Choosing the right sanding belt is a challenge and more important than you may think, as failure to do so can cause damage to both the materials that you’re working on as well as your belt sander. The five most common types of machines you’ll use a sanding belt on are hand powered belt sanders, tube belt sanders, belt file sanders, floor sanders and stationary sanding belt grinders. Belt file sanders are usually handheld sanding machines that make use of narrow, small sanding belts.
Picking sanding belts can be somewhat of a daunting task with the combination of all the different grit sizes as well as the types of grain and backing materials on the belts. Most commonly found on wet & dry sanding sheets, Silicon Carbide is the grain of choice for belt sanding glass, plastic, rubber, ceramic or other masonry type materials. A relative newcomer to the abrasive sanding belt realm, ceramic belts are a specially heat treated aluminum oxide grain that is extremely hard.
Asked by: Sterling Stamm Score: 5/5. As high-performance belts, both zirconia and ceramic sanding belts will last longer and remove metal faster than aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sanding belts. If you’re looking to strip down and finish entire planks, a belt sander is a good choice because it will offer pretty uniform results across the breadth of its sanding surface. Most commonly found on wet & dry sanding sheets, Silicon Carbide is the grain of choice for belt sanding glass, plastic, rubber, ceramic or other masonry type materials.
When sanding metal for the purpose of rust removal, edge deburring, or sanding finishes between coats, it is best to use a sandpaper grit count higher than 220. 220 grit count is the most course grit you should ever use for these purposes. Although you could get away with using something as course as a 320 grit count, is it recommended to use something as fine as 1,200 grit count to achieve the smoothest finish.
I would like to put sanding belts on it that will do a reasonable job on steel. 05-18-2006, 09:15 AM #2. 05-18-2006, 10:42 AM #3. 05-18-2006, 10:49 AM #4 If you plan to do a lot of work with metal on it, I’d look into some of the newer ceramic abrasive belts. The Zirconia belts are neede for Stainless steel, but the jury is out for me on regular steel use.
best belt sander grit for metal Related Question:
What type of sanding belt is best for metal?
As high-performance belts, both zirconia and ceramic sanding belts will last longer and remove metal faster than aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sanding belts. Both belts have the ability to resharpen as they wear and both are primarily used on metal applications. In the end, both types of belts are excellent belts.
Can you sand metal with a belt sander?
If you use the belt sander to sand metal, you’ll create sparks, which can start a fire if they mix with the sawdust in the machine and the dust bag. Blow or vacuum the dust out of the sander before you use it on metal, and remove the dust bag. Make sure the trigger is off before plugging the sander in.
What is the best sandpaper for belt sander?
40 to 60 grit is best suited for the heaviest work. When you’re performing tasks such as smoothing surfaces or removing minor blemishes, you’re better off using sandpaper with 80 to 120 grit. For the end of a job, when you’re finishing surfaces, a fine sandpaper with 350 to 600 grit is the ideal choice.
Can you use a wood belt sander on metal?
Sure you can sand metal or wood with most sanders but when you combine aluminum oxides, aluminum, dirty steel and iron oxide you can in effect create THERMITE on the belt.
What is 80 grit sandpaper used for?
40 – 80 Grit: Coarse. 40 to 80 grit is used for heavy or rough sanding and to help remove scratches or imperfections. While it is okay to be abrasive, take your time when using a low-grit sandpaper because it may show noticeable scratches or swirls in the wood.
What is the difference between a belt sander and a belt grinder?
The belt grinder belt speed typically runs double from what the belt speed of the belt of a belt sander is running at. Belts grinders you generally have multiple grinding points such as the platen and the second grinding point is the contact wheel.
What grit is A45?
Conversions: A6 = 2500 grit, A16 = 1200 grit, A30 = 800 grit, A45 or M45 = 400 grit, A65 = 320, A100 = 220 grit. DEER ABRASIVE has just introduced their own structured abrasives: PRIZMA.
Should you push down on a belt sander?
You do not have to push down on the sander. Pull the sander backward letting the weight and sharpness of the belt cut the surface. Don’t pull back and then tip the sander off the edge or you’ll cut off too much wood and need to build it back up with putty.
What is a palm sander used for?
More about palm sanders A palm sander is a great finishing tool for any woodworking project. You could use innumerable materials depending on the type of sandpaper that you choose. These are meant for fine sanding to work on materials that you want to get a subtle finish.
What is better belt sander or orbital sander?
A belt sander is more effective for large materials, while the orbital sander is ideal for small spaces and pieces of furniture. A belt sander works effectively on flat surfaces, while an orbital sander can work with various angles.
When a disc sander is incorporated with a belt Linishing sander It is called a?
Stationary belt sanders are sometimes mounted on a work bench, in which case they are called bench sanders. Stationary belt sanders are often combined with a disc sander.
What is the roughest grit sandpaper?
What Is Sandpaper Grit? Sandpaper grit is sized by a gauge number, with lower numbers signifying larger, coarser grits. For example, #24- or #40-grit sandpaper is a very coarse, rough sandpaper, while the #1,000-grit paper is extremely fine with very small abrasive particles.
What is the strongest grit sandpaper?
The lower the number, the more coarse the grit. Sandpapers are commonly graded as coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320) and Super Fine (360 and above).
Do you need special sandpaper for metal?
It is recommended to use a 320 or higher grit count to sand metal. If you need to polish metal, it is best to use a much finer sandpaper grit. Although you could get away with using something as course as a 320 grit count, is it recommended to use something as fine as 1,200 grit count to achieve the smoothest finish.
What kind of sander do you use for aluminum?
The best option for speeding up the sanding process would be to use an orbital sander with PSA discs or an angle grinder with an aluminum grinding flap disc.