Brion, I think their belts are a good value for the $$.

Not the best - and not the worst. But good value.

I think they have satisfied a much needed "slot" in the knife abrasive business.

I'm currently waiting on my sample package to arrive. I'll let ya know how they work out for me

The rep I spoke with was receptive to what I had to say in regards to cost to performance/lifespan ratio. I was quick to point out that most knifemakers have been taught to to "use belts with the mindset they're free" (and the reasons why).

I ran the gamut with him in terms of methods and abrasives I use to grind everything from forged steel scale, to post HT grinding hardened steel. I also covered furniture, the many handle materials we use, the techniques and abrasives used to finish these areas, right down to foredom flex shaft abrasives used for carving and shaping.

So yes, I'm looking forward to trying out their products. We'll have to "compare notes" in a couple weeks, after I've had an opportunity to give them a shot.

<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//cool.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />

I got a sample pack last year with 1 60 ceramic a 220 and 400 AO. The ceramic belt was the best value for the money, I found it cut well for a reasonably long time. The AO belts cut pretty good for a short period then basically just stopped cutting. I will probably order ceramic belts from them next time I need belts.

I have tested their belts several times and feel that the cutting of the belts was fine. The biggest problem that I had with them was the edges. The edge of their belts either had already lost their abrasive or did quickly thereafter. Overall, the cutting of their belts was fine but the tracking of the belts was not good and the cutting ability on the edges turned me against them. I liked the price. I didn't feel that they had the quality of what I was used to with 3M or Klingspor.

A good example of you get what you pay for.

Gary

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I have tested their belts several times and feel that the cutting of the belts was fine. The biggest problem that I had with them was the edges. The edge of their belts either had already lost their abrasive or did quickly thereafter. Overall, the cutting of their belts was fine but the tracking of the belts was not good and the cutting ability on the edges turned me against them. I liked the price. I didn't feel that they had the quality of what I was used to with 3M or Klingspor.

A good example of you get what you pay for.

Gary

Thanks for pointing that out Gary. I'll pay special attention to the edges and tracking. IMHO, those are 2 aspects of grinding belts that are extremely important when it comes to producing good looking, dead nuts even plunges and a nice looking grind. There are of course other techniques and procedures that require good to excellent tracking too. So I agree, it's a very important detail in terms of gauging a belts worth and quality !

There's nothing I hate more than chasing a belt edge around due to a cutting or glue-up flaw. That being said, and to be fair, I've encountered it through most every belt manufacturer I've used ........... but only ever so often, and very few.

If I put on a new belt and find it doesn't track no matter what I try, like flipping the belt or finding an anomaly, maybe a small outward bump on the 2" width cut and trimming it, I'll pull the belt. If it's not too bad I'll set it aside and use it for perimeter shaping or something that doesn't require perfect tracking. If it's just BAD, I'll scrap it altogether.

I won't waste more than a minute or 2 trying to "make it work". It's just not worth the time, or, especially the potential errors that can occur because of it.

There's no denying that QC, and for that matter the machinery used to produce the belts, is better via some manufacturers than others, i.e. "you get what you pay for".

I'm going to try to be as unbiased as is humanly possible in my approach to testing, evaluating & final judgement.

Your statement "I didn't feel that they had the quality of what I was used to with 3M or Klingspor" should make it interesting. Those are the 2 belt manufacturers I use most often too, this way we can compare the outcome using an expanded database of testers/users <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Again, anxiously & patiently awaiting their arrival.

<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//cool.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />

I have used them for the past several months but have recently decided to go back to Hermes, 3M, and Klingspor from Pops Knife Supply. Phoenix (Sean) had great customer service but the belts didn't seem to perform as well as the other brands. I use the 3M micron belts and the micron belts that I received from Phoenix has a coating that peeled off and adhered to my platen which was a pain to get off. The 60 grit Phoenix really loaded up when grinding on wood and handle material but the 120s worked great.

Gary

I did a little grinding with the samples they sent me. Just a couple of blades. The 36 grit ceramic belt did a great job. I ground two blades and the belt still looked and cut like new. The green 120 grit belt cut well and gave a nice finish. It was really stiff though. I mentioned this when they called back and they sent me some flexible belts. I haven't had a chance to use them yet. I haven't compared their price with other suppliers.

Dale

I tried their belts a couple of years ago, and have to echo what Karl said. They're "good" belts for the money. I had great service the first time I ordered from them......but my second and third order took forever to arrive. It took a couple of phone calls over a week's period of time to get them to ship my orders. That's when I stopped ordering from them, and went back to Tru-Grit. I got the distinct impression that they took good care of me the first time.....then once they thought they had me "on board", the service slipped badly.

As others have said they are a decent built at a decent price. Their ceramic belt is pretty good and held up well compared to my norton blaze belts, not as good but close enough for the price in my eyes. I've ordered from them a few times already and so far so good, I've dealt with Greg that works there. He generally handles their knife business, there are others there but they work with other industries so they tend to shy away from making recommendations about what belts to use or order. I use their A/O belts for handle work and overall I've been pleased, for 2 bucks per belt for stiff back low grit belts and a more flexible belt back at 2.85 bucks per belt I've found them hard to beat. I used their A/O belts on 4 smaller steak knives I'm working on with desert ironwood handles and one curly maple handle. It started getting dull by the 5th knife but I was really abusing them pretty well IMHO.

I'd give them a shot, there are better belts out there but again for the price and getting started they are difficult to beat IMHO. If someone has them beat in the mid range market I'm all ears.

I was using these for a bit but I got several batches of belts for the 2/72 that would snap a the joint. like Ed I had mixed results with the customer service, with Sean telling me the problem was solved, and the next batch would be fine (including free replacement belts) but then i would get a bad batch again, after having several belts let go on on the 2 /72s we had a fresh 36 grit 132/3 on our spacesaver let go during a a teen class, then go flying across the room just missing one of the students ... after that I stopped using them.

MP

ps I have been using Preferred abrasives out of OH and I have never used better ceramics the "fire storms" cut for ever and fast! I have also been happy with the customer service. I very much recommend them.

Although this is an older thread, it's good that it's come back to life for all the newer members who might not have seen it.

A year or so ago I got disgusted with Norton Blaze belts...prices kept going up and up, and the quality kept going down. Like many I've always searched for the best economy to use ratio for belts... trying various types/brands, and dealers. After all my years of doing this, my advice is pretty simple....if you live west of the Mississippi, buy from Tru-Grit. If you live east of the Mississippi, buy from Pops Knife Supply in Georgia. (Simply because of shipping times)

I've had just about ever one of the abrasive companies call me at one time or another, asking if I want to purchase belts direct.... and when I tell them I buy from Tru-Grit, they have all told me... "Tru-Grit buys so many belts, we can't even match their prices".

An example... I became disgusted with Norton belts a couple of years ago...the prices just kept going up and up, and the quality/longevity just kept going downward. I talked to Scott at Tru-Grit, and he sent me several samples of 50 and 120 grit belts....and from that, I've switched to VSM belts for my 50s and 120s. (the exact belt is VSM XK760X Ceramic). The 50s are $4.40 each....and personally I like them better then just about any other 50 grit belt I've used.

I've come to understand that sticking with the well known distributors will usually get you the best belts, with the best service. Everything else is just a shot in the dark.

I am naming no company's name nor pointing any fingers.

I have one rule I've made for myself when it comes to belts - when you buy 'discount' or 'economy' belts, that's the type of use you get out of them.

When I finally used up all the sub-par belts I owned and switched entirely to higher grade belts, everything improved, -the grind, the finish - including the life of the belt, and I became much happier.

How can you grind a decent knife with belts breaking and wobbling all over the blade surface?

You can't.

Get the best belt you can afford.

|quoted:

I am naming no company's name nor pointing any fingers.

I have one rule I've made for myself when it comes to belts - when you buy 'discount' or 'economy' belts, that's the type of use you get out of them.

When I finally used up all the sub-par belts I owned and switched entirely to higher grade belts, everything improved, -the grind, the finish - including the life of the belt, and I became much happier.

How can you grind a decent knife with belts breaking and wobbling all over the blade surface?

You can't.

Get the best belt you can afford.

I may need to order some 3m belts, I have some tracking issues but I've always blamed that on my home built grinder, she's quirky. Also I didn't notice the age on this thread.

Thanks Ed for the recommendation of trugrit. I'll take a look at them more later on but their prices appear to be good.

I've tried some of the cheaper belts. IMHO some were good some bad. Tracking was the biggest issue. They offered to take the bad belts back, but then you end up paying the difference in shipping cost. I'm back to 3M, Klingspor, and Hermes.

Bob