And I hate to badmouth any company. Combat Abrasives offers great belts at a fair price.
So here goes the negative:
Whenever I use a vendor I try to get everything I need at one time to save on shipping. I was buying belts and so I bought a bunch of their sandpaper to replenish my Rhynowet that was running out. Big mistake. I give their sandpaper a C-. It's good enough that I decided to use it up, but I'll never use it again.
Second negative: their website is not very good. They have some very strange ideas about belt "kits" and bulk pricing. The bulk pricing is good, but the quantities for the price break are not realistic. I can't see buying 24 of one grit to get a minor price break.
Third negative: even buying the belts in singles, they have minimum quantities built in. It's a minor quibble, but I don't get why they do this. Maybe I want two of something and not four... (?)
Im not saying they are the best as i have only made one order from them but, Ed they are worth a look. I follow them on instagram and they appear to manufacture there own abrasives and not resale others. Not positive on this just going by what I see. Im a sucker for sales and always shop around online and I never see any of the big names that sell abrasives doing sales. Black friday was 25% off I think. I will be ordering from them again.
Yeah I was waiting on your answer Ed because I know we talked about about this on private msg I wish we still had them on this forum.But thanx for all the replys guys.My advice is just to go with the "best"..... Tru-Grit. They have any belt brand/type you could want, fast service, and the best prices you will find. The vast majority of abrasive resellers get their belts from Tru-Grit, mark them up, then resell them.
At one time or another I've had every abrasive company contact me, asking if I want to "buy direct and save"..... when I ask for a quote (usually on heavy grit belts) the quote is ALWAYS $2-3 MORE per belt than I pay for the same belt(s) from Tru-Grit. When I say I'm paying less for the same belts, and tell them I buy from Tru-Grit, the answer is always the same "Oh, well, Tru-Grit buys so many belts that we can't even offer them for the same prices"
"Bargain Abrasives" never are.
I agree with John on the VSM ceramic belts...... I've been using them for several years, and just yesterday it took exactly ONE 50 grit VSM XK760X to finish grind 7 Damascus blades (post heat treat) and it still has some life in it.
I don't know if they do it with everyone, but with nearly every order I place, Tru-Grit, will send me a few "sample" belts, asking me to test them, and report back...... that's how I get to real world test "new" belts, and get first hand knowledge of how they will work for me, in my shop.
Again....."Bargain Abrasives" never are.
My advice is just to go with the "best"..... Tru-Grit. They have any belt brand/type you could want, fast service, and the best prices you will find. The vast majority of abrasive resellers get their belts from Tru-Grit, mark them up, then resell them.
At one time or another I've had every abrasive company contact me, asking if I want to "buy direct and save"..... when I ask for a quote (usually on heavy grit belts) the quote is ALWAYS $2-3 MORE per belt than I pay for the same belt(s) from Tru-Grit. When I say I'm paying less for the same belts, and tell them I buy from Tru-Grit, the answer is always the same "Oh, well, Tru-Grit buys so many belts that we can't even offer them for the same prices"
"Bargain Abrasives" never are.
I agree with John on the VSM ceramic belts...... I've been using them for several years, and just yesterday it took exactly ONE 50 grit VSM XK760X to finish grind 7 Damascus blades (post heat treat) and it still has some life in it.
I don't know if they do it with everyone, but with nearly every order I place, Tru-Grit, will send me a few "sample" belts, asking me to test them, and report back...... that's how I get to real world test "new" belts, and get first hand knowledge of how they will work for me, in my shop.
Again....."Bargain Abrasives" never are.
Pops knife supply also has good prices on several varieties of belts