by 3M. Pricey though. I didn't care for the Chinese ones from Mohan, they were sticky and the coating came off easily. sfjs.net/product-category/tools/abrasives/ |
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
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Post by minerken on Aug 31, 2018 19:01:45 GMT -5
I use 8x3 exclusively with expando wheels the last I bought were either Eastwind or the Kingsley house brand expensive but I like them. I have hesitated going with the narrower belts and the Nova type. I like the drape(the flex from the rubber backing) you get from the expando's and the width.
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