3" x 27" Sanding Belts, 12 PACK

Small fabrication shops that deburr aluminum and steel parts on a 3" bench belt sander are the reason we stock the 3" x 27" in metal grains rather than woodworking grains. The four options, Ceramic, Zirconia, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) and Cloth A/O, cover everything from hogging a weld off mild steel to putting a clean 400 grit graining on an aluminum bracket, and all four are on poly-cotton or polyester cloth that runs wet or dry.

We convert these in Anaheim, California, twelve belts to a pack, in 24 through 600 grit. The coarse-to-medium grits are where zirconia and ceramic earn their price; the fine grits are cloth aluminum oxide, because nothing else finishes metal as evenly above 120.

• Four metal grains in one 3" x 27" size: ceramic, zirconia, zirconia with grinding aid, cloth aluminum oxide
• 24 through 600 grit: weld removal, deburring, blending and pre-polish on one machine
• Y-weight polyester and poly-cotton backings that hold flat under grinder pressure
• Every option can be run wet or dry, which matters on aluminum and stainless
• Twelve belts per pack; a full grit sequence fits in two or three packs
• Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which 3" x 27" belt should you choose for aluminum, steel or stainless?

Choose by the metal first, then by how much pressure your machine can put on the belt.

• Cloth A/O (aluminum oxide): the low-cost, forgiving belt. On aluminum, brass and mild steel at light bench pressure it gives decent life and reasonable cut, and it is the only grain we offer above 120 grit, so every finishing belt from 150 to 600 is aluminum oxide. Poly-cotton backing, wet or dry.
• Zirconia: the step up for aluminum and carbon steel when you want cutting speed, cooler running and longer life. It self-sharpens under moderate-to-heavy pressure, so it suits a bench belt sander with some power behind it. Stocked in the coarse range, 24 through 120, on a Y-weight polyester-cotton backing that runs wet or dry.
• Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): the same zirconia grain with a grinding aid applied on top of the one already in the resin bond. That extra lubricating layer pulls heat out of the cut, which is why we recommend it for stainless steel, steel and other ferrous metals that heat-tint, and for aluminum that loads a plain belt. Y-weight polyester, wet or dry.
• Ceramic (Shredder): the orange-red belt for stainless, hardened and tool steel. The grain continuously renews its cutting edges, so it cuts faster and cooler than zirconia and holds that rate for most of its life. It needs a rigid machine and firm pressure; run it light and it glazes and blues the part.

The variant selector shows which grits are held in each grain. If you cannot decide, zirconia for the coarse work and Cloth A/O for the finishing grits is the combination most 3" x 27" buyers settle on.

Grit guide for deburring and finishing metal on a 3" belt

What machines take a 3" x 27" belt?

We have not verified individual models against the 3" x 27" size, so match the width and length printed in your manual or on the machine label before ordering.

• Bench belt sanders and belt/disc combination sanders that specify a 3" x 27" belt, the small-shop machines used for deburring brackets, plates and machined parts.
• Small vertical belt grinders built around a 3" belt with a platen and contact wheel.
• Shop-built belt grinders whose wheel spacing works out to a 27" loop.

Mounting: back the tension off, slide the belt on grain side out, check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and point it the way the belt runs, then re-tension and turn the belt by hand while adjusting tracking until it rides centered. If your machine calls for a slightly different 3" length, we make it to order in about 3 days.

How to get the most out of it

1. Give zirconia and ceramic pressure. Both grains fracture to stay sharp; at light pressure they round over and heat the work. If your sander cannot push hard, buy Cloth A/O instead.
2. Slow down and lubricate for aluminum. Aluminum smears into a dry belt. Run the belt wet where your machine allows it, or rub a grease stick on the running belt, and choose Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for the coarse grits.
3. Keep stainless moving. Dwelling in one spot blues the surface. Use the grinding-aid or ceramic belt, take steady passes, and quench the part if it gets too hot to hold.
4. Work across the full 3" width so the belt wears evenly instead of grooving at the table line.
5. Step grits in order: 60 to 120 to 220 to 400 leaves a uniform grain. Jumping from 60 to 220 leaves deep scratches under a shiny surface.
6. Use a dedicated metal collector or wet collection. Steel sparks into a bin of wood dust is a fire risk.
7. Store belts hanging or loosely coiled away from damp, and let a cold belt warm to room temperature before running it.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Deburring sheared, sawn, laser-cut and machined aluminum and steel parts
• Weld cleanup and edge chamfering on mild steel
• Graining stainless brackets and trim with the grinding-aid or ceramic belt
• Finishing aluminum, brass and copper through 400 or 600 grit before buffing
• Knife and tool bevel work on a 3" bench grinder

Don't use it for

• Ceramic on a light-duty sander or by hand; it will not fracture and just heats the part
• Zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit expecting a finish; use Cloth A/O
• Coarse dry grinding of aluminum without lubricant; the belt loads in minutes
• Sharing a dust collector between wood and metal grinding
• Running a belt against its arrow or with a lifted joint

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All sanding belts
• 3" x 30" Sanding Belts, 12 pack in the same metal grains
• 3" x 24" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 12 pack
• Grease stick for sanding aluminum and non-ferrous metals
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days