3" x 18" Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
3" x 18" Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
Available in stock (49991)
The compact 3" x 18" portable belt sander is the one most homeowners and remodelers own, and it is also the size on several cordless sanders now used on job sites. The belts that ship with those tools are usually paper or light cloth and are gone in a few minutes on a deck board. We make ours on a poly-cotton cloth backing with heat-treated grain, converted in Anaheim, California, so one belt gets through the job instead of three.
Verified fits include the Makita 9911, Ryobi BE319 and Skil 7510, plus the Ridgid, Kobalt, Craftsman, WEN and Black+Decker 3" x 18" sanders listed below. Pick Cloth A/O for wood, paint and general work, Zirconia for hardwood and steel, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for stainless and aluminum, and Ceramic for hard steel. Twelve belts per pack, 24 through 600 grit.
- Fits the Makita 9911, Ryobi BE319, Skil 7510 and the other 3 x 18 sanders listed below
- Poly-cotton cloth backing outlasts the paper belts that come with the tool
- Cloth A/O, Zirconia, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) and Ceramic in one size
- 24 to 600 grit: strip paint and level boards, then finish before stain
- 12 belts per pack, enough for a full grit sequence with spares
- Free shipping on orders over $200; 30-day returns on unused belts
Which 3" x 18" belt material should you choose?
A hand-held belt sander is a light-pressure tool. That decides the material more than anything else.
- Cloth A/O (aluminum oxide): the belt for almost every 3" x 18" job on wood. It cuts pine, oak, maple and plywood cleanly at the pressure a portable sander applies, strips paint and varnish, and is the only grain we stock in this size in the finishing grits from 150 through 600. Buy it for decks, doors, tabletops, stair treads and cabinet refinishing.
- Zirconia: for heavy removal on hardwood and for mild steel. It cuts faster than aluminum oxide in the coarse grits when you lean on the sander, which you can do on a flat plank or a piece of plate. Available 24 through 120 grit. Do not use it on veneer or softwood, where its aggressiveness tears fibres and burns.
- Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): zirconia with a grinding-aid coating over the resin. The coating lubricates the cut, so it is the choice for stainless steel, aluminum and any metal that heats or loads the belt. Also 24 through 120 grit.
- Ceramic: a self-sharpening grain for hardened and high-alloy steel. It needs firm, steady pressure to keep fracturing, which is possible when you lean a portable sander onto a flat steel workpiece, but it is the wrong choice for wood or any light-touch work. Fabrication shops running 3" x 18" sanders on plate and weld beads are who buy it.
The previous version of this page mentioned silicon carbide; it is not stocked in 3" x 18". Not every grain is stocked in every grit, so check the variant selector.
Grit guide for a portable belt sander
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24–40 | Stripping thick paint, levelling rough lumber, steel welds | Zirconia on hardwood and steel |
| 50–60 | Flattening deck boards, removing mill marks, old finish | Most common starting grit |
| 80–100 | General surfacing, removing the 50–60 scratch | Where most jobs spend the most time |
| 120–150 | Pre-finish on solid wood, plywood and veneer | Start here on veneer, go lightly |
| 180–220 | Final pass before stain or clear coat | Cloth A/O; sand with the grain |
| 320–600 | Fine finishing, between-coat scuffing, metal pre-polish | Light pressure, keep the sander moving |
Never skip more than one grit. Going 60 to 150 leaves deep scratches under a surface that looks smooth until the stain goes on.
Which sanders take a 3" x 18" belt?
Verified against the manufacturer specification:
- Makita 9911
- Ryobi BE319
- Skil 7510-01
Also listed on the previous version of this page as 3" x 18" machines (confirm the belt size in your manual before ordering):
- Ridgid 18V Gen5X cordless brushless belt sander and Ridgid R27401 variable speed
- Ryobi 6 Amp portable belt sander, Ryobi P450 cordless brushless and Ryobi BE318-2
- Kobalt 24V Max brushless cordless belt sander KBS 124B-03
- Hyper Tough 6.0 Amp belt sander 2603
- Black+Decker compact 3" x 18" belt sander
- WEN HB3185 variable speed handheld and benchtop belt sander
- CRL LD318 3" x 18" belt sander
- Craftsman 3" x 18" corded belt sander
Mounting: 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 upside down and turn the tracking knob until the belt rides centred on the platen without rubbing the housing. Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting.
How to get the most out of it
- Start the sander before it touches the wood and lift it off while it is still running. Setting a stopped sander down and pulling the trigger gouges the surface.
- Keep it moving with the grain. Overlap passes by half the belt width and never let the sander sit; a 3" x 18" belt removes wood fast enough to dish a spot in seconds.
- Let the tool's weight do the work. Extra pressure on Cloth A/O just heats the belt and the wood. Save the leaning for zirconia and ceramic on steel.
- Go light on plywood and veneer. Start at 120 grit and stop when the surface is even; face veneer is thin and a belt sander goes through it quickly.
- Empty the dust bag often and clean the belt with a crepe rubber belt eraser when paint or resin loads the grain.
- On aluminum, use Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) or Cloth A/O and a grease stick on the belt so it does not pack up.
- Store belts flat or hanging. A belt left folded in the toolbox takes a set and thumps on the platen.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Levelling and refinishing decks, stair treads, doors, tabletops and butcher block
- Stripping paint, varnish and old finish from solid wood
- Fitting doors and drawer fronts, easing edges, flushing joints
- Rough shaping in hardwood before hand or orbital sanding
- Dressing welds and removing mill scale on plate (zirconia, ceramic)
- Cleaning up aluminum extrusions and sheet (Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid))
Don't use it for
- Fine finish sanding that needs a random orbital; a belt sander leaves linear scratches
- Ceramic or zirconia on softwood, veneer or painted trim
- Sanding across the grain on anything that will be stained
- Running a belt against the direction arrow printed inside it
Specifications
| Size | 3" wide x 18" long |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grains | Cloth A/O (aluminum oxide), Zirconia, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid), Ceramic |
| Backing | Poly-cotton cloth, heat-treated grain |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 24, 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600 (zirconia grades 24–120) |
| Pack quantity | 12 belts |
| Wet or dry | Both (portable electric sanders: dry only) |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any width and length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Will these 3" x 18" belts fit my Makita 9911 or Ryobi BE319?
Yes. The Makita 9911, Ryobi BE319 and Skil 7510-01 are all built for a 3" x 18" belt, and our belts are cut to the same size. The Ridgid, Kobalt, Craftsman, WEN, Hyper Tough and Black+Decker 3" x 18" sanders listed above take them as well; confirm the size printed in your manual or on the tool's belt cover.
What grit should I use to refinish a deck with a 3" x 18" sander?
Start at 50 or 60 grit Cloth A/O to remove the grey weathered layer and old finish, move to 80 to even the surface, and stop at 100 or 120. Going finer than 120 on an exterior deck closes the grain and the new stain will not penetrate evenly. Keep the sander moving with the grain.
Why do the belts that came with my sander wear out so fast?
Most bundled belts are paper-backed or light cloth with untreated grain. They tear at the joint, load quickly and dull in minutes. Our 3" x 18" belts use a poly-cotton cloth backing with heat-treated grain, which is why one of ours typically finishes a job that would use up several of the belts that shipped with the tool.
Can I use a 3" x 18" belt sander on plywood?
Carefully. Plywood face veneer is thin, and a belt sander removes material fast. Use Cloth A/O at 120 grit or finer, keep the sander moving, apply no extra pressure and stop as soon as the surface is even. For final smoothing on veneer, switch to an orbital sander.
Which belt do I use for steel or aluminum on a portable sander?
For mild steel and weld beads use Zirconia in 24 to 80 grit and lean on the sander so the grain keeps self-sharpening. For stainless and aluminum use Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid), which runs cooler and resists loading. Ceramic is for hardened steel under firm pressure. Finish above 120 grit with Cloth A/O.
How do I stop the belt walking off the roller?
Turn the tracking knob while the sander runs upside down until the belt sits centred on the platen. If it still walks, check that the belt is mounted with its direction arrow pointing the way the belt travels, that the front roller is fully tensioned, and that the platen and rollers are clear of packed dust.
How many belts are in a pack and can I mix grits?
Each pack has 12 belts of one material and one grit. Most refinishing jobs use two or three grits, so many customers buy a coarse, a medium and a fine pack. For mixed-grit or case orders, call 714-646-3299 or email sales@maverickabrasives.com. Orders over $200 ship free.
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