2-1/2" x 16" Skil 593 Sand Cat Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
2-1/2" x 16" Skil 593 Sand Cat Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
Available in stock (49999)
The Skil 593 Sand Cat is a compact belt sander that a lot of people still own and still use for furniture refinishing, small woodworking and household repairs, and its 2-1/2" x 16" belt is not something a hardware store keeps on the peg anymore. We make it: heat-treated grain on a Y-weight poly-cotton backing, converted in Anaheim, California, and sold 12 to a pack in a single grit so the sander stays useful for as long as the motor runs.
Pick Aluminum Oxide for wood, paint and general use, Zirconia if you use the Sand Cat on steel or aluminum and want fast removal, or Silicon Carbide for the finest, most even scratch at 220 and 320 grit. Grits run 36 through 400 and the cloth backing can be run wet or dry.
- Correct 2-1/2" x 16" replacement belt for the Skil 593 Sand Cat
- Y-weight poly-cotton cloth built to outlast typical light-backed compact sander belts
- Aluminum oxide, zirconia and silicon carbide, 36 through 400 grit
- Heat-treated grain takes pressure without dulling early
- 12-pack in one grit keeps a hobby shop or refinisher stocked for years
- Converted in Anaheim, California; ships free on orders over $200
Which 2-1/2" x 16" belt should you choose?
The Sand Cat is a light, fast little sander, and the grain that suits it best for most owners is aluminum oxide. Grit availability differs by material; choose the material first and the grit menu shows what we stock. We do not mix grits within a pack, and the minimum per grit is one 12-piece pack.
- Aluminum Oxide: our recommendation for wood roughly 95% of the time. Heat-treated grain on a polyester-cotton cloth that runs wet or dry, it handles hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, old paint and varnish, filler, aluminum and mild steel. It is offered across the whole 36–400 range and is the economical choice if you also sand a little metal.
- Zirconia: for heavy stock removal and long life on aluminum, steel and stainless. It fractures and self-sharpens under pressure, so it suits owners who use the Sand Cat to knock rust and weld spatter off metal. Stocked in the coarse band, 36 through 120. On wood zirconia 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, so the finish looks better at the same grit. Belt life is shorter, which is why most people use it only at 220 or 320 after the heavy work is done. It is also the right grain for plastics, fiberglass and solid surface.
A refinisher should buy aluminum oxide 60 for stripping, 100 or 120 for leveling, and 180 or 220 for the surface that takes stain. A hobby metalworker can add zirconia 60 and 80.
Grit guide for a Sand Cat belt sander
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36–40 | Stripping thick paint, hogging rough stock, rust removal | Zirconia on metal; watch for gouging on wood |
| 60 | Removing old finish, flattening filler, leveling joints | Most-used stripping grit on furniture |
| 80–100 | General shaping, removing saw and planer marks | The everyday belt for the Sand Cat |
| 120–150 | Leveling before finish, easing edges | Stay at 120+ on veneer |
| 180–220 | Final surface before stain, oil or paint | Silicon carbide 220 for the cleanest look |
| 320–400 | Fine finishing, between-coat scuffing, plastics | Silicon carbide or AO; light touch |
What sanders take a 2-1/2" x 16" belt?
- Skil 593 Sand Cat: the compact belt sander this listing is sized and named for.
- Other compact belt sanders whose manual specifies a 2-1/2" wide, 16" long belt.
The 2-1/2" x 16" belt is not interchangeable with the 2-1/2" x 14" belt used on the Porter-Cable 371; two inches of length is more than a compact sander's tensioner can absorb. To fit: release the tension lever, slide the belt on with any direction arrow on the inside pointing in the direction of travel, re-tension, then run the sander in the air and adjust the tracking knob until the belt runs centred on the platen without rubbing the housing. Check tracking again after the first minute of use. If you have a different compact sander in a size we do not list, we make custom belts to order in about 3 days.
How to get the most out of it
- Start it in the air, land it moving. A compact sander set down while stationary leaves a divot the size of its platen. Start the motor, lower it flat, keep it moving, and lift it before you switch off.
- Let the sander's own weight do the work. Pressing down on a Sand Cat does not speed the cut; it stalls the motor, heats the belt and burns the wood.
- Sand with the grain and overlap passes by half the belt width so you do not leave stripes in the surface.
- Strip finish at 60, then step up in order: 60 to 100 to 150 to 220. Skipping from 60 straight to 220 leaves stripping scratches that show through stain.
- Stay at 120 grit and finer on veneered plywood and keep the sander flat; the face veneer is thin.
- Clean the belt on the run. Old varnish and paint load a belt quickly. Touch a crepe-rubber belt eraser to the moving belt to clear it rather than throwing the belt away.
- Give zirconia pressure on metal, use a grease stick on aluminum to stop loading, and keep metal dust away from wood dust.
- Empty the dust bag often and store spare belts flat or hanging so they do not take a crease.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Stripping old paint and varnish from furniture, doors and trim
- Leveling glue joints, filler and small glued-up panels
- Shaping, chamfering and easing edges on hobby and shop projects
- Sanding plywood, MDF and softwood for paint (aluminum oxide)
- Rust removal and light deburring on steel and aluminum (zirconia)
- Plastics, fiberglass and fine finishing passes (silicon carbide)
Don't use it for
- Flattening large table tops; the small platen leaves hollows, use a wider sander or a hand plane first
- Zirconia on wood you intend to finish; it tears grain and burns
- Coarse grits on veneer or laminate
- Running the belt against a direction arrow printed inside it
Specifications
| Size | 2-1/2" wide x 16" long |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grains | Aluminum oxide, zirconia, silicon carbide (heat-treated) |
| Backing | Y-weight polyester-cotton cloth |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check inside of belt for direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 36, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 (varies by grain) |
| Pack quantity | 12 belts, one grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both |
| Fits | Skil 593 Sand Cat |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Other compact sander sizes made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Do you still make belts for the Skil 593 Sand Cat?
Yes. The 2-1/2" x 16" belt is converted to order in our Anaheim, California shop in aluminum oxide, zirconia and silicon carbide, 36 through 400 grit, and sold in 12-packs of one grit. Because we convert it ourselves, we can keep supplying the size for as long as you keep using the sander.
Which grit should I use to strip old finish off furniture with a Sand Cat?
Start at 60 grit aluminum oxide for varnish, paint and shellac, and move to 36 or 40 only if the coating is very thick. Follow with 100 or 120 to remove the stripping scratches and 180 or 220 for the surface that takes stain. Clean the belt with a belt eraser as the old finish loads it.
Is the 2-1/2" x 16" belt the same as the 2-1/2" x 14" Porter-Cable belt?
No. Both are 2-1/2" wide, but the Sand Cat belt is 16" long and the Porter-Cable 371 belt is 14" long. Two inches is far more than a compact sander's tensioner can take up, so the belts are not interchangeable. We stock both; make sure you order the length your sander's manual calls for.
Should I buy aluminum oxide, zirconia or silicon carbide for a Sand Cat?
Aluminum oxide for wood, paint and general use, which is what most Sand Cat owners do; we recommend it roughly 95% of the time for woodworking. Zirconia only if you mainly use the sander on steel or aluminum. Silicon carbide at 220 or 320 for the smoothest finishing pass on wood, plastics or metal.
Can I get fewer than 12 belts or mix grits in a pack?
No. Each 2-1/2" x 16" pack is 12 belts of one material and one grit, and the minimum per grit is one pack. Most owners buy a 60 or 80 grit pack for stripping and shaping and a 150 or 220 pack for finishing. If you need a grit or grain that is not listed, call 714-646-3299 or email sales@maverickabrasives.com.
Can these belts be run wet?
Yes. All three grains are on a polyester-cotton cloth backing that can be run wet or dry. On the electric Sand Cat you will run them dry; the wet capability matters if you move the belts to a small bench or pneumatic tool for metal, plastic or solid-surface work.
What are the shipping and return terms?
Orders over $200 ship free. Unused belts in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days. For case quantities, a custom grit, or another compact sander size made in about 3 days, call 714-646-3299 or email sales@maverickabrasives.com.
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