2-1/2" x 14" Porter Cable 371 Sanding Belts, 12 PACK

The Porter-Cable 371 and 371K compact belt sander, and the DeWalt D26480 that shares its 64 x 356 mm belt, are the small hand-held sanders finish carpenters and cabinet installers use one-handed for scribing, easing edges and fitting trim. They take a 2-1/2" x 14" belt, a size most hardware stores no longer stock, so we convert it in Anaheim, California, on Y-weight poly-cotton cloth with heat-treated grain and sell it 12 to a pack, one grit per pack.

Choose Aluminum Oxide for wood, trim and general use, Zirconia for heavy stock removal on aluminum and steel, or Silicon Carbide for the finest scratch pattern at 220 and 320 grit on wood and metal. Grits run 36 through 400, and the cloth backing runs wet or dry.

• Correct 2-1/2" x 14" (64 x 356 mm) size for the Porter-Cable 371/371K and DeWalt D26480
• Y-weight poly-cotton cloth and heat-treated grain built to outlast typical light belts on this sander
• Aluminum oxide, zirconia and silicon carbide from one listing, 36 through 400 grit
• Runs wet or dry; poly-cotton backing does not soften or tear at the joint
• 12 belts per pack, one grit per pack, so a trim crew has spares in the truck
• Converted in Anaheim, California; ships free on orders over $200

Which 2-1/2" x 14" belt should you choose?

A compact belt sander is a light tool, so the grain that suits it is usually aluminum oxide. Not every grit is stocked in every grain; pick the material first and the grit menu shows what we carry. We do not mix grits within a pack.

• Aluminum Oxide: the belt for wood roughly 95% of the time, and the most versatile of the three. Heat-treated grain on poly-cotton cloth, wet or dry, works on hardwood, softwood, plywood edges, MDF, paint, filler, aluminum and mild steel. It is also the cheapest way to sand metal when life is not the priority. Offered across the full 36–400 range.
• Zirconia: heavy stock removal and long life on aluminum, steel and stainless. It self-sharpens under pressure, which a 2-1/2" sander can supply if you lean on it, and it is the choice for cleaning up welds, scale and rust with a compact tool. Keep it in the coarse band, 36 through 120. On wood it is often too aggressive and can tear grain or leave burn marks.
• Silicon Carbide: sharper, narrower grain that leaves a thinner scratch pattern than aluminum oxide or zirconia. Woodworkers and metalworkers choose it at 220 or 320 grit after the heavy removal is done, when the finish matters more than belt life. Also the grain for plastics, fiberglass and solid surface.

A finish carpenter should carry aluminum oxide 80 for scribing and fitting, 120 for easing edges, and 180 or 220 for final touch-up. A metal shop using the 371 as a portable deburring tool should add zirconia 60 and 80.

Grit guide for a compact belt sander

What sanders take a 2-1/2" x 14" belt?

• Porter-Cable 371 and 371K compact belt sanders, the tool this belt is sized and listed for.
• DeWalt D26480, which specifies a 64 x 356 mm belt, the metric equivalent of 2-1/2" x 14".
• Other compact one-hand belt sanders whose manual calls for a 2-1/2" x 14" or 64 x 356 mm belt.

Fitting is the same on all of them: retract the front roller with the tension lever, slide the belt on with any direction arrow on the inside pointing the way the belt travels, release the lever, then run the sander in the air and turn the tracking knob until the belt rides centred on the platen and clear of the housing. Re-check tracking after the first minute; cloth belts settle slightly as they warm. If you have a different compact sander that takes a size we do not list, we make custom belts to order in about 3 days.

How to get the most out of it

1. Start the sander before it touches the work and lift it off before you stop. Setting a running belt down flat avoids the gouge that a stationary start leaves.
2. Keep it moving and let the tool's weight work. A compact sander removes material fast for its size; dwelling digs a hollow and burns cherry, maple and painted surfaces.
3. Sand with the grain on trim and casework, and tilt to a slight angle only when scribing, where you want the belt edge to cut a back-bevel.
4. Stay at 120 grit and finer on veneered plywood and use light pressure; the face veneer is thin and a 60 grit belt goes through it in a pass.
5. Give zirconia pressure on metal. It only fractures and refreshes under load. Aluminum oxide and silicon carbide prefer a light hand.
6. Clean the belt on the run. Touch a crepe-rubber belt eraser to the moving belt to clear pitch, paint and filler. On aluminum, rub a grease stick on the belt to stop loading.
7. Empty the dust bag often and store belts flat or hanging. A folded cloth belt takes a crease that thumps against the platen.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Scribing cabinets, fillers, countertops and trim to walls and floors
• Easing edges and leveling joints on doors, casings and face frames
• Fitting stair treads, thresholds and hardwood flooring repairs
• Knocking down paint, filler and rust on small repairs (aluminum oxide)
• Portable deburring and weld cleanup on aluminum and steel (zirconia)
• Fine finishing on plastics, solid surface and non-ferrous metal (silicon carbide)

Don't use it for

• Flattening wide panels or table tops; the 2-1/2" platen leaves tracks, use a wider sander
• Zirconia for finishing wood; it tears and burns
• Coarse grits on veneered plywood or laminate edges
• Running the belt against a direction arrow printed inside it

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All narrow sanding belts
• 2-1/2" x 16" Skil 593 Sand Cat Sanding Belts, 12 pack
• 3" x 21" Sanding Belts for full-size portable sanders
• Belt eraser for cleaning loaded belts
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days