2" x 28" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 12 PACK

A compact 2" bench belt sander or small belt grinder gives you the same 2" belt width as a full-size knife grinder in a machine that fits on a bench, and a 2" x 28" belt is what that class of machine runs. These 2" x 28" metalworking belts put the same grain families we sell for 2" x 72" grinders on the short loop: Shredder ceramic, zirconia, Zirconia+ with a grinding aid and cloth A/O, 24 through 600 grit.

The short loop means the belt comes back around to the work sooner and runs hotter than a long belt, so the grinding-aid option and a water bucket matter more here than on a big grinder. Sold as a 12-pack, converted in Anaheim, California.

• Shredder ceramic, zirconia, Zirconia+ grinding aid and cloth A/O in one 2" x 28" size
• Same 2" width as a full-size knife grinder, so grit habits carry over to the bench machine
• 24 through 600 grit: profile, set bevels, refine and finish without changing machines
• Y-weight poly-cotton under the metal grains stands up to firm hand pressure
• 12 belts per pack keeps a short-loop machine stocked through a project
• Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which grain should you run on a compact 2" x 28" belt machine?

Short belts concentrate heat, and bench machines have modest motors, so pick the grain for the metal first and for heat second.

• Ceramic (Shredder): our orange-red ceramic grain, the same family used on full-size knife grinders. It fractures continuously under load and holds its cut rate, which is what you want for profiling blanks and hogging bevels in high-carbon, stainless and tool steel. It must be pressed hard to work; on a short loop that also means dipping the blade more often, because the belt is back on the steel sooner.
• Zirconia: green or blue grain for mild and carbon steel, general deburring and shaping at moderate pressure and a lower price than ceramic. Stocked from 24 to 120 grit.
• Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): zirconia with a lubricating top coat over the resin bond. On a 28" loop this is often the smartest coarse grain: it keeps cutting at lower pressure and runs cooler, which suits stainless blades, thin tangs, aluminum guards and a machine that bogs under a hard push.
• Cloth A/O: brown aluminum oxide on poly-cotton for aluminum, brass, copper and handle materials, and the only grain from 150 through 600 for refining a bevel and finishing an edge.

A twelve-belt starting point for knife work is a pack of Zirconia+ 60 for shaping and setting bevels, a pack of cloth A/O 220 for refining, and a pack of cloth A/O 400 or 600 for the finish; add Shredder ceramic 36 when you are profiling a lot of blanks.

Grit guide for blades, hardware and small parts on a 2" belt

On hardened steel, stop the moment the edge changes colour and switch to a fresh belt; a dull belt makes heat instead of chips. On aluminum start no coarser than 60, rub a grease stick on the running belt and finish at 120–220.

What machines take a 2" x 28" belt?

• Compact 2" bench belt sanders and belt/disc combination sanders whose manual specifies a 2" x 28" belt.
• Small knife grinders and hobby belt grinders built around a 28" loop to keep the footprint and price down.
• Bench sharpening and deburring stations in machine shops and maintenance departments.

Check the length on the old belt or in the manual before ordering; 2" belts come in many lengths and a bench machine's tensioner only takes up a small difference. Look for a direction arrow inside the belt and mount it that way. Use the platen for flat bevels and tangs, the contact wheel for hollow grinds if the machine has one, and the slack section above the platen for curves and handle contours. Keep sparks away from sawdust and solvent, and wear eye protection; a 2" belt at speed throws a steady stream of hot swarf.

How to get the most out of it

1. Respect the short loop. A 28" belt returns to the work about two and a half times as often as a 72" belt at the same speed, so heat builds faster. Take shorter passes and dip more often than you would on a big grinder.
2. Press hard on the metal grains, light on A/O. Shredder ceramic, zirconia and Zirconia+ only stay sharp under load. Aluminum oxide just needs to keep moving.
3. Change belts early. On a short loop a tired coarse belt goes from cutting to burnishing quickly. Twelve belts in the pack is meant to make swapping painless.
4. Move across the belt. Use the full 2" width so a groove does not wear in the centre.
5. Sharpen edge-trailing on the fine A/O grits, with the belt running away from the edge and only enough pressure to raise a burr.
6. Clean and store. A crepe belt eraser clears a loaded A/O or Zirconia+ belt. Keep spares hanging or loosely rolled in a dry drawer, never folded.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Profiling and bevelling knife blanks in carbon, stainless and tool steel on a compact grinder
• Shaping tangs, guards, bolsters, pins and small hardware
• Deburring and chamfering small machined, laser-cut and sheared parts
• Sharpening chisels, plane irons, turning tools and kitchen knives on the fine A/O grits
• Shaping wood, G10 and Micarta handle scales with cloth A/O

Don't use it for

• Long, heavy grinds on thick stock without frequent dipping; the short loop overheats the part
• Ceramic at feather-light pressure; it glazes and heats the blade
• Zirconia or Zirconia+ above 120 grit when you want a finish; switch to cloth A/O
• Machines that specify a different 2" length

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• Knife making belts and kits
• All sanding belts
• 2" x 48" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 6 pack
• 2" x 72" Sanding Belts for wood, aluminum, stainless and steel
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days