Rockwerks Lapidary Forum

First time post looking for some sound advice. I have been cabbing Petoskey stones for years using a set of expandable drums (8"x3") and SC belts of 100, 200, 400 and 600 grits. I finish the stones out on cotton wheels and have glass like gemstones. I have been in Arizona quite a few times and have slabbed a number of beautiful rocks. I want to cabb some of them. I want to purchase diamond belts for my appliction machinery above. Does anyone know who makes the best one, how long I can expect them to last on jasper/agate etc. or just some sound advice on what to buy/what not to buy. In the past I have ordered most of my supplies from Kingsley North in my home state. Thanks in advance.

Probably nobody has replied because we all use different stuff, and because we get one thing that works for us and stick with it.

I don't buy the diamond belts, I use diamond paste on the tan belts, which is economical enough that I can buy belts a dozen at a time, and toss them when they disintegrate. They last for months. You can add more paste if the belt has life but the cutting gets slow, but the paste lasts a long time too.

Others here use Nova wheels, or different configurations, we may have few people who use diamond belts.

Hi. In my limited experience I didn't like the Eastwind brand diamond belts. They are too dang tight and it's hard to get them on and off the drum. I bought two True Circle belts by Ray Tech and I LOVE them. I've had them over a year and they don't show much wear. Use more water with diamond than with SiC belts!