Base grinding belts. What material?

Hello guys,

I need some new belts. I have used sun valley ski tools, and have also bought from econoway! I’ve used aluminum oxide(red) and zirconia(blue).

I have now found a custom provider in Canada, but given my application he is trying to sell me on a black silicone carbide belt(black). He says it will outperform aluminum oxide and zirc belts without question. The belts will come in at $39 Canadian for a 14x80(fontaine1400). That’s only $1 more than aluminum oxide and $10 bucks cheaper than zirc.

Looking for opinions, other producers(there is a thread already but lacks info.)

And experiences of others.

Everybody knows carbide tipped saw blades are wicked for cutting all kinds of shit. Do I giver a try?

Derek

Once I go black I never go back? Or once I go black I can’t get my money back?

I would give it a try

I was told the sil carbide are too aggresive and have to be broken down too much and then they dont work very well.

Great for the rapid flash machines but for base its ceramic (green) or nothing.

Told to me by a 22 year shop manager.

I have used al ox, zirc, and ceramic. The ceramic def provide the best finish before the stone. Ymmv.

So carbide could be good for a first base grind after pressing!?

appreciate the feedback guys!

I too believe ceramic to be the best. the price is crazy though.

but I also used to be the guy who bought and broke 2 cheap tools before he bought a good one! ive learned! KINDA!

quote from "the abrasive dude"

The Black Silicon Carbide belts are by far the highest recommendation we can make. The Blue Zirconia is going to work, but you end up paying more money for a slightly inferior product in this application. The Zirconia is more for metal grinding, but will work okay. The Red Aluminum Oxide though, is not recommended. It will be the worst performer and also won't hold up great in wet sanding because of the cotton backing; compared to the polyester backing on the Silicon Carbide and Zirconia belts.

F*%k it! im doing it. It says right in the website description......silicon carbide best for wet sanding plastic!,,,,,,,,,,,and thats what im doing!

i can alway lap on a warn out 120 zirc for fuzz

MM, I live in middle of nowhere, no stone around here for anything over 120mm

good sirs, I will report back in months to come as their is a 4 week waiting period!

Derek

Haven't been around in a while, just scored a wintersteiger snb 350 with edger for free ninety nine yesterday. Other than svst, where are folks getting belts in the US? Any economy options out there?

china. if you buy more than you need

I have shares in alibaba! Do it. Haha

Try livin in Canada! Everything is a f#+ king specialty item or needsto cross the border and bend me over!

For real though, all

these basement builders, or broke no pension entrepreneurs and nobody has any other info! My journal section has 100000 views but nobody has bought a belt I guess, almost 50 guys looked here for deals already but shared nothing? Where all the cheap abrasives I. Small quantities. Anybody ever cut and seamed off a roll? Maybe I’ll quit this hobby and start seaming custom abrasives! �👋�

I use 3M silicon carbide roll paper when hand sanding base repairs before taking it to the machine and it works really well. I say give it a go. I've also bought from Econoway and SVST.

Fintech Abrasives. Zirconia -> Ceramic --> stone.

Good prices and no minimums!

A bit late to this party but the black belts work like a hot damn for a short while then stop cutting. They are really aggressive but dull very quickly.

I've been buying belts from Skikare found they are cheaper than econaway.

http://www.skikare.com/

One of their sales guys popped by my garage for a beer while he was in town last winter. Toby, super good guy!

sam

I do

Clearing sidewalls off with 80 Brown or Blue

Base: 80 Blue, 100 Blue, 120 green (make sure to detune 80 and 100 before first use and I run an old ski over 120 a few passes before first use)

side wall 120 Green

Stone

Hand tune

I take the shortcut sometimes. Cleaning grind with 60-80, then stone. Need more passes with the stone but i dont have to change the belt. And i didnt see any difference.