6" x 186" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK
6" x 186" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK
Available in stock (49970)
A 6" belt fifteen and a half feet long is a stroke sander belt. On a stroke sander the belt runs continuously over a long table while the operator presses a hand pad down onto it to sand tabletops, cabinet doors and panels that are too wide or too delicate for a wide belt machine. The same length also fits some long-bed edge sanders and metal fabrication sanders.
We manufacture 6" x 186" belts in our Anaheim, California facility with heat-treated aluminum oxide on X-weight poly-cotton cloth, the grain and backing that suit the light pad pressure of a stroke sander on wood and that tolerate wet running on metal. Grits run 36 through 320, belts ship two to a pack, and zirconia in this length can be converted to order for heavy steel work.
- Sized for stroke sanders and long-bed edge sanders that take a 6 x 186 belt
- Heat-treated aluminum oxide on X-weight poly-cotton cloth, made in Anaheim, California
- 36 through 320 grit: levelling glue-ups through the last pass before finish
- Cloth backing can be run wet or dry
- Two belts per pack; free shipping on orders over $200
- Zirconia in 6" x 186" and other 6" lengths made to order in about 3 days
Which 6" x 186" belt should you choose?
Aluminum oxide is the one stock grain in this size, and for a stroke sander it is the right one. The choice is grit.
- Aluminum Oxide (stock): cuts wood, veneer, MDF and plywood cleanly under the light, moving pressure of a stroke sander pad, leaves an even scratch that stains and finishes well, and outlasts other grains on wood. On an edge sander or metal fabrication sander it handles aluminum, brass and light steel; run it wet on aluminum to stop loading.
- 36 to 60 grit: levelling glued-up panels, removing planer snipe and heavy defects, rough shaping on the edge sander drum. On a stroke sander these grits remove wood quickly, so keep the pad moving.
- 80 to 120 grit: the main stroke sanding range for flattening tabletops and doors and removing the coarse scratch.
- 150 to 220 grit: the final passes before stain or clear coat. Most shops stop at 150 on a stroke sander and finish by hand or orbital.
- 320 grit: plastics, solid surface and metal finishing; too fine before stain on wood.
- Zirconia (custom): the previous version of this page described a zirconia belt on a Y-weight polyester backing for heavy stock removal on aluminum and steel. It is not stocked in 6" x 186" but can be converted to order in the coarse and medium grits.
Grit guide for stroke sanding panels and tabletops
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Heavy levelling, thick glue lines, rough stock | Fast; light pad pressure, keep it moving |
| 60 | Flattening glue-ups, removing planer marks | Usual first grit on solid panels |
| 80 | General flattening, removing the 60 scratch | Where most stroke sanding time goes |
| 120 | Surfacing veneered panels, pre-finish on paint grade | Start here on veneer |
| 150–180 | Last stroke sander pass before stain | Follow with hand or orbital sanding |
| 220 | Final before clear coat on close-grained wood | Do not go finer for stain |
| 320 | Plastics, solid surface, metal finishing | Burnishes wood |
What machines take a 6" x 186" belt?
- Stroke sanders (horizontal hand-pad sanders) whose manual specifies a 6" x 186" belt, used for tabletops, cabinet doors, panels and veneered work.
- Long-bed edge sanders built around a 186" loop.
- Metal fabrication sanders with a 6" belt head sized for this length, running aluminum oxide on aluminum and light steel or a custom zirconia belt on heavier steel.
Confirm the length in your manual; 6" belts are made in many lengths and only the correct nominal length will tension. Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting. Fitting a belt this long is a two-hand job: back off the tension fully, uncoil the belt and let it relax flat, hang it over both drums with any arrow pointing in the direction of travel, re-tension, then jog or hand-turn the belt while adjusting tracking until it runs centred.
How to get the most out of it
- Let a new belt run for a minute and settle before the pad touches the work. Watch the tracking on both drums; a 186" belt magnifies any tension imbalance.
- Keep the pad moving with the grain in long, overlapping strokes, and use light pressure. The belt does the cutting; pressing hard heats the belt and burns the panel, and a pad that stops dishes a spot.
- Stay in the 80 to 150 grit range for most stroke sanding on wood. Coarser belts remove material faster than a hand pad can control on veneer; finer belts are better used by hand or orbital.
- Work the whole length of the table so wear spreads along the belt instead of concentrating in one zone.
- Veneered panels: start at 120, use the lightest pad pressure, and stop as soon as the surface is uniform. Face veneer is thin.
- On aluminum, run wet where the machine allows or use a grease stick, and keep metal sparks out of a wood dust collector.
- Clean loaded belts with a crepe rubber belt eraser at low pressure with the belt running, and keep extraction on; loading is the main reason a long belt seems to wear early.
- Store belts hanging over a large-diameter peg or loosely coiled in the box. Never fold a long belt; let it come to room temperature before mounting.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Stroke sanding tabletops, benchtops, cabinet doors and glued-up panels
- Surfacing veneered panels that a wide belt sander would cut through
- Edge sanding on long-bed edge sanders built for this length
- Deburring and finishing aluminum, brass and light steel on fabrication sanders
- Plastics and solid surface with the fine grits
Don't use it for
- Heavy weld removal or thick steel plate; order zirconia in this size instead
- Pressing hard with the stroke sander pad to speed things up; use a coarser grit instead
- Grits finer than 220 before stain on wood
- Machines built for a different 6" belt length
Specifications
| Size | 6" wide x 186" long |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Heat-treated aluminum oxide (zirconia to order) |
| Backing | X-weight poly-cotton cloth |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 36, 60, 80, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320 |
| Pack quantity | 2 belts |
| Wet or dry | Both |
| Made in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Any width and length made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
What is a 6" x 186" belt used for?
Mainly stroke sanders, the long horizontal machines where the belt runs over a table and the operator presses a hand pad onto it to sand tabletops, doors and panels. The same 186" length fits some long-bed edge sanders and metal fabrication sanders. Aluminum oxide is stocked because most of these machines are used on wood.
Which grit should I use on a stroke sander for a tabletop?
Start at 60 or 80 grit to flatten the glue-up, move to 120 to remove that scratch, and finish at 150 before hand or orbital sanding. Keep the pad moving with the grain under light pressure. Use 36 only for badly uneven panels, and do not go finer than 220 on a stroke sander before stain.
Why does the panel burn under the stroke sander pad?
Pad pressure that is too heavy, a pad that stops moving, or a belt that is dull or loaded. Maple and cherry show it first. Lighten the pressure, keep the pad travelling the length of the panel, clean the belt with a belt eraser, and if it still burns, change to a fresh belt or a coarser grit rather than pushing harder.
Can I run these belts wet or on metal?
Yes. The X-weight poly-cotton cloth is not harmed by water or coolant, so the belt can run wet on fabrication sanders. Aluminum oxide handles aluminum, brass and light steel deburring; for weld removal or heavy stock removal on steel, ask us for a zirconia belt in this length, which we convert to order.
Is zirconia available in 6" x 186"?
As a custom belt, yes. The previous version of this page described a zirconia belt on Y-weight polyester for heavy stock removal on aluminum and steel; it is not a stock item in this length, but we convert it in coarse and medium grits. Email sales@maverickabrasives.com or call 714-646-3299 with the grit you need.
How is a fifteen-foot belt shipped and stored?
It ships loosely coiled in a box. Keep it that way, or hang it over a large-diameter peg, away from humidity and sunlight, and let it warm to room temperature before mounting. A long belt that has been folded or left damp on one edge will not track and thumps on every revolution.
How many belts per pack, and what if my machine takes a different length?
Two belts of one grit per pack. Orders over $200 ship free and unused belts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days. If your stroke sander or edge sander needs a different 6" length, we make it to order in about 3 days; send the length from your manual and we will quote it.
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