Confused about sanding belts

[paulrussell]

The Shopsmith web page is confusing me.

I understand that ceramic belts are more robust than AO belts. However Shopsmith has two different sets of ceramic belts:

Premium Ceramic Belts (shown in retail boxes, 19.98 except for 36 grit at 25.98)
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... c_6x48.htm

Ceramic Belts (shown without boxes, green in color -- 21.37 for all grits)
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... cbelts.htm

The word "Premium" would suggest those are the better belts, while the higher price (for most grits) of the green belts would suggest those to be better.

Anyone have experience comparing the two?

[dusty]

Your confused and so am I. I am also a bit irritated. I did not do adequate research. I just purchased a supply of new belts and I now am unsure of whether I bought what I wanted/needed.

Being restricted by medical conditions right now, I can not get into the shop to do some testing so I'll be watching this thread closely.

Attention Shopsmith: Please consider doing a detailed disclosure of the virtues of these two slightly differing products.

Warning: Be aware that the PSA disks have a life expectancy. Do not expect them to last forever.

[davebodner]

Purple vs green. Is there more than a difference in color?

Perusing the catalog, I see that the belt sander includes both purple and green premium belts. The strip sander has only green. The disc sander has only green. And Shopsmith's general purpose sanding supplies are purple.

My hypothesis: The purple represents Shopsmith's attempt at developing a second product line, one not dependent on the Mark V/Mark 7. This is what Shopsmith placed in Lowes. The green is from Shopsmith's regular suppliers specifically for us.

But that still begs the question: What's the difference? My highly uneducated guess is that they're pretty similar. It would be nice to hear from the horse's mouth.

[dusty]

Different color, similar description but different part numbers and different prices.

[jsburger]

The Shopsmith web page is confusing me.

I understand that ceramic belts are more robust than AO belts. However Shopsmith has two different sets of ceramic belts:

Premium Ceramic Belts (shown in retail boxes, 19.98 except for 36 grit at 25.98)
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... c_6x48.htm

Ceramic Belts (shown without boxes, green in color -- 21.37 for all grits)
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... cbelts.htm

The word "Premium" would suggest those are the better belts, while the higher price (for most grits) of the green belts would suggest those to be better.

Anyone have experience comparing the two?

It tells you right on the page what the difference is.

"Shopsmith's new premium abrasive products feature G2 technology, a combination of the highest quality abrasive grains, mated with the most durable backings to give you the fastest-cutting, longest-lasting abrasives available."

Then it proceeds to describe the features of the G2 Technology. The other belts are also ceramic but presumably don't have the better G2 Technology since it is not mentioned on the page anywhere.

I do agree the pricing is interesting. It may have something to do with the G2 belts are the ones that are also sold in Lowe's since they are in retail packaging.

[JPG]

G in G2 = Gator?

Maybe the green ones are G1!

[pieceseeker]

The most likely definition of "G2 Technology" is a Generation 2 belt.

[dusty]

Shopsmith has teamed with someone else to bring this product to market. A close reading of the advertisements makes me believe this is another German import. (still further reading makes this a doubtful statement)

http://gatorfinishing.com/

I believe these people had product on the market before Shopsmith became involved.

[JPG]

Shopsmith has teamed with someone else to bring this product to market. A close reading of the advertisements makes me believe this is another German import.

http://gatorfinishing.com/

I believe these people had product on the market before Shopsmith became involved.

Maybe.

Ali in in Fairborn, OH.

[dusty]

If you read what is on the carton, you will find that the P120 grit is identified as 522937, 12165, DC-ALI and that the sandpaper is made in South Korea and is Assembled in the USA.

What do you do to assemble sanding belts other than glue the ends together?

I can hardly wait to test these new belts.

I am also still curious about these green ceramic belts. Note that they are not identified as G2 and carry no reference to Gator. If you go to the Shopsmith web site, you find this: http://www.shopsmith.com/search/search.htm?q=556153. On this page, if you click on 556153 - 120 grit ceramic sanding belt, you will be taken to this: http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... c_6x48.htm.

Are 556153 and 522937 really the same thing only one is green?

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... cbelts.htm