3" x 24" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
3" x 24" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 12 PACK
Available in stock (50000)
A portable belt sander is the fastest hand tool for taking down welds on plate, stripping rust and paint off steel, and leveling aluminum panels, provided the belt on it is a metal grain and not a wood belt. These 3" x 24" metalworking belts fit the Makita 9924DB and other 3" x 24" portable sanders, in zirconia for carbon steel, ceramic for stainless and hardened steel, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for stainless and aluminum that heats and loads, and Cloth A/O for the 150–600 grit finishing passes.
We convert them in Anaheim, California on a Y-weight poly-cotton backing with heat-treated grain, so the belt takes the operator's full body weight on the platen without stretching or splitting at the joint. Twelve belts per pack, one grit per pack.
- Zirconia, ceramic, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) and cloth aluminum oxide in one 3" x 24" size
- Fits the Makita 9924DB and other portable belt sanders that take a 3" x 24" belt
- 24–600 grit: strip, level and grain steel or aluminum with one tool
- Y-weight poly-cotton cloth built to outlast typical paper or light-cloth belts under full body weight
- 12 belts per pack; poly-cotton backing can be run wet or dry
- Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which grain should you run in a portable belt sander on metal?
A hand-held belt sander lets you apply real pressure by leaning on it, which is why zirconia and even ceramic work well in this size where they would glaze on a tiny bench machine. Match the grain to the metal.
- Zirconia: the first choice for carbon steel plate, weld knockdown, rust and mill scale, cast iron and general fabrication. It micro-fractures under load and stays sharp as long as you lean into the sander. Offered 24–120 grit.
- Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): zirconia with a grinding-aid top coat over the aid already in the resin. The coating lubricates and cools, which is what you want on stainless sheet, aluminum panels, boat hulls and truck beds where a plain belt loads and the metal warps from heat.
- Ceramic: the orange-red belt for stainless plate, hardened and tool steel and nickel alloys. It keeps a near-constant cut rate for its life, but it must be fed pressure; use it with your weight on the sander, not a light touch. On a portable sander it excels at leveling long stainless welds.
- Cloth A/O: heat-treated aluminum oxide on the same poly-cotton cloth. Forgiving at light pressure, right for brass, bronze and soft aluminum, and the grain behind every 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 and 600 grit belt in this listing for finishing after the coarse grains.
Zirconia and ceramic are not finishing grains; above 120 grit switch to Cloth A/O or a non-woven belt, or the surface will be bright but scratched.
Grit guide for steel and aluminum with a 3" x 24" belt
| Grit | Steel and stainless | Aluminum |
|---|---|---|
| 24–36 | Weld knockdown on plate, heavy rust and scale, thick paint (zirconia or ceramic) | Heavy castings and thick corrosion only |
| 40–60 | Leveling welds flush, shaping edges, stripping coatings | First belt on most panels, with grinding aid or grease stick |
| 80–120 | Removing grinder marks, blending, deburring, general surfacing | Main working range; keep the sander moving |
| 150–220 | Pre-finish, directional grain before paint or powder (Cloth A/O) | Finish before anodize or paint |
| 320–600 | Fine graining, pre-polish (Cloth A/O) | Pre-polish before buffing |
Step no more than one grade at a time: a steel door goes 40 zirconia, 80 zirconia, 120, then 220 Cloth A/O before primer. An aluminum panel goes 80, 120, 220 Cloth A/O with the grease stick on the belt.
What sanders does a 3" x 24" belt fit?
- Makita 9924DB 3" x 24" portable belt sander, verified.
- Other 3" x 24" portable belt sanders from the major tool brands; check the belt size stamped on the sander or in the manual, because 3" x 21" and 3" x 18" sanders look nearly identical and will not tension a 24" belt.
- Bench belt sanders and small combo machines that list a 3" x 24" belt.
Mounting: retract the front roller with the tension lever, slide the belt on with the arrow (if printed on the inside) pointing in the direction of rotation, release the lever and run the sander upside down for a moment while turning the tracking knob until the belt rides centred on the platen. If no arrow is printed the joint is bi-directional. If your machine takes an odd length, we make custom belt sizes in about 3 days.
How to get the most out of it
- Take the dust bag off for metal. A portable sander bag full of wood dust plus steel sparks is a fire waiting to happen. Empty and remove the bag or connect to a metal-rated or wet collector; never share a wood-dust collector.
- Start the sander before it touches the work and set it down flat, heel first, then keep it moving in overlapping passes. Lifting or rocking it gouges metal just as it gouges wood.
- Lean on zirconia and ceramic. Both grains need load to keep fracturing; a light touch glazes them. Aluminum oxide wants the opposite: let the weight of the sander do the work.
- Slow down for aluminum and use the grease stick. On a variable-speed sander drop the belt speed for aluminum, brass and thin stainless, and rub a grease stick on the running belt to stop loading. Run steel at full speed.
- Watch the colour. Straw or blue tint on steel means too much dwell or a dull belt. Change the belt and keep moving; on thin stainless work in short passes and let it cool.
- Run wet where the tool allows. The poly-cotton backing tolerates coolant; on a fixed or wet-capable setup a mist keeps stainless and titanium cool. Most portable sanders run dry, which is fine on steel.
- Clean and store. Clear loaded aluminum oxide belts with a crepe belt eraser. Store spares hanging or loosely rolled, dry and out of sunlight, and warm a cold belt before running it.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Leveling MIG and stick welds on steel plate, trailer frames and gates
- Stripping rust, mill scale and paint from steel doors, tanks and structural steel
- Leveling and graining aluminum panels, truck beds and boat hulls with the grinding-aid or aluminum oxide belts
- Flattening stainless countertops and enclosures before graining
- Deburring and edge-breaking plate and sheet cut by plasma or shear
- Wood, plastic and filler work with the Cloth A/O belts
Don't use it for
- Running steel sparks into a dust bag or a wood-dust collector
- Finishing with zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit; switch to Cloth A/O or non-woven
- Ceramic at light pressure; it glazes and heats the part
- Sanders that take a 3" x 18" or 3" x 21" belt; check the size first
Specifications
| Size | 3" x 24" |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grains | Ceramic, Zirconia, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid), Cloth A/O (heat-treated aluminum oxide) |
| Backing | Y-weight poly-cotton cloth |
| Coat | Closed coat, resin bond |
| Joint | Taped cloth joint; check inside for a direction arrow |
| Grits offered | 24, 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600 (range varies by grain; zirconia 24–120) |
| Pack quantity | 12 belts, one grain and grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both; poly-cotton backing tolerates coolant |
| Fits | Makita 9924DB and other 3" x 24" belt sanders |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any width and length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Will these 3" x 24" belts fit the Makita 9924DB?
Yes. The Makita 9924DB is a 3" x 24" portable belt sander and these belts are cut to that exact size. Retract the front roller, slide the belt on, release the lever and run the sander for a moment while adjusting the tracking knob until the belt is centred on the platen. Any other sander that lists a 3" x 24" belt will take them too.
Can I use a regular portable belt sander on metal?
Yes, with a metal-grain belt and a few precautions. Remove or empty the dust bag so steel sparks cannot ignite wood dust, use zirconia or ceramic for steel and the grinding-aid or aluminum oxide belts for aluminum, keep the sander moving, and expect more heat than on wood. The 3" x 24" size gives a wide, flat platen that levels welds and panels well.
Which belt removes rust and paint from steel fastest?
Zirconia at 36–60 grit. It cuts rust, mill scale and old paint quickly and self-sharpens under the pressure of a hand-held sander. Follow with 80 and 120 zirconia to remove the coarse scratch, then 220 Cloth A/O if the steel is going under a smooth paint finish. Stubborn heavy corrosion can start at 24 grit.
What should I use on an aluminum boat hull or truck bed?
Start with the Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) belt at 60 or 80 grit; its top coat keeps aluminum from packing into the grain and lowers heat, which stops thin panels from warping. Rub a grease stick on the belt, use light pressure and keep moving. Finish at 120 and 220 with Cloth A/O before paint or polish.
Zirconia or ceramic for grinding welds on steel plate?
For mild steel plate, zirconia at 36–60 grit is the better value; it cuts fast and lasts well under body-weight pressure. Choose ceramic when the plate is stainless, hardened or a nickel alloy, or when you are leveling long seams all day and want the most consistent cut rate. Either way, lean on the sander so the grain keeps fracturing.
Why does my metal belt keep loading up on aluminum?
Aluminum is soft and gummy, so a fast, dry belt packs with metal in seconds. Slow the sander if it has speed control, use the grinding-aid belt or a Cloth A/O belt instead of plain zirconia, rub a grease stick on the running belt, and clean the belt with a crepe belt eraser as soon as it starts to load or squeal.
How many belts are in a pack and do you do bulk pricing?
Each pack contains 12 belts of one grain and one grit. Orders over $200 ship free, and case quantities can be quoted by calling 714-646-3299 or emailing sales@maverickabrasives.com. If your sander takes a size we do not list, we convert custom belts in Anaheim, California in about 3 days.
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