4" x 36" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 9 PACK
4" x 36" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 9 PACK
Available in stock (49998)
The 4" x 36" belt and disc sander is the most common bench sander in home and small shops, and most of them ship with a wood belt that dulls the first time it meets steel. These 4" x 36" metalworking belts give the Ryobi BD4601G, WEN 6502T, Rikon 50-112, Bauer 58339, Central Machinery 58360 and Bucktool BD4603/BD4801-M a proper metal grain: zirconia for steel and iron, ceramic for stainless and hardened steel when you can lean on the platen, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for stainless and aluminum that heats and loads, and Cloth A/O for the 150–600 grit finishing belts.
We convert them in Anaheim, California on a Y-weight poly-cotton backing with heat-treated grain, so they track straight and take real pressure on a light machine without stretching. Nine belts of one grit per pack.
- Verified fit: Ryobi BD4601G, WEN 6502T, Rikon 50-112, Bauer 58339, Central Machinery 58360, Bucktool BD4603/BD4801-M
- Zirconia, ceramic, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) and cloth aluminum oxide in one 4" x 36" size
- 24–600 grit: deburr, sharpen, strip and finish steel or aluminum on a bench combo sander
- Y-weight poly-cotton cloth built to outlast typical paper or light-cloth belts; wet or dry
- 9 belts of one grit per pack
- Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which grain works on a light 4" x 36" bench sander?
Most 4" x 36" combos are light-duty machines, so the honest answer is different from what we would say for a 2 HP belt grinder. Choose the grain for the metal and for how hard the machine lets you press.
- Zirconia: the belt to buy first for steel on a 4" x 36". It self-sharpens under moderate pressure, which a bench combo can deliver, and handles mild steel, rebar, mower blades, cast iron, rust and weld cleanup. Offered 24–120 grit.
- Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): the same zirconia with a grinding-aid top coat over the aid in the resin. It runs cooler and resists loading, so it is the choice for stainless, aluminum and titanium on a dry bench machine, and the fix if plain zirconia is bluing your part or packing with aluminum.
- Ceramic: the orange-red belt for hardened steel, stainless and tool steel. Ceramic needs firm, steady pressure to keep fracturing; on a light 4" x 36" it pays off only if you press hard on the platen and grind hard steel regularly. Used gently, it glazes and heats the part, and zirconia would have served you better.
- Cloth A/O: heat-treated aluminum oxide, forgiving at light pressure, right for brass, bronze and soft aluminum and for every 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 and 600 grit belt in this listing. This is the finishing grain after the coarse metal grains.
Above 120 grit, zirconia and ceramic leave a bright scratch rather than a finish. Step to Cloth A/O, then a non-woven belt if you want satin.
Grit guide for steel and aluminum on a 4" x 36" combo sander
| Grit | Steel and stainless | Aluminum and non-ferrous |
|---|---|---|
| 24–36 | Heavy rust, weld beads, reshaping thick stock (zirconia or ceramic) | Rough castings only |
| 40–60 | Shaping, chamfering, grinding mower blades and axes | First belt on most aluminum, with grinding aid or grease stick |
| 80–120 | Deburring cut ends, blending, sharpening tools | Main working range; keep the part moving |
| 150–220 | Pre-finish before paint, refining an edge (Cloth A/O) | Finish before anodize or paint |
| 320–600 | Fine finishing, pre-polish, final edge before honing (Cloth A/O) | Pre-polish before buffing |
Never skip more than one grade. Deburring cut steel tube is 80 zirconia then 120; a mower blade is 60 zirconia then 120; an aluminum part is 80, 120, 220 Cloth A/O with the grease stick applied at each grit.
Which 4" x 36" belt and disc sanders does it fit?
A 4" x 36" belt is a standard bench combo size and these are cut to it. Verified fits include:
- Ryobi BD4601G belt and disc sander
- WEN 6502T belt and disc sander
- Rikon 50-112 belt and disc sander
- Bauer 58339 and Central Machinery 58360 (Harbor Freight) belt and disc sanders
- Bucktool BD4603 and BD4801-M belt and disc sanders
- Other bench sanders that list a 4" x 36" belt
Confirm the size in your manual; 4" x 24" bench sanders exist and will not tension a 36" belt. Mounting: release the tension lever, slip the belt on with any printed arrow (check the inside) pointing in the direction of travel, re-tension, then rotate the belt by hand or jog the motor while adjusting the tracking knob until it rides centred on the platen. If no arrow is printed the joint runs either way. Odd sizes are made to order in about 3 days.
How to get the most out of it
- Deal with the dust before the first spark. Empty the sander's dust port and hose of wood dust and disconnect any wood collector; steel sparks into wood dust is a fire. Use a dedicated metal-rated or wet collector, or none.
- Grind on the platen, not the idler. The backed section of the belt gives flat edges and even bevels; the slack section over the idler roller is for curves only and cannot take pressure.
- Press into zirconia and ceramic; ease off aluminum oxide. Self-sharpening grains glaze when run lightly; a shiny, quiet belt on steel needs more pressure or a fresh belt. Aluminum oxide cuts best when you let the machine do the work.
- Keep the part moving across the belt width so the belt wears evenly and no single spot heats. Dwelling blues stainless and burns an edge in seconds.
- Slow and lubricate for aluminum. Most 4" x 36" combos are single speed, so rely on the grease stick rubbed on the running belt, light pressure and the grinding-aid or Cloth A/O belts to stop loading.
- Quench edges. Sharpening mower blades, axes or chisels, dip in water between passes and stop at the first straw colour.
- Clean and store. Clear loaded Cloth A/O belts with a crepe belt eraser. Hang spares or roll them loosely, dry and out of sunlight, and warm cold belts before running.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Deburring and squaring cut steel tube, angle, flat bar and rebar
- Sharpening mower blades, axes, hatchets, chisels and garden tools
- Cleaning rust, scale and paint off small steel parts before welding or paint
- Knocking down welds on brackets and small fabrications
- Aluminum, brass and bronze parts with the grinding-aid and Cloth A/O belts
- Hobby knife making and tool restoration on a budget machine
Don't use it for
- Heavy hogging of thick plate; a light combo sander does not have the power
- Ceramic at light pressure; it glazes and heats the part instead of cutting
- Finishing with zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit; switch to Cloth A/O
- Running steel sparks into a collector or shop vac full of wood dust
Specifications
| Size | 4" x 36" |
|---|---|
| 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 | 9 belts, one grain and grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both; poly-cotton backing tolerates moisture |
| Fits | Ryobi BD4601G, WEN 6502T, Rikon 50-112, Bauer 58339, Central Machinery 58360, Bucktool BD4603/BD4801-M and other 4" x 36" sanders |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any width and length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Will these 4" x 36" belts fit the Harbor Freight Bauer or Central Machinery sander?
Yes. The Bauer 58339 and Central Machinery 58360 belt and disc sanders both take a standard 4" x 36" belt, and so do the Ryobi BD4601G, WEN 6502T, Rikon 50-112 and Bucktool BD4603 and BD4801-M. Release the tension lever, slip the belt on, re-tension and adjust the tracking knob until the belt runs centred.
Can I grind metal on a 4" x 36" sander that I also use for wood?
Yes, but treat it as two machines. Swap to a metal-grain belt, empty the dust port and hose of wood dust and disconnect any wood collector first, because steel sparks into sawdust can start a fire. Keep separate belts for wood and steel; a belt used on steel will leave grey marks on light wood.
Is ceramic worth buying for a light 4" x 36" combo sander?
Only if you grind hardened or stainless steel often and press firmly on the platen. Ceramic grain keeps cutting only under real pressure; used gently on a light bench sander it glazes and heats the part. For mild steel, mower blades and general deburring, zirconia is the better value and the belt we recommend first.
Which belt and grit should I use to sharpen mower blades?
Zirconia at 60 grit sets the bevel and removes nicks quickly; follow with 120 zirconia for a cleaner edge. Grind on the platen with the blade moving across the belt, keep the original bevel angle, dip the blade in water between passes, and stop when a burr forms on the back. Balance the blade before refitting.
Why does my belt clog up when I sand aluminum?
Aluminum is soft and packs into a dry belt in seconds, especially on a single-speed sander. Use the Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) belt or a Cloth A/O belt instead of plain zirconia, rub a grease stick on the running belt, keep pressure light and the part moving, and clean the belt with a crepe belt eraser as soon as it starts to load.
Which way does the belt go on, and does the joint bump on the platen?
Look at the inside of the belt before mounting. If there is a printed arrow, run the belt in that direction so the joint trails and cannot lift; if there is no arrow, the taped joint runs either way. The joint is flush, so there is no thump as it crosses the platen. Set tracking with the machine jogged, not under load.
How many belts per pack and can I return unused ones?
Each pack has 9 belts of one grain and one grit. Orders over $200 ship free, unused belts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and bulk pricing is available by calling 714-646-3299 or emailing sales@maverickabrasives.com. If your sander takes an unusual size, we convert custom belts in Anaheim, California in about 3 days.
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