Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on May 18, 2009 13:48:28 GMT -5
Hi All,
Up until now I have been using silicon carbide belts on my expanding drum but they don’t seem to last very long, although I do have a good water supply on my cab machine.
Now I just went to order some more belts and got a shock when I saw the price of these here in the UK.
So I am wondering if it’s time to migrate to diamond, using diamond paste on rez belts on the expanding drum, the description of the rez belts is below:
“Resin impregnated canvas belts (shown illustrated on a drum-not included) for use with diamond compound. All the advantages of an expanding drum plus the versatility of diamond. The belts are easily changed and recharged, as required, with diamond compound of any grit. Instructions included.”
I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with these and how to equate grit to mesh.
I currently use silicon belts of 100, 200, 400 and 600 grit, what would these equate to in mesh sizes.
I am thinking it might be worth laying out for 4 of these rez belts and diamond paste as it may work out cheaper in the long run and whole lot less messy as well.
Would appreciate any and all advice on this please.
Many thanks in advance
Dave
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Post by bushmanbilly on May 18, 2009 18:15:36 GMT -5
Diamond rez and paste, seems messy. Why would you not just buy diamond belts? Thats what I use, but not that low in grit size. My diamond starts at 1200 and goes up from there. Have you cheched out John at JS Jems? Great guy and good service. Good prices to. www.jsgemslapidary.com
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Post by johnjsgems on May 18, 2009 21:39:21 GMT -5
If you are grinding with belts they will wear fast. SC will wear much faster than diamond. Mesh and grit for all practical purposes are the same. You may have trouble finding diamond paste in course grit (or mesh)as it is used mostly to fine sand and polish. You might have to buy diamond powder in 100 and 220 and mix your own compound with either silicon extender or olive oil. Good luck finding resin belts. All my suppliers dropped them. You might try Kingsley North. I think Raytech still makes them. If you used diamond belts the progression would be 100, 220, 400, 600, 1200, 3000 and then polish or to 1200 and polish or continue with diamond to 8000, 14000 and 50000. Load the resin belts the same.
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Post by akansan on May 19, 2009 10:08:14 GMT -5
Not messy at all! When I first started cabbing, I went from a 600 wheel to diamond paste on resin. Resin belts are inexpensive, paste is cheap and lasts a while. I think Texaswoodie uses something similar in his cabbing, but you'd have to check with him.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 19, 2009 13:46:47 GMT -5
Resin belts (when I could get them from my supplier) were list price $3 each (8" x 3") so very cheap.
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Post by akansan on May 19, 2009 15:19:17 GMT -5
John - I noticed the place I used to buy resin belts from (before I met you ) doesn't have them in stock. Are they going the way of leather belts?
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Post by johnjsgems on May 20, 2009 7:14:25 GMT -5
The one supplier that had them also carries Rayspan drums so I'm guessing they are (or were) a Raytech product.
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on May 21, 2009 17:09:46 GMT -5
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Dave Austin
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 104
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Post by Dave Austin on May 22, 2009 2:37:58 GMT -5
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