4" x 64" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belt, 12 PACK

The CR Laurence BM64B heavy-duty bench wet abrasive belt sander is the machine this belt is sized for: a bench-mounted wet sander that takes one 4 x 64 belt and does the edge sanding and flat surface finishing in glass shops that do not have floor space for an upright. We convert these belts in Anaheim, California from our S181 silicon carbide cloth on a Y-weight polyester backing, so they run wet under the BM64B's water feed or dry, and hold together at hand-held sander tension as well.

Silicon carbide is the grain glass shops use because it cuts glass cleanly without cracking or scratching it, where aluminum oxide rounds over and heats the edge. Eleven grits from 50 through 800 carry an edge from raw cut to pre-polish, and the matching 4 x 64 cork belt finishes it to clear. Twelve belts of one grit per pack.

• Made to fit the CR Laurence BM64B bench wet abrasive belt sander
• S181 silicon carbide cloth: clean cut on glass with no cracking or scratching
• Y-weight polyester backing runs wet or dry without breaking down
• Eleven grits, 50 through 800, for edge sanding through pre-polish
• 12 belts of one grit per pack; case pricing on request
• Converted in Anaheim, California; custom lengths in about 3 days

Which grit should you run on a BM64B bench wet sander?

Every variant is silicon carbide; you are choosing grit. A bench wet sander normally carries one belt at a time, so plan the grits around the jobs the machine actually does.

• 50 and 60 grit: removing score-break and chips from fresh-cut edges, shaping a radius or notch, roughing a bevel, and shaping stone or solid surface.
• 80 and 100 grit: the everyday seaming and edge-sanding grit for shelves, mirrors and cabinet glass that will sit in a frame.
• 120 grit: refining an exposed edge or a flat face. This size does not include 150; the next step is 180.
• 180 and 220 grit: satin or seamed finish on exposed edges and flat surface finishing on etched or sandblasted panels.
• 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.

For stone and quartz, 60 to 80 to shape and 220 to 400 before polishing pads. For acrylic, 120, 220 and 400 then flame or buff. For fiberglass parts, 50 to 80 to fair and 120 to 220 to finish.

Grit guide for glass edge sanding and flat finishing on a 4 x 64 belt

Which machines take a 4 x 64 belt?

• CR Laurence BM64B Wet Abrasive Belt Sander: the heavy-duty bench model. These belts are sized and converted specifically for it and take one belt at a time.
• Other bench or upright wet belt sanders built for a 4 inch by 64 inch belt. Confirm the length in the manual; a 4 x 54 machine will not tension this belt.
• Hand-held and bench belt sanders of the same size in stone, solid-surface and plastics shops. The polyester backing holds up on hand-held machines as well as on the BM64B.

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 wheels, re-tension, then jog the machine and set tracking before opening the water. Re-check tracking after the first few pieces, when a new belt has wet through and settled.

How to get the most out of it

1. Water on before glass on. Open the BM64B's water feed across the full belt width first. Water keeps the edge cool enough to avoid micro-checks, floats swarf away and controls silica dust. If you run dry, use extraction and a fitted respirator.
2. Feed light and keep the glass moving. Pressure chips glass and glazes silicon carbide. Let the belt speed and the S181 grain do the work.
3. Flat surface finishing: keep the face flat to the platen and sweep it across the full four inch width in overlapping passes so the scratch is even and the belt wears evenly.
4. Edges and bevels: set the angle against the rest and hold it constant along the whole edge; no dwell at corners.
5. Step one grit at a time and rinse the piece between belts so coarse grit never rides onto a fine belt.
6. Change cloudy water, drain the machine at shift end, 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

• Edge sanding and seaming float glass, mirror, shelves and cabinet glass on a bench wet sander
• Flat surface finishing on etched, sandblasted and laminated glass
• Bevels and radius corners on decorative glass
• Granite, marble, quartz, tile and solid-surface edges
• Acrylic, polycarbonate and fiberglass parts

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 64 cork belt
• Machines built for 4 x 54 or any other length

Finishing to a polished edge with the 4 x 64 cork belt

Silicon carbide takes the edge to a fine matte; the clear polish comes from the 4 x 64 cork belt, an ungritted polishing carrier that mounts on the same BM64B. 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 64" Cork Sanding Belt, 6 pack, for cerium polishing
• All glass fabrication abrasives (belts, cork belts and discs)
• 4" x 54" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belts, 9 pack
• 4" x 106" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belts for CRL DBS106 and 2300 machines
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days