Sanding Belts
What size belt do I need?
There are a couple of different ways to figure out the correct belt size to fit your machine. (1) If you have an old,
worn out belt, simply cut the belt apart (straight cut). Measure the WIDTH of the belt with a ruler or tape
measure and then measure the LENGTH of the belt from end to end. When shopping for a sanding belt,
dimensions are listed WIDTH x LENGTH. (2) If you don’t have an old belt to measure, you will need a piece of
string. To get the width of the belt, you can use a ruler or tape measure and measure the width of the roller the
belt will wrap around. To determine the length of the belt, take the string and wrap it around the belt sander the
same way you would put a belt on it. Cut the string so the ends meet up and then measure the string from end
to end.
What type of material should I use?
This all depends on what you are sanding. Here’s what we offer at Sparky Abrasives:
Aluminum Oxide (Good) This is the most versatile abrasive and can be used for many sanding applications. From stock removal to finishing, it works well on bare wood, painted surfaces, and many metals. This material tends to simply wear down until it becomes too dull to cut efficiently. Available in grits 36 - 400
Zirconia (Better) This is an ultra-tough, synthetic abrasive which provides a cool cut in high stock removal applications. It has a micro-crystalline structure which allows for controlled breakdown and self-sharpening. Tougher and sharper than aluminum oxide, it is excellent for heavy duty snagging and grinding of all ferrous and non-ferrous metals. It also works great on fiberglass, rubber, plastics and mild steel. Available in grits 36 - 120
Ceramic (Best) The sub-micron structure of ceramic allows each grain to have continually exposed sharp cutting points, resulting in an enhanced cutting action and extended life. When using ceramic, more pressure needs to be applied in order to effectively expose these new, sharper points. Our ceramic material also has a lubricant added, which allows for a cooler cutting action. Ceramic is excellent for all ferrous and non-ferrous metals, carbon steel, exotic alloys, aluminum and especially stainless steel. Can be used for wet applications. Available in grits 36 - 120
Silicon Carbide This is the hardest and sharpest of the manufactured abrasives, providing fast stock removal and a cool cut. It’s great for cast iron, non-ferrous metals (brass, aluminum and bronze), non-metallic material (glass, rubber, plastic and stone) and for a final finish on wood or stainless steel. Most silicon carbide materials can be used for either wet or dry applications. This material is NOT offered online, so if interested please give us a call as we do stock some of this material. Available in grits 24, 36 – 180, 220 – 600
Surface Conditioning (Scotch-Brite) This material can be used for cleaning, finishing, blending and deburring applications. Surface conditioning belts can also be used in place of coated sanding belts when a finer grit is needed. They are very popular in the food equipment industry, with knife makers and for most stainless steel applications. These belts work great on portable sanders, Dyna-file sanders and back-stand grinders; and we can make custom size belts to fit them all. Available in coarse, medium and very fine, our Sparky Abrasives' surface conditioning belts are “Made in USA” using premium, high quality materials.