Diamond belts?

i4Marc

i4Marc

Joined
Oct 19, 2011
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Instead of the typical AO, SC and ceramic abrasives, does anyone make 2x72 belts encrusted with industrial diamonds? Would that even work? I know some of the other abrasives are designed to break down as they are used. Would diamonds get dull with grinding? Surely the belts would be expensive but they would last for a very long time. I would think that diamonds would make a great abrasive for grinding belts but then you couldn't used your carbide-faced file guides with them.
 
You can always use a diamond paste on a leather belt as part of finishing. But most industrial diamonds are inside a metal matrix that wears away in use, diamond grinding wheels being the exception I am aware of. If not cutting something sufficiently abrasive you can need to dress these metal cutters with abrasives at times.
 
3M does or at least did make diamond belts. We had a 3M rep here at our warehouse. he was trying to sell me tape and such. But the knifemaker in me came out and I inquired about belts of course. He did say I should look into their diamond belts. He said he used to have an industrial place that used them and really liked them. I said I bet they are really expensive. All he said was I didn't hate it when they placed their order. I don't know what size or price they come in, but I think they do exsist.
 
The diamonds don't wear down...they wear off. The grit is only bonded so firmly to the belt. They are expensive for knife use, and frankly don't do all that well on steel. What they excel at is finishing stone handles.
 
I use diamond for machining aluminum and abrasive plastics, but it doesn't wear well in steel because the carbon (diamond is 100% carbon) dissolves into the steel under heat and pressure which leads to rapid dulling.
 
My dentist loves (heh) his diamond tapes for flossing between new porcelain crowns to open up the space a tiny amount. When I asked about some he looked down as if I'd grabbed his wallet. He mumbled something about $10-12 for each 1/8" x 3" sliver of material (remember though that these tapes gotta be sterile) and ignored my semi-pleading for leftovers.

I think dentists have some cool tools that knifemakers and woodworkers/carvers would put to good use.
 
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