4" x 120" Sanding Belts, 3 PACK
4" x 120" Sanding Belts, 3 PACK
Available in stock (50000)
Ten feet of 4" wide belt is an edge sander length: long-bed oscillating edge sanders in cabinet and millwork shops run it for door edges, face frames, panel ends and long straight stock, and some horizontal stroke sanders use the same size. We convert these 4" x 120" belts in Anaheim, California on poly-cotton cloth in three grains, aluminum oxide for wood, zirconia for steel and heavy removal, and silicon carbide for plastics, solid surface and the finest finishing passes.
Grits run from 36 to 400 and the belts come three to a pack, which is enough to keep a rough, a medium and a finish grit at the machine. The cloth backing tolerates the platen pressure of edge sanding and can be run wet or dry where the machine allows.
- Aluminum oxide, zirconia and silicon carbide: one size covers wood, steel and plastics
- Poly-cotton cloth backing with heat-treated grain stands up to platen pressure
- 36–400 grit: shaping through final finish on one edge sander
- 3-pack lets you keep a coarse, medium and finish grit on hand
- Belts can be run wet or dry where the machine permits
- Converted in Anaheim, California; other 4" lengths made to order in about 3 days
Which 4" x 120" belt should you choose?
Choose the grain for the material first, then the grit for the stage of the job.
- Aluminum oxide: the belt for woodworking, and what we recommend for wood roughly 95 percent of the time. The tough, blocky grain keeps cutting under the light-to-moderate pressure of an edge sander platen without tearing the grain or burning. Also a sound low-cost choice on aluminum, brass and mild steel. Available across the full 36–400 range.
- Zirconia: for heavy stock removal and long life on steel, stainless and aluminum, and for coarse shaping of hardwood where you are removing a lot of material fast. The grain self-sharpens under load, so it wants pressure; on delicate woodwork it can dig in and leave burn marks, which is why we steer woodworkers to aluminum oxide. Best in 36–120 grit; finer than that, use aluminum oxide.
- Silicon carbide: the sharpest of the three, with a narrower, cleaner scratch pattern. Woodworkers and metalworkers reach for it at 220 and 320 grit once the stock removal is done, because it leaves a better finish than aluminum oxide at the same grit. It is also the grain for acrylic, solid surface, fiberglass and other plastics. The trade-off is life: silicon carbide wears faster, so use it for finishing rather than removal.
Grit guide for edge sanding
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36–40 | Straightening sawn edges, heavy removal | Zirconia on steel; AO on wood |
| 60 | Rough shaping, glue lines | First grit on rough hardwood edges |
| 80–100 | General edge sanding | Where most cabinet work starts |
| 120–150 | Pre-finish, removing 80 scratch | Finish grit for paint-grade work |
| 180–220 | Final before stain or clear | Stop at 220 for stain |
| 320–400 | Fine finishing, plastics, pre-polish | Silicon carbide leaves the cleanest scratch |
Step through the grits without skipping more than one. On an edge sander the temptation is to jump from 80 to 180 on a door edge; the 80 scratch will still be there under the finish.
What machines take a 4" x 120" belt?
- Long-bed oscillating edge sanders with a 4" wide platen that call for a 120" belt. The long belt spreads heat and wear over more grain, so it lasts longer between changes than a short belt on the same job.
- Horizontal stroke sanders set up for a 4" belt of this length.
- Shop-built long-bed belt grinders with the pulley spacing for 120" of belt.
Fitment notes: check the belt size in your manual or measure an old belt around the outside; most machines accept about 1/4" of length variation, and a 120" belt will not fit a machine built for the 106" or 132" lengths. Look for a direction arrow on the inside of the belt before mounting; if there is none, the joint runs either way. Track the belt with the oscillation centred at low speed before you start work.
How to get the most out of it
- Sand on the platen for straight edges and use the end roller for curves and inside radii. Keep the fence square to the platen and let the oscillation do its job of spreading the wear.
- Feed steadily and keep the work moving. Pausing on an edge heats a spot and burns cherry and maple first. Light pressure and a steady pass remove material more evenly than leaning on the belt.
- Use the whole belt width. Vary the height of the work on the platen so the belt does not wear a groove at table height.
- Clean the belt with a crepe belt eraser as soon as pitch, finish or aluminum starts to load the grain. A loaded aluminum oxide belt burns; a cleaned one cuts nearly like new.
- Match the grain to the pressure. Zirconia needs firm pressure to self-sharpen; aluminum oxide and silicon carbide want a lighter touch. Do not swap grains without adjusting how hard you push.
- Store the spare belts hanging on a large-radius peg or loosely coiled, out of sunlight and humidity. A ten-foot cloth belt folded in a drawer takes a set that thumps on the rollers.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Cabinet door edges, face frames, drawer fronts and panel ends
- Straightening and squaring long solid-wood stock
- Plywood and MDF edges (120 grit or finer on veneer faces)
- Steel and aluminum bar, plate edges and weld clean-up with zirconia
- Acrylic, solid surface, fiberglass and plastics with silicon carbide
Don't use it for
- Zirconia on fine woodwork; it digs in and burns where aluminum oxide would sand cleanly
- Silicon carbide for heavy stock removal on steel; it wears fast on ferrous metal
- Sanding finer than 220 on wood that will be stained; the surface burnishes and blocks stain
- Machines built for a different belt length
Specifications
| Size | 4" x 120" |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grains | Aluminum oxide, zirconia, silicon carbide |
| Backing | Poly-cotton cloth |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Cloth belt joint; check the inside for a direction arrow |
| Grits offered | 36, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 (varies by grain) |
| Pack quantity | 3 belts, one grain and grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both (machine permitting) |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any 4" wide length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Which grit should I keep on the edge sander for cabinet doors?
Most cabinet shops run 100 or 120 grit aluminum oxide on the edge sander as the everyday belt: it removes saw and jointer marks from a door edge in one pass and leaves a scratch that 150–180 grit hand or orbital sanding takes out. Keep an 80 for rough stock and a 180 or 220 for finish-ready edges.
When would I pick silicon carbide over aluminum oxide in 4" x 120"?
Pick silicon carbide for the finishing passes, typically 220 through 400 grit, where its sharper, narrower grain leaves a cleaner scratch than aluminum oxide at the same grit, and for acrylic, solid surface and fiberglass. It wears faster than aluminum oxide, so use it after the heavy removal is done rather than for shaping.
Is zirconia a good choice for a woodworking edge sander?
Only for heavy stock removal at 36–60 grit on hardwood. Zirconia self-sharpens under pressure, and on a woodworking edge sander at normal pressure it tends to dig in and burn rather than cut cleanly. For everything from 80 grit up on wood, aluminum oxide gives a better finish and longer life. Zirconia earns its keep on steel and aluminum.
How do I measure my machine for a 4" x 120" belt?
Wrap a tape around the outside of an old belt, or lay the belt flat and double the flat length; the result should be 120". Width is measured across the belt. Most edge sanders accept about 1/4" of length variation, so a belt measuring 119-3/4" to 120-1/4" fits. If your machine takes a different length, we make custom sizes.
Can these belts be run wet?
The poly-cotton backing can be run wet or dry, and wet sanding keeps silicon carbide belts cool on plastics and stone. Whether you should run wet depends on the machine: most woodworking edge sanders are dry tools with dust collection, and water on them is a safety and rust problem. Use wet only on machines designed for it.
Why does my aluminum oxide belt burn the edge of the board?
Burning on an edge sander comes from dwelling in one spot, pushing too hard, or a belt that has loaded with pitch or dulled. Keep the work moving along the platen, ease off the pressure, clean the belt with a crepe belt eraser, and change belts when the cut slows. Cherry and maple show burn marks first.
How many belts are in a pack and can I order more?
Each pack contains three 4" x 120" belts of one grain and grit. Buy separate packs for the grits you run, or call 714-646-3299 or email sales@maverickabrasives.com for bulk and case pricing. Orders over $200 ship free, and any other 4" wide length can be made to order in about 3 days.
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