If you want to get the most use out of a ceramic belt you want to go as fast as your grinder can go and heavy pressure or the belt will dull prematurely. As far as aluminum oxide belts, I go what ever speed I feel is safe not to burn the wood that I'm grinding on.

Jason is correct - you want to go fast with the ceramics and those like it. It's the aggressive pressure and speed that cause the grit pieces to fragment and expose new cutting "teeth". Going too slow with these types of belts simple dull the grit and fill up the voids with swarf.

The basic rule is the less coarse the grit - the slower the speed.

Don't get too technical with FPS and so forth. Comfort and control is an issue.

Sometimes we grind with rests - sometimes not. Flat platens are much different that wheels. They effect belt efficiency differently. In other words, there are a lot of variables not solved by belt speed alone.

So much of what we do is learned in the shop and not on paper. Your abilities, experience, equipment, etc. determine how your tools will be used.

The saying gets old - but - learn what works for you. And you learn by doing.

Karl has the most of it already. I will add one thing to consider which is structured abrasives like the Trizac belts, require a slow speed or they self-destruct. Regardless of the grit.

Great question Andy. I just purchased my first 2x72/VFD as well (coming from a 1x30) and was doing the same research as you. With the first use I immediately noticed the benefit of being able to slow the belt enough to sand end grain on my handles with the finer grit belts with out burning the wood.

I didn't know about the need for speed and aggression for Ceramic belts. I prematurely trashed every one I had purchased in the past. Good to know.

Again..great Question. Thanks.

Thanks Thomas, Just trying to soak up everything I can from the wealth of knowledge here.

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Karl has the most of it already. I will add one thing to consider which is structured abrasives like the Trizac belts, require a slow speed or they self-destruct. Regardless of the grit.

So Joshua, with Trizac (which I have a few on the way) what is the critical failure speed range I should avoid. I've had string slap while bow shooting and that doesn't feel the best, so I can't image that 80 grit belt slap would tickle.

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So Joshua, with Trizac (which I have a few on the way) what is the critical failure speed range I should avoid. I've had string slap while bow shooting and that doesn't feel the best, so I can't image that 80 grit belt slap would tickle.

Like Karl said, I don't get hung up on FPS or belt speeds, so I cannot tell you exactly. I can tell you that I have a KMG with a 6 inch drive wheel and a 2 HP motor. I run my Trizac belts at 50% or less on my controller. Usually, I am only using A45 or finer and I run them around 30-40%.

BTW-No, getting slapped in the face with a broken belt running at full tilt is no fun. I had a 36 grit ceramic come apart once. I was glad I wear the goggles, hat, and respirator while grinding.

Sounds good to me, I'll keep playing.

Thanks to all for the replies and stay safe!