It’s finally time to change the polishing wheels on my Diamond
Pacific Genie. I have had great use from the supplied NOVA wheels for
8 years. In my search for new wheels I noticed that the Covington
brand of wheels look about the same, but cost much less. Does anyone
here have any experience with the Covington brand to help me decide
on witch to get, or another brand (just not cheapo Chicom) that you
have had good service from?
Steve Wandt
I have had great luck having wheels re-surfaced by Johnson Brothers
in California at a fraction of the cost.
Gerry
Hi Steve, I started with rocks over 40 years ago, so my first
diamond wheels were a dream come true. I always wanted a Titan, the
8" diameter for production, but could never afford it. I started with
a Lortone Beaver arbor and purchased Crystalite metal wheels, and
their belts on expanding drums for my first diamond set-up. After all
these years I have tried most all name brands, including Covington. I
have one of their diamond wheels on a 6" machine at the moment, and I
have been quite satisfied. I can’t make a claim for the longevity yet
but their claim about no “break in” period is true. I have always
hated the waste of the diamond while breaking in a Nova wheel. I have
also purchased Covingtons diamond belts, which they will custom make
in whatever grit and size you want for a belt sander, or the two inch
width for the old style expanding drums. I have purchased Johnson
Brothers Super Nova belts and wheels, and am satisfied with them
also. They are the best price, and they will also make custom sizes.
I got tired of the rust problem with painted steel on the Beaver
arbors, and had some stainless pans made about twenty years ago, and
used Lortones bearings and shafts to build two six inch machines that
will never rust. You may have noticed Lortone got around to making
their own stainless arbors a few years ago.
I never could afford the Titan (about 3,000 US), but I did rebuild
an old Star Diamond (now that I know how to deal with painted steel’s
rusting problem), and used Crystalite metal wheels (my favorite
steel wheels), and four Diamond Pacific Novas for sanding and
polishing. The Star Diamond is a bit larger then the Titan, allowing
for an extra metal wheel. The Crystalite Turbine 40 grit wheel eats
up the toughest agate quite rapidly, and there is plenty of room on
each end of the stainless steel 1" shaft for face plates. I can make
this longer, but I think your answer is already in there somewhere.
Thomas III
Thanks for all the replies. I am going to send my soft wheels to
Johnson Brothers for a resurface. My hard diamond wheels are still
cutting well. I will post my experience once I get hem back and put
them to work.
Steve Wandt