6" x 158" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK
6" x 158" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK
Available in stock (50000)
Thirteen feet of 6" belt is a long-bed edge sander length, and the shops that run it are often doing wood one week and aluminum or stainless the next. This 6" x 158" listing is built for that mixed work: aluminum oxide on X-weight cloth for wood and light metal, zirconia for steel and heavy removal, zirconia+ with grinding aid for stainless that runs hot, and ceramic (Shredder) for hardened steel and the toughest ferrous jobs. We convert all four in Anaheim, California.
Every grain sits on a premium X- or Y-weight cloth backing that can be run wet or dry and takes the pressure an edge sander platen or a belt grinder contact wheel can put into it. Grits run from 24 to 600, two belts to a pack.
- One 6" x 158" size covers wood, aluminum and stainless with the right grain for each
- Ceramic, zirconia, zirconia+ grinding aid and aluminum oxide options
- Premium X- or Y-weight cloth backings, wet or dry
- 24–600 grit: weld removal through pre-polish
- 2-pack: one on the machine, one spare in the same grit
- Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping over $200
Which 6" x 158" belt should you choose?
Pick by material first. On a mixed-use edge sander the most common mistake is running a metal grain on wood or an aluminum oxide belt on stainless and blaming the belt.
- Cloth A/O (aluminum oxide, X-weight): the wood belt, and our recommendation for woodwork roughly 95 percent of the time. It cuts cleanly at edge-sander pressure without tearing or burning. It is also the low-cost choice for aluminum and mild steel when belt life is not the priority, and the only grain here offered from 150 to 600 grit, so it is the finishing belt for every material.
- Zirconia: carbon steel, mild steel, general fabrication and heavy stock removal on aluminum. Y-weight poly-cotton backing. Made in 24 through 120 grit; above 120 it stops fracturing usefully, so switch to aluminum oxide.
- Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): zirconia with a grinding-aid coat over the bond that lubricates the cut and pulls heat out of the part. The belt for stainless and other ferrous metals that blue or work-harden, and it outlasts plain zirconia on that work. Y-weight polyester backing.
- Ceramic (Shredder): hardened steel, tool steel, stainless and any job where a constant cut rate over the life of the belt matters more than belt price. The red-orange grain needs a rigid machine and firm pressure; on a light-duty edge sander at wood-sanding pressure it will glaze. Y-weight polyester backing.
Grit availability differs by grain, so check the selector for the combination you need; anything not listed in this size can be made to order.
Grit guide for wood and metal on one edge sander
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24–36 | Weld removal, scale, heavy steel stock | Ceramic or zirconia only |
| 40–60 | Shaping steel; straightening rough wood edges | AO on wood, zirconia on metal |
| 80–100 | General edge sanding; blending on metal | Everyday grit on wood |
| 120–150 | Pre-finish on wood; deburring on metal | Last useful zirconia grit is 120 |
| 180–220 | Final before stain; graining stainless | Aluminum oxide |
| 320–600 | Fine graining, pre-polish on metal | Aluminum oxide, light pressure |
Never skip more than one grit on either material. On wood the missed scratch shows under stain; on stainless it shows through a brushed finish.
What machines take a 6" x 158" belt?
- Long-bed oscillating edge sanders with a 6" wide platen that specify a 158" belt, in cabinet, millwork and mixed fabrication shops.
- Long-bed belt grinders and backstand grinders in metal shops set up for a 6" x 158" belt.
- Horizontal stroke-type machines built to the same belt path.
Fitment notes: measure an old belt around the outside or check the manual; most machines tolerate about 1/4" of length variation, and 158" is not interchangeable with 132" or 168". Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting; if there is none, the joint runs in either direction. Track at low speed with no load. If the machine grinds steel, use a dedicated metal-rated collector or wet collection and never share it with wood dust.
How to get the most out of it
- Change pressure when you change grain. Aluminum oxide on wood wants a light touch and a moving workpiece. Zirconia and ceramic on steel want firm, steady pressure so the grain fractures and stays sharp; run them light and they glaze and heat the part.
- Keep the work moving along the platen. Dwelling burns cherry and maple and blues stainless.
- Use a grease stick or zirconia+ on aluminum and slow the belt if the machine allows; aluminum loads any belt that is run dry and fast.
- Finish on aluminum oxide. Do the heavy work with the metal grains and switch to aluminum oxide from 150 grit up for graining and pre-polish.
- Clean loaded belts with a crepe belt eraser at low pressure. Pitch on a wood belt and aluminum on a metal belt both come off, and the belt cuts nearly like new.
- Keep wood and metal dust apart. Empty or switch the collector between jobs; hot steel sparks and wood dust together are a fire risk.
- Store spares hanging on a large-radius peg or loosely coiled, away from humidity and sunlight, and let a cold belt warm before running.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Cabinet door edges, face frames, panel ends and long solid-wood stock (aluminum oxide)
- Aluminum extrusion, plate and casting clean-up (zirconia, zirconia+, then aluminum oxide)
- Stainless grinding, blending and graining (zirconia+ or ceramic, then aluminum oxide)
- Weld knockdown and scale on carbon steel (zirconia or ceramic)
- Hardened and tool steel where cut rate must stay constant (ceramic)
Don't use it for
- Zirconia or ceramic on wood; they tear and burn where aluminum oxide sands cleanly
- Ceramic on a light-duty machine that cannot load the grain
- Fine finishing with zirconia or ceramic; use aluminum oxide above 120 grit
- Machines built for a different belt length
Specifications
| Size | 6" x 158" |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grains | Aluminum oxide, zirconia, zirconia+ with grinding aid, ceramic (Shredder) |
| Backing | X-weight poly-cotton (aluminum oxide); Y-weight poly-cotton (zirconia); Y-weight polyester (zirconia+, ceramic) |
| Coat | Closed coat; zirconia+ carries a grinding-aid top coat |
| Joint | Cloth belt joint; check the inside for a direction arrow |
| Grits offered | 24, 36, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600 (varies by grain) |
| Pack quantity | 2 belts, one grain and grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any width and length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Can I run wood and stainless on the same edge sander with these 6" x 158" belts?
Yes, by changing belts and grains. Use the aluminum oxide belt for wood, and zirconia+ or ceramic for stainless. Swap belts between materials, wipe the platen, and separate the dust; steel sparks in a wood collector are a fire risk. Keep a set of each grain on the wall so nobody is tempted to grind steel on the wood belt.
Which grain removes a weld on stainless fastest without bluing it?
Ceramic at 36 or 40 grit removes stainless weld beads fastest, provided the machine is rigid and you keep firm pressure and a moving part. If the parts are still discolouring, switch to zirconia+ with grinding aid; the top coat cools the cut. Blend at 80–120 with the same grain, then grain the surface with aluminum oxide at 180 or 220.
What is the difference between the X-weight and Y-weight backings?
Both are heavy belt cloths. X-weight poly-cotton, used on the aluminum oxide belt, is the standard for belts that see real pressure and stays flexible enough for edge sanding wood. Y-weight, used on zirconia, zirconia+ and ceramic, is heavier and stiffer for high-pressure metal grinding. All of them can be run wet or dry.
Is ceramic worth the extra cost over zirconia in this size?
On stainless, hardened steel and tool steel, usually yes: ceramic keeps a near-constant cut rate for its whole life and outlasts zirconia when it is run with proper pressure, so the cost per part drops. On mild steel, aluminum or wood, or on a light-duty machine, zirconia or aluminum oxide is the better buy because ceramic will not be worked hard enough to fracture.
Why does the grit range differ between grains?
Zirconia and ceramic are stock-removal grains that work by fracturing under load, which only happens usefully at coarse-to-medium sizes, so they are made in 24 through about 120 grit. Aluminum oxide keeps cutting at fine sizes, so it carries 150 through 600 for finishing, graining and pre-polish. Check the selector for the exact combinations stocked.
How many belts come in a pack and can I order another length?
Each pack holds two 6" x 158" belts of one grain and grit. Orders over $200 ship free, and bulk or case pricing is available by calling 714-646-3299 or emailing sales@maverickabrasives.com. If your machine takes a length we do not stock, we make custom belts in any size in about 3 days.
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