4" x 106" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belt, 12 PACK

4 x 106 is the belt size of the CRL-type wet belt sanders and twin belt seamers found in most North American glass shops: the CRL DBS106W and DBS106 twin seamers, the 2300 and 2300RP upright wet sanders and the H82 horizontal. These are the silicon carbide belts for those machines, converted in Anaheim, California on a Y-weight polyester backing that runs wet or dry, for edge sanding, seaming and bevel grinding from a home lapidary bench to a production line.

Eleven grits from 50 through 800 take a raw cut edge to pre-polish. The belts are sized as a drop-in alternative to the CR Laurence PC221 belts sold for these machines, and the heavy polyester cloth is built to outlast typical paper or light-cloth belts under continuous water. Twelve belts of one grit per pack, which on a twin belt seamer is six full changes.

• Fits CRL DBS106W, DBS106, 2300, 2300RP and H82 wet belt sanders and seamers
• Silicon carbide grain, the correct abrasive for glass, mirror, stone and plastics
• Y-weight polyester backing is waterproof; run flood-wet or dry
• Eleven grits, 50 through 800, seaming to pre-polish
• Drop-in size alternative to CR Laurence PC221 belts
• 12 belts per pack; converted in Anaheim, California

Which grit should you load on a CRL-type 4 x 106 machine?

Every variant is silicon carbide; you choose the grit, and on a twin belt seamer you can run two grits at once, one on each belt.

• 50 and 60 grit: seaming raw score-break on thick lites, removing chips and shells, roughing bevels, shaping stone and solid surface. A common first belt on a twin seamer.
• 80 and 100 grit: the production seaming grit for shower door, storefront and mirror edges that go into a channel or frame. A common second belt on a twin seamer, paired with 50 or 60 on the first.
• 120 grit: refining exposed edges. There is no 150 in this size; step 120 to 180.
• 180 and 220 grit: satin or seamed finish on table tops, shelves and mirrors that will stay matte.
• 320 and 400 grit: smooth matte, and the minimum before the cork belt.
• 600 and 800 grit: pre-polish for edges going to cerium oxide on the 2300 or H82.

For lapidary and stone work on the same machines, 60 to 80 to shape and 220 to 400 before polishing. For acrylic, 120, 220 and 400 then flame or buff.

Grit guide for glass seaming and edging on a 4 x 106 belt

Which CRL machines take a 4 x 106 belt?

• CRL DBS106W Wet Twin Belt Seamer: runs two 4 x 106 belts at once under water. A 12-pack is six changes, or run two grits and change each side independently.
• CRL DBS106 Dry Twin Belt Seamer: the dry version, also two belts at once. Use extraction and a respirator; the Y-weight backing runs dry without trouble.
• CRL 2300RP Wet Abrasive Belt Sander with roller platen: one belt at a time; the roller platen suits pencil and radius edges.
• CRL 2300 Wet Abrasive Belt Sander without roller: same machine, flat platen, one belt.
• CRL H82 Horizontal Wet Belt Sander: one 4 x 106 belt, glass laid flat.
• Other wet belt sanders built for a 4 inch by 106 inch belt; check the manual.

Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and run it that way. Release tension fully, seat the belt centred on both drums, re-tension, then jog the machine and set tracking before opening the water. On a 106 inch belt a little drift is normal in the first minute as the belt wets and warms; re-check tracking after the first few lites. On a twin seamer, track each belt separately.

How to get the most out of it

1. Run wet whenever the machine allows. The polyester backing is waterproof, so flood the belt. Water keeps the edge below the temperature where micro-checks form, floats swarf clear and controls silica dust. On the dry DBS106, use extraction and a fitted respirator.
2. Let the feed do the work. Steady, light pressure with the lite always moving. Pressure chips glass and glazes silicon carbide; on a twin seamer, a jammed or over-fed lite will chip both edges.
3. Match the two belts on a seamer. Either run the same grit both sides or a coarse and a medium, and change them on a schedule so one side does not seam noticeably finer than the other.
4. Use the roller platen on the 2300RP for pencil and rounded edges and the flat platen for flat seams and bevels; hold the angle constant along the whole edge.
5. Step one grit at a time on polished work and rinse the lite between belts.
6. Flush the machine at shift end, change cloudy water, and store spare belts hanging or loosely coiled, out of sunlight and away from damp.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Production seaming of shower door, storefront, mirror and cabinet glass on twin belt seamers
• Flat edging, pencil edges and bevels on upright and horizontal wet belt sanders
• Pre-polish before cork and cerium on the same machine
• Home lapidary, stone, quartz and solid-surface edge work
• Acrylic, polycarbonate and fiberglass sheet

Don't use it for

• Steel or weld grinding; silicon carbide wears fast on ferrous metal
• Dry glass work without extraction and a respirator
• Polishing to clear; that is the job of the 4 x 106 cork belt
• Machines built for 4 x 132 or any other length

Finishing to a polished edge with the 4 x 106 cork belt

Silicon carbide takes the edge to a fine matte; the clear polish comes from the 4 x 106 cork belt, an ungritted polishing carrier that mounts on the same CRL-type machine. Finish the silicon carbide sequence at 400 or 800, rinse the glass, mount the cork belt, charge it with cerium oxide slurry and run it wet at moderate speed with light pressure, re-charging as the cut slows. Cork will not remove a scratch coarser than about 400 grit, and it should never run dry against glass with compound caking on it.

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• 4" x 106" Cork Sanding Belt, 6 pack, for cerium polishing
• All glass fabrication abrasives (belts, cork belts and discs)
• 4" x 132" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belts for the CRL BM132RP
• 4" x 64" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belts for the CRL BM64B
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days