A soft resin bond diamond wheel can be resurfaced if it is 2.5", 4", 6" or 8" and worn with the core still intact, whoever made it. Hard wheels (sintered, nickel bond or electroplated, including Diamond Pacific Galaxy), flat faceting laps, and wheels worn through to the core cannot. We resurface soft wheels from any manufacturer for half the price of a new SuperNova at 4", 6" and 8", and send them back in about a week.
The quick check
Soft or hard: the first question
Resurfacing puts a new diamond resin layer on a soft wheel. It does not apply to hard wheels, where the diamond is held in metal.
| You can tell a soft wheel by | You can tell a hard wheel by |
|---|---|
| A flexible diamond face over a soft backing | A rigid metal rim or metal face |
| Grits from 60 up to 200,000 and oxide polishes | Coarse grits: 600 and below across the hard wheels we sell |
| Names like SuperNova, Nova | Names like Galaxy, or "sintered," "nickel bond," "electroplated" |
Soft wheels we take: SuperNova, Diamond Pacific Nova, and soft resin wheels from any other maker, including the resin wheels on CabKing and Barranca machines.
Hard wheels we do not take: our nickel bond wheels, sintered wheels, Galaxy, electroplated wheels. Galaxy is Diamond Pacific's hard nickel bond wheel, not a soft one, even though it is sold alongside Nova. See bond types.
How worn is too worn
| Condition | Resurfaceable |
|---|---|
| Worn smooth, glazed, stopped cutting | Yes |
| Bare spots, backing showing, core intact | We judge it when it arrives. If it can be done, we do it |
| Bore worn oval | Yes. We fit a new bushing so it runs true |
| Worn through to the core | No. Scrap |
If we cannot resurface it, we send the wheel back to you, or dispose of it if you ask us to.
Do not run a soft wheel to the very end. Stop just before you think it has reached the end of its life. Running the last of it can damage the wheel so that it can no longer be resurfaced.
For how to read the wear on your own wheel, see Reading a worn soft wheel.
Sizes
We resurface 2.5", 4", 6" and 8" soft wheels. The price is flat across every grit, including cerium.
| Size | Resurface | New SuperNova |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5" | $29.95 | not sold new |
| 4" | $34.95 | $69.95 |
| 6" | $39.95 | $79.95 |
| 8" | $49.95 | $99.95 |
Store prices, 2026-09-29. Any other size, call 714-771-7007 before you ship. For the full cost comparison, see Resurfacing versus buying new.
If it can be resurfaced: how to send it
- Order the resurfacing service in your wheel's size and the grit you want back. Return shipping is charged at checkout.
- Wash the wheel completely.
- Write your name and the grit you want back on the side of the wheel.
- Include your contact information and your email address.
- Do not send boxes or bushings. Wheel only.
- Ship it to Johnson Brothers Lapidary, 1452 N Batavia St., Orange, CA 92867. You pay shipping to us.
- Allow about a week from the day it arrives.
If you are not happy with the result, we refund you in full, including your shipping. You can have it back in a different grit at no extra charge. See Changing grit when you resurface.
Questions we get
Can you resurface a wheel from another brand?
Yes. We resurface soft resin wheels from any manufacturer, ours and everyone else's.
Can you resurface Galaxy wheels?
No. Galaxy is Diamond Pacific's hard nickel bond wheel. Resurfacing is for soft wheels.
Can you resurface flat laps or faceting laps?
No. We resurface soft cabbing wheels.
My wheel's bore is worn oval. Is it scrap?
No. We fit a new bushing during resurfacing so it runs true again.
Is anyone else doing this?
Not that we know of. We have not found another US company that resurfaces soft wheels sent in by mail.
What if you cannot resurface it?
We send it back to you, or dispose of it if you ask.
I am not sure what I have. What do I do?
Call 714-771-7007 before you ship and we will tell you.
Related: Resurfacing versus buying new, Reading a worn soft wheel, Changing grit when you resurface.