6" x 258" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK

Stroke sanders with a long table run a belt over twenty feet around, and the 6" x 258" is one of those sizes. The operator presses a hand pad onto the moving belt to flatten and finish tabletops, doors, panels and, in some shops, sheet metal and plastic parts that would be damaged by a wide belt machine. The length keeps the abrasive cool and makes each belt last through a lot of panels.

We convert 6" x 258" belts in Anaheim, California in three grains on poly-cotton cloth: Aluminum Oxide for wood and general work, Silicon Carbide for plastics, solid surface, non-ferrous metal and the cleanest finishing scratch, and Zirconia for heavy stock removal on hardwood and steel. Grits run 36 through 400 and belts ship two to a pack.

• Three grains for one stroke sander: aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and zirconia
• 36 through 400 grit: flattening glue-ups through fine finishing on plastics and metal
• Poly-cotton cloth backing runs wet or dry and tracks true over a 258" loop
• Two belts per pack; free shipping on orders over $200
• Converted in Anaheim, California
• Any 6" length made to order in about 3 days

Which 6" x 258" belt material should you choose?

Match the grain to what is under the pad. On a stroke sander the pressure is light and controlled by hand, which favours the sharper grains for most work.

• Aluminum Oxide: the belt for solid wood, veneer, plywood and MDF. It cuts cleanly at pad pressure, leaves an even scratch that takes stain and finish well, and lasts longest on wood. Buy it for tabletops, doors and panels in 60 through 220 grit. It also handles aluminum and brass cleanup.
• Silicon Carbide: the sharpest grain we offer and the one for plastics, acrylic, solid surface, fiberglass and composites, non-ferrous metal and finishing passes where the scratch pattern matters. It cuts cooler than aluminum oxide on materials that melt or load, and gives the finest, most uniform finish at a given grit. Run it wet where the machine allows. It wears faster on steel.
• Zirconia: for heavy stock removal on dense hardwood glue-ups and for steel and stainless on stroke sanders and edge sanders set up for metal. Zirconia self-sharpens only under load, so it suits a machine or an operator that can keep firm pressure on it; used lightly it dulls. Stocked in the coarse and medium grits; above 120 use aluminum oxide or silicon carbide.

Not every grain is stocked in every grit. The variant selector shows current combinations, and any grain and grit not listed can be quoted as a custom belt.

Grit guide for stroke sanding wood, metal and plastic

Step one grit at a time. Skipping grades on a stroke sander leaves scratches you will not see until the finish or the polish goes on.

What machines take a 6" x 258" belt?

• Stroke sanders (horizontal hand-pad sanders) with a long table whose manual specifies a 6" x 258" belt, used for tabletops, doors, panels and veneered work.
• Stroke and long-bed sanders set up for metal and plastics, running zirconia on steel, silicon carbide on aluminum, plastics and solid surface.

Confirm the length in your manual; 6" belts are made in many lengths and only the correct nominal length will tension and track. Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting. Fitting a belt this long: back off the tension fully, uncoil the belt and let it relax flat on the floor, hang it over both drums with any arrow pointing in the direction of travel, re-tension, then jog the machine or turn the belt by hand while adjusting tracking until it runs centred on both drums.

How to get the most out of it

1. Let a new belt run and settle for a minute before the pad touches the work. On a 258" loop any tension imbalance shows as drift, so watch both drums.
2. Keep the pad moving with the grain in long, overlapping strokes under light pressure. The belt does the cutting; a heavy or stationary pad dishes the surface and burns maple and cherry.
3. Stay in the 80 to 150 grit range for most stroke sanding on wood and use aluminum oxide. Finer than 220 burnishes wood before stain.
4. On plastics and solid surface use silicon carbide, light pressure, and water if the machine is set up for it; heat is what melts and loads the belt.
5. On steel use zirconia and keep the pressure up so the grain keeps fracturing. Keep metal sparks out of a wood dust collector; use a dedicated metal-rated collector if the machine sees both.
6. Use the whole table length so wear spreads along the belt instead of concentrating in one zone.
7. Clean loaded belts with a crepe rubber belt eraser at low pressure with the belt running, and keep extraction on.
8. Store belts loosely coiled in the box or hanging over a large-diameter peg. Never fold a belt this long; let it warm to room temperature before mounting.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Stroke sanding tabletops, benchtops, doors and glued-up panels (aluminum oxide)
• Surfacing veneered panels a wide belt sander would cut through (aluminum oxide, 120 and finer)
• Acrylic, solid surface, fiberglass and plastic sheet (silicon carbide)
• Aluminum, brass and non-ferrous finishing (silicon carbide or aluminum oxide)
• Steel plate, stainless and heavy hardwood levelling (zirconia)

Don't use it for

• Zirconia at light pad pressure or on finishing passes; it glazes instead of cutting
• Silicon carbide for heavy stock removal on steel; it wears quickly there
• Grits finer than 220 before stain on wood
• Machines built for a different 6" belt length

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All narrow sanding belts
• 6" x 264" Sanding Belts, 2 pack
• 6" x 214" Sanding Belts, 2 pack
• Belt eraser for cleaning loaded belts
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days