Grinding Belt Suppliers

[Broch]

I'm changing to a 2 x 72" (50 x 1830mm) belt grinding machine but I'm having difficulty finding a belt supplier that holds stock of a variety of grits in any one manufacturer's belts. So, does anyone have a go-to abrasive belt supplier they can recommend please?

 

[C_Claycomb]

Grinders & Abrasives | GFS Knife Supplies

Over 30 grades of Knife Making Steels and supplies including Carbon Fibre, G10, Kirnite, Stabilised Wood, Grinding Belts and more!

www.gfsknifesupplies.com

Belts Archives - Edgy Supplies

Belts in 2x72 from the leading manufacturers 3M and Norton bring you top grade belts like R976, Cubitron II, Razorstars and the newly added Trizact Gators.

edgysupplies.co.uk

 

[Broch]

Thanks Chris. I've used both Edgy and GFS before for 2 x 48" belts and I thought moving up to 2 x 72 would make things easier. Edgy do a good range of Norton ceramic belts in 2 x 72 but only do Razorstar in 2 x 48”. GFS is the same – plenty of ceramic belts for 2 x 72 but not the Razorstar.

It’s available in the States but not here for some reason. I've been using it on the 48" grinder and quite like it.

Other belt makes seem limited in availability too; VSM XK870X is only available in 50 x 2000 for example.

I think I was looking for a one-stop shop so I could try out different makes and materials without having to go to several suppliers and pay P&P several times. But, I suppose, that's unrealistic to expect; suppliers can't stock all the different makes.

I think I'll have to dispense with the Razorstar and buy a few others to try - maybe I'll start with Hermes and Klingspor ceramics from GFS

Since posting, I've also found The Polishing Shop and Pronet Abrasives.

 

[Broch]

And to make matters worse - when I go and try and order the belts are out of stock!

 

[Dave Budd]

GFS has the best selection in the UK, but other places that I've bought belts from include Abtec, Heritage Abrasives, and Ebay (though that's hit or miss on sizes, grits and make).

I used Razorstar belts a lot when they first came out here (even had the Norton rep visit me and do a profile piece for their advertising ), but the dealer I bought from went bust and most of the others either had low stock or only had them in powerfile sizes. I don't know if not enough people are buying them for the suppliers to bother stocking, or what it is.

Some suppliers like Abtec and heritage are manufacturers, so will usually make belts to order. So if they have a type of belt you like, then you can get it made to the size you need. The trouble is you will have to commit to a minimum order, which might only be 10 belts or it could be 100! Other suppliers like GFS will stock flavours in 2x72" and not 50x2000mm, and visa versa; if your machine can run both sizes then that opens things up a bit ;-)

 

[Broch]

Thanks Dave. Yes, I now realise that making the machine a bit more versatile will make getting the belts easier. Luckily I'd not finished the design before doing my belt search. I've carried out a minor modification to the design to accommodate 50 x 2000mm belts as well as 2 x 72". I would have to make too many compromises to fit 2 x 48" as well but I've only got a few belts left over at that size.

Metalwork arrives tomorrow so the build begins

 

[Dave Budd]

i didn't realise that you were building it.

I've got a tool arm that I made to fit a grinder simply because I couldn't turn down a deal on some 2500mm belts one time. The machine was designed for 2000 but the longer arm will let me run anything from 72" up to 2800 if I happen to see anything come up (but they get a bit flappy at the longer end lol).

I have a couple of grinders from Josh at Manchester Grinders that were meant to take 72", but because I generally only use 2000, it got on my wick having to adjust between belts. So I had him make me longer arms when he built them. Unfortunately his design put the motor right in the path of the arm, so I can't use the long arm with 72" belts and a full platen because it won't go back far enough into the machine. ho hum