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Two questions

#1

David,

Regarding your lapidary arbor, I use the same type of drum/belt
combination as you and have found that:

  1. There are significant variations in supposedly "identical"
    belt sizes between manufacturers. Given the same dimensions of 6
    inch diameter belts, one from manufacturer A will fit much more
    snugly than one from manufacturer B.

  2. The same holds true of expandable drums. Some brands will
    increase diameter at a given RPM much more than others, due to
    the type and quality of rubber composition.

  3. If used infrequently, all rubber compounds (including car
    tires) will lose elasticity over time. Your drum, if left idle
    for a period of years, could well have succumbed to this
    tendancy.

  4. The most outstanding values today in diamond belts, in terms
    of quality/longevity versus price, are the metal belts by 3M.
    They cut superbly. I use mine regularily, and they last a long,
    long time. (No connection with the company, etc., etc.). Good
    luck.

#2 
  4. The most outstanding values today in diamond belts, in
terms of quality/longevity versus price, are the metal belts by
3M. They cut superbly. I use mine regularily, and they last a
long, long time. (No connection with the company, etc., etc.).
Good luck.

I assume you’re talking about the Scott-Murray expandable drum
belts. I have an 8" that I use with emery belts, and want to try
these 3M diamond ones. Do 3M have a website order form?

Brian
B r i a n � A d a m J e w e l l e r y E y e w e a r �
@Brian_Adam1 ph/fx +64 9 817 6816 NEW ZEALAND
http://www.adam.co.nz
http://www.adam.co.nz/workshop/ NEXT: Queenstown NZ Jan 13 1998
http://www.adam.co.nz/ruthbaird/ Ruth makes her jewellery alongside me

#3

Brian,

The metal-bonded diamond belts may possibly be available
directly from 3M, I don’t know. I buy mine from a distributor,
Kingsley North, Inc., in Michigan I believe. They have a pretty
complete catalog for lapidary tools, etc. Phone #800-338-9280. No
web site that I know of. Incidently, the belt prices are
significantly more expensive than paper/emery ones, but will
outlast them enormously, and the diamond will cut considerably
faster than Silicon Carbide or Aluminum Oxide, to the extent that
you have to retrain yourself in applying pressure on the stone
while grinding. Good luck.

#4 
The metal-bonded diamond belts may possibly be available
directly from 3M, I don't know. I buy mine from a distributor,
Kingsley North, Inc., in Michigan I believe. They have a pretty
complete catalog for lapidary tools, etc. Phone #800-338-9280. No

Thanks, David. I’d like to try Kingsley North. If you have your
catalog nearby would you tell me their regular phone number and
fax, as your 800 ones apply to the US.

Regards
Brian
B r i a n � A d a m J e w e l l e r y E y e w e a r �
@Brian_Adam1 ph/fx +64 9 817 6816 NEW ZEALAND
http://www.adam.co.nz/eyewear/ artworks - spectacles
http://www.adam.co.nz/jewellery/ earrings rings NZ jade
http://www.adam.co.nz/workshop/ NEXT: Queenstown NZ Jan 13 1998
http://www.adam.co.nz/ruthbaird/ Ruth makes her jewellery alongside me

#5

Dear Brian ,

I buy my 3M products from

POLISHERS & JEWELERS SUPPLY CORP.
675 Atwells Ave. P.O. Box 3448 Prov., RI USA 02909
(401) 454-2888 Fax (401) 454-2889 Http://www.pjsupply.com

E-mail - PJSUPPLY@aol.com

and I Live in Sri lanka, I can mail order and I recive the goods
in two weeks

Hope this helps
Ahmed Shareek

CRESCENT GEMS
International mail Order Company
http://www.ahmeds.com/shop

#6

Brian,

Kingsley North’s regular Phone# 906-563-9228, Fax# 906-563-7143.
Good luck.

#7

Hi Brian,

I intended to respond sooner… I think you will have to buy 3M
belts through a dealer…I don’t think they sell directly to the
public (big manufacturer). You may be able to get them in NZ
through an abrasives dealer. I bought mine through Thom Lane of
Lane Lapidary (lanelap@shore.net). He even has 50 grit diamond
belts custom made. You might want to send him email. I believe
he’s in Tucson at this point (vs. his home in Massachusetts),
but may be on email.

A different Dave

Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
http://www.sebaste.com