paulm
IG paulm_outdoors
Found a source for replacement belts, much cheaper than standard Sorby replacements, made to order in about 48 hours.
Only slight problem is a minimum order quantity for each grit grade of a dozen, and a fiver p&p but still works out a lot cheaper.
Stocked up with a dozen of the 120 grit ceramic belts at £1.96 each plus vat and a share of the p&p makes them around £2.60 each all in versus around £5.48 from the normal retail sources.
To get a finer grit (avoiding aluminium oxide as it blunts in a matter of minutes on hss) had to go with zirconium which is not as good as ceramic but miles better than AO, and got a dozen of those in 240 grit at £1.50 each or £2.05 with vat and p&p. These retail at around £3.65.
So I now have plenty of stock that should last for ages !
If anybody is interested the firm is here http://www.bndabrasives.co.uk/coated-ab ... at_44.html The Sorby belts are not a standard size but they make them up to order and you need 50mm wide by 780mm long, in whatever material you want, just give them a call, they are very friendly and helpful.
If there were a few people interested they may do better prices still for a larger order that could then be received by one member and parcelled out to get better rates still and/or avoid individuals being stuck with a quantity of a dozen or so if they only want less, but I haven't asked them so don't know if the economics would really work versus just buying your own direct from them.
Cheers, Paul
Only slight problem is a minimum order quantity for each grit grade of a dozen, and a fiver p&p but still works out a lot cheaper.
Stocked up with a dozen of the 120 grit ceramic belts at £1.96 each plus vat and a share of the p&p makes them around £2.60 each all in versus around £5.48 from the normal retail sources.
To get a finer grit (avoiding aluminium oxide as it blunts in a matter of minutes on hss) had to go with zirconium which is not as good as ceramic but miles better than AO, and got a dozen of those in 240 grit at £1.50 each or £2.05 with vat and p&p. These retail at around £3.65.
So I now have plenty of stock that should last for ages !
If anybody is interested the firm is here http://www.bndabrasives.co.uk/coated-ab ... at_44.html The Sorby belts are not a standard size but they make them up to order and you need 50mm wide by 780mm long, in whatever material you want, just give them a call, they are very friendly and helpful.
If there were a few people interested they may do better prices still for a larger order that could then be received by one member and parcelled out to get better rates still and/or avoid individuals being stuck with a quantity of a dozen or so if they only want less, but I haven't asked them so don't know if the economics would really work versus just buying your own direct from them.
Cheers, Paul
