Are there any decent air file belts?

[JOEPRO]

My last set of 10x zincronium belts on my air file wore out within a couple of minutes each dressing down mig welds on my cars.

The grit would wear off down to the paper.

So I thought this time I'd buy ceramic branded belts. Oh dear what trash they were. Blew apart themselves in seconds. All 10x belts gone in a minute or two. I'll be seeking a refund.



No wear just blee apart at the seam clearly not glued correctly from the factory. Belt not overtensioned or anything was careful of that. Never had belts blow apart before.



So are there any decent belts in this size that members have been using please? Something that lasts semi decent taking down welds in inaccessible areas.

 

[Mick Annick]

Can’t help but do let us know if you find any.

I’ve just been through two packs of Makita own brand 9x533 - rubbish, and some ceramic ones which broke in seconds - I complained and got asked if I’m running them in the right direction, they have arrows on them you know? They’re chuffing 9mm wide, there are no arrows!!

 

[Anguz]

Had some allbeit a different size from here... seem to work well for me

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Fazerruss]

I use powerfile belts daily. The best belts I've found are 3M cubitron, also the most expensive but they do last.

 

[Fazerruss]

Had some allbeit a different size from here... seem to work well for me

Pardon our interruption...

I've used them. Not bad, but not as good as 3M

 

[Fazerruss]

My last set of 10x zincronium belts on my air file wore out within a couple of minutes each dressing down mig welds on my cars.

The grit would wear off down to the paper.

So I thought this time I'd buy ceramic branded belts. Oh dear what trash they were. Blew apart themselves in seconds. All 10x belts gone in a minute or two. I'll be seeking a refund.

View attachment 490229

No wear just blee apart at the seam clearly not glued correctly from the factory. Belt not overtensioned or anything was careful of that. Never had belts blow apart before.

View attachment 490230

So are there any decent belts in this size that members have been using please? Something that lasts semi decent taking down welds in inaccessible areas.

I don't known where you are in the world but there's a guy who does all the auto jumbles/ shows etc who goes by the name of Aero Jim. He does a really good belt that's nearly as good as 3M but cheaper.
He does Rufforth, Newark jumbles plus various shows at NEC. All his stuff ( drills, files, carbide burs) are the best quality I've come across.

 

[JOEPRO]

I use powerfile belts daily. The best belts I've found are 3M cubitron, also the most expensive but they do last.

Thank you. I ordered 5x 3M cubitron II belts to try out. 60 grit.

 

[Turbo]

There was a guy on ebay Johnt something, I think he was a member on here.
His belts were top quality and never broke. But he no longer sells on ebay so I too would be interested in sourcing good ceramic belts.

 

[Morris]

I do seem to recall that 3M belts are faked a lot.
I currently have 3M from Pronet and they have been fine.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I can highly recommend the red ceramic ones from wasp supplies, had similar issues to the OP with ebay belts (I messaged the seller and got a refund on them BTW) so went with a specialist supplier.

 

[Dragnet]

Perhaps I've got lucky. I've been using Silverline ones on my power file (electric rather than air) and haven't had a break yet. Happily ground off many feet of weld and some bumper bolts on a Transit without mishap or changing belts.

 

[Mick Annick]

I can highly recommend the red ceramic ones from wasp supplies, had similar issues to the OP with ebay belts (I messaged the seller and got a refund on them BTW) so went with a specialist supplier.

Interesting, that’s where I bought mine which were useless!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

No wear just blee apart at the seam clearly not glued correctly from the factory.

I had a similar issue....what I noticed was the belts that are simply glued just snap apart at the joint...basically zero use. The belts that last and are good have a reinforcement backing the glue joint...so they don't just rely on the glue to hold it together.

Can't recommend a supplier...as above I too have bought and had good belts...and then bought from the same place and got the duff belts. So you either need a reliable online source....or find somewhere that you can check the joints before buying.

 

[ATGNI]

I think the ones I use are blue or green been a while, but you need to look for zirconium. They are just incredibly compared to all the others. Three time the price but worth it for sure

 

[Porkypine]

I was using a powerfile today, thinking ''ok i've got a few belts'' yeah right..every one of the ba'stards broke at the joint in seconds. These were from an ebay seller that as I recall were previously good, was a while back so can't remember which one, I really must source some that simply don't f'in break

 

[JOEPRO]

I was using a powerfile today, thinking ''ok i've got a few belts'' yeah right..every one of the ba'stards broke at the joint in seconds. These were from an ebay seller that as I recall were previously good, was a while back so can't remember which one, I really must source some that simply don't f'in break

Yes very frustrating isn't it! I hope the 3m belts last longer

 

[Porkypine]

Yes very frustrating isn't it! I hope the 3m belts last longer

Yep, it's a nightmare, I had to re-fit the old rather worn belt back on to do the job, luckily I hadn't binned it !

 

[Jack_K]

I have used Norton Blaze (orange ceramic ones) and 3M belts. I counted how many spot welds I was removing with them and it was over 15 from memory.

 

[JOEPRO]

Update - the 3m Cubitron belts arrived and wow.

What a difference! Still on the first belt I fitted. Strong performance and no issues at all.

Those are the belts to get.

 

[anto44]

I ordered a big stock of belts off Ebay a few years back from a recommendation on here and they were awesome when I got them but they don't seem to have stored well. They've gone hard and brittle and the older they get the easier they're breaking.
The next time I order belts I'm only going to buy a small amount of them.