Thread: Belt grinder/linisher belts

I'm building a belt sander/linisher, the idea is to make it adjustable so it will take either 1220 x 50 or 1520 x 50 zirconia belts. 1220 belts are easily found but I can't find a supplier who sells 1520 belts individually, they all seem to sell them in lots of 10 or 20. I don't really want 10 or 20 belts with the same grit, much rather have 10 or 20 belts with various grits. Any ideas?

Hi gngh
I ran into the same problem a couple of years ago and ended up buying from B.Snyder Abrasives in the USA- barbkat.com - Home I could buy one/two off of each of a variety of grits and compounds and had them sent via the flat box system, it worked out cheaper than buying local as well.
Bob

Do you have a local industrial supplies? That's where I get my 1520x50 belts from - quite happy to sell singles.

Hi gngh,

I get belts from Australian Industrial Abrasives - Products they will make them up to any length and width you like..

Or..

Maybe ask Bruce ( aka Abratool ) if he can come out of retirement... at the very least he could point you in the right direction.

Regards
Ray

Ummm, I must have lead a sheltered life, I have no idea what a flat box system is. So to quote a famous lady: Please explain?

Originally Posted by gngh

Ummm, I must have lead a sheltered life, I have no idea what a flat box system is. So to quote a famous lady: Please explain?

I'll answer for Bob, "a flat box" refers to the US postal service flat rate box, you get a fixed box size and a weight limit, and a pretty reasonable postage rate from the US to Australia.

Hang on.... here you go.. https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-flat.htm

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi gngh,

I get belts from Australian Industrial Abrasives - Products they will make them up to any length and width you like..

Or..

Maybe ask Bruce ( aka Abratool ) if he can come out of retirement... at the very least he could point you in the right direction.

Regards
Ray

Thanks for the mention Ray.
Over the last 40 years or so, I cut & joined belts out of 12" or 300mm wide rolls so the smallest quantity I can do are multiples of that width, for 2" wide that would be 6 belts of each grade. & for 6" wide belts it would be 2 belts of each grade etc. can make belts from 1/4" 6mm wide up to 12" 300mm wide by any length.
Only have Alum Oxide in #40 60 120 150 180 320 400 & not Zirconia.
Still in retirement & heading to England Wales Scotland for a 5 week trip soon, so not too reliable at the moment, looking forward to researching Joseph Whitworth & Henry Maudsley, on the trip, also staring at a lot of old steam engines & flat leather belt drives, like Phil "Steam whisperer" is into.
BT Bob has put me onto a museum in Manchester England that should be of interest.
Re the Abrasive belts for the time being I would go with Aust Ind Abrasive or perhaps "The Sandpaper Man"
Best regards
Bruce

A bit OT but don't forget the pics Bruce. Especially of the lacing styles on the flat belts.
Have fun.

Phil

Because of the belt availability is why I went with a 1220 x 100 machine. H&F has them in all grits and at the sale prices they are cheap.
I bought 2 of every belt with the machine and one of each of the scotchbrite belts though they are only 50mm wide, but run on the machine fine.

Dave

Yes, I'm starting to think about the 1220 belts, either that or step up to the 2 metre belts. I've rung Allfasteners twice so far, who say they can get the 1520s in, but they won't return my calls or emails, funny way to run a business. I also rang Blackwoods, but they were very vague.

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

A bit OT but don't forget the pics Bruce. Especially of the lacing styles on the flat belts.
Have fun.

Phil

Phil

You cannot beat the site of a "Lace up Leather Belt"
I will, without doubt be taking photos with my new camera, which has taken a while to learn how to "drive it" Thats my excuse for not posting photos recently.
Will be visiting the Manchester Museum of Science & Technology & I know there are a lot of Steam Engines with probably lace up leather belts.
Also have been away in the bush camping & hunting for a few days, noticed on my leather rifle sling that it uses lace up leather to fasten each end.
Thought of you at the time & your previous mention of the reliability of the lace up method of joining belts.
All the best
Bruce
ps Got to get a Shaper.

Hey guys, I have had the same problem in the past getting grinding belts.
I have gone through the various suppliers in Australia. I can't say I can afford the cost anymore. I buy a lot of premium belts and all costs and time considered, I can get 60 premium belts shipped from the US in 10 days for less than half the price I can get it here in Australia for about the time frame.

The US has all the cheap to exotic abrasives on the shelf. I was having trouble here in OZ getting anything other than standard AO and zirc belts.

I still get my belts quoted with the various suppliers as I would prefer to support Aus industries, but more than a 50% saving by going to the states with better choices is hard pass up. I'm going to have to wait until we catch up here in OZ.

Trugrit.com has a huge list of stocked abrasives including the 2x60 which I think is the 1520mm belt. Just check that first!

The guys there are great! They pack as much as they can into the flat rate shipping boxes. Fast service. Actually, they contacted me several times via email to check items on my order.

I will be using these guys from now on!