52" x 138" Sanding Belt, 2 PACK
52" x 138" Sanding Belt, 2 PACK
Available in stock (50000)
A 138-inch belt on a 52-inch head is a long-loop industrial belt: the length gives more cooling time between passes and more abrasive per belt, which is why multi-head calibrating and finishing lines run it. We convert this size in three constructions, closed-coat cloth aluminum oxide for general wood and metal, zirconia for calibrating hardwood and steel, and paper-backed aluminum oxide as the economical finishing-head belt on wood.
Grits run from 36 for the first calibrating head to 400 for a final skim on veneer and lacquer-ready panels. Each pack holds two belts of one construction and grit. Millwork plants, door manufacturers, panel processors and flooring producers buy this size; we cut it in Anaheim, California, and quote case quantities by phone.
- Three constructions: cloth closed-coat aluminum oxide, zirconia, and paper aluminum oxide for finishing heads
- 36 through 400 grit covers every head on a calibrating and finishing line
- 138-inch loop runs cooler and carries more grain than short belts on the same head
- Closed coat on cloth for full grain coverage on hardwood, MDF and metal
- 2-pack per grit and construction; case pricing on request
- Converted in Anaheim, California; custom lengths and widths in about 3 days
Cloth aluminum oxide, zirconia or paper: which 52" x 138" belt goes on which head?
Match the construction to the head's job. A typical line has a calibrating head, one or two intermediate heads and a finishing head, and they should not all wear the same belt.
- Cloth Closed Coat A/O: the all-round belt. Aluminum oxide on poly-cotton cloth handles intermediate and finishing heads on solid wood, MDF and plywood, and every head when the line also runs aluminum or composite panels. Buy it in 80 to 220 for most work, and in 36 to 60 for softwood and MDF calibrating.
- Zirconia: the calibrating belt for hardwood and the belt for steel. Its grain fractures under load to expose fresh edges, so it holds its cut through glue lines, knots and end grain at 36 to 60 grit where aluminum oxide rounds over. Use it at 36 to 120; finer than that, choose aluminum oxide.
- Paper A/O: aluminum oxide on a heavy paper backing. Paper is stiffer and cheaper than cloth but tears more easily, so it belongs on finishing heads running 120 to 400 grit on wood at light pressure, where its stiffness gives a very flat, uniform scratch and its cost per belt keeps consumable spend down on high-volume lines. Do not run paper belts on metal or on a calibrating head.
A common four-head layout on this size for stain-grade hardwood is 60 zirconia, 100 cloth aluminum oxide, 150 cloth or paper aluminum oxide, and 180 or 220 paper aluminum oxide on the platen head.
Grit guide for a multi-head calibrating and finishing line
| Grit | Head and job | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| 36–40 | Calibrating head: rough stock, glue-ups | Zirconia (hardwood, steel); cloth AO (softwood, MDF) |
| 60 | Calibrating or first intermediate | Zirconia or cloth AO |
| 80–100 | Intermediate: surfacing | Cloth AO |
| 120–150 | Intermediate or finishing: pre-finish | Cloth AO or paper AO |
| 180–220 | Finishing head: last pass before stain | Paper AO or cloth AO on platen |
| 320–400 | Finishing head: veneer, lacquer, oil | Paper AO; skim pass only |
What machines take a 52" x 138" belt?
- 52-inch industrial wide belt sanders in the Timesaver 52 class and similar multi-head calibrating and finishing lines whose manual specifies a 138-inch belt. The old page called these "timesaver machines", which the trade uses for wide belt sanders generally.
- 52-inch machines with other belt lengths take our 52" x 75", 52" x 86-1/2" or 52" x 103" belts. Length tolerance on most machines is about plus or minus 1/4 inch; match the size plate on each head, since heads on one line can take different lengths.
Mounting a belt this long: retract the tension roller fully, carry the belt on with two people so it is not creased, tension, and set tracking with the oscillation running so the belt swings evenly between the limit sensors. Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and run it that way if one is printed. For a width or length not shown on the site, we convert custom sizes in about 3 days.
How to get the most out of it
- Calibrate on the drum, finish on the platen. Coarse grits on a hard contact drum remove stock; finishing grits on the platen float the belt over the panel and remove drum scallop.
- Keep the calibrating pass light. 1/64 to 1/32 inch per pass at 36 to 60 grit on hardwood, less as the grit gets finer. Overloading the first head burns belts and overloads the drive.
- Run feed speed up, not down. Slow feed is the leading cause of burn marks on cherry and maple.
- Never skip more than one grit between heads. 60 to 100 to 150 to 220 works; 60 to 150 does not, and the 60 scratch shows through the stain.
- Match dust extraction to the belt. Loading is the number one killer of wide belts, and a 52-inch head moves a lot of dust. Check gates and hoses on every head, not just the first.
- Clean cloth belts on the machine. A crepe-rubber belt eraser held lightly against the running belt pulls resin and dust out of the grain and extends finishing-belt life noticeably.
- Handle paper belts carefully. Paper does not forgive a crease or a nicked edge. Store them flat-hung, never folded, and inspect the edge before mounting.
- Store all belts hanging on a rack away from humidity and sunlight, and let cold belts come to shop temperature before mounting. A 138-inch belt left on the floor takes a set you cannot track out.
Our blog covers the two most common trouble calls on lines like this: why wide sanding belts break and chatter marks and finish problems on wood.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Calibrating and finishing doors, panels, countertops and flooring up to 52 inches wide
- Hardwood calibrating at 36 to 60 grit (zirconia)
- MDF, plywood and veneered panel surfacing (cloth aluminum oxide)
- High-volume finishing heads on wood at 120 to 400 grit (paper aluminum oxide)
- Steel plate and aluminum sheet on lines set up for metal (zirconia coarse, cloth aluminum oxide fine)
Don't use it for
- Paper belts on metal, on calibrating heads, or on machines with rough platen edges
- Zirconia at light pressure or above 120 grit; it glazes instead of self-sharpening
- Wet sanding; these are dry-use belts
- Running a belt with a lifted joint, crease or edge tear
- Finer than 220 on wood that will be stained
Specifications
| Size | 52" wide x 138" long |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Aluminum oxide (cloth or paper backing) or zirconia |
| Backing | Poly-cotton cloth (Cloth Closed Coat A/O, Zirconia) or heavy paper (Paper A/O) |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check inside of belt for a direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 36, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 |
| Pack quantity | 2 belts, one construction and grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Dry |
| Machine type | 52-inch industrial wide belt sanders, multi-head lines |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose paper A/O over cloth A/O in 52" x 138"?
Choose paper for finishing heads running 120 to 400 grit on wood. Paper is stiffer, which gives a flatter, more uniform scratch, and it costs less per belt on a high-volume line. Choose cloth for any head that sees real pressure, for grits coarser than 120, for metal, and for machines whose platen or roller edges are rough enough to nick paper.
Which construction should go on the calibrating head?
Zirconia at 36 to 60 grit for hardwood, flooring and any steel work, because the grain self-sharpens under load and holds its cut through glue lines and knots. For softwood, MDF and plywood, cloth aluminum oxide at 36 to 60 grit is the better choice; zirconia needs more pressure than those materials give it.
Can I run zirconia on the finishing head?
You can, but it is not a good use of the belt. Zirconia only stays sharp when it is pressed hard enough to fracture, and finishing heads run at light pressure. Above 120 grit aluminum oxide, cloth or paper, cuts cleaner, lasts as long and costs less. Keep zirconia on the calibrating and first intermediate heads.
My heads take different belt lengths. Is that normal?
Yes. On many multi-head lines the calibrating head and the finishing head are different machines bolted together, with different roller spacing. Check the size plate on each head rather than ordering one length for the whole line. We stock 52-inch belts in 75, 86-1/2, 103 and 138 inch lengths and convert other lengths to order.
What grit sequence gives a stain-ready surface on a four-head line?
A common sequence is 60 zirconia on the calibrating head, 100 cloth aluminum oxide, 150 cloth or paper aluminum oxide, then 180 or 220 paper aluminum oxide on the platen head. Never skip more than one grit between heads, and do not go finer than 220 under stain or the surface burnishes and takes color unevenly.
How many belts per pack, and can I get a case price?
Each pack contains two 52" x 138" belts of one construction and grit. Production lines usually order by the case, and we quote case and bulk pricing for any construction or grit by phone at 714-646-3299 or by email at sales@maverickabrasives.com. Orders over $200 ship free.
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