6" x 300" Sanding Belts, 2 PACK

A stroke sander runs a 6" belt continuously between two drums above a sliding table, and the operator presses a hand pad down onto the back of the belt to sand tabletops, doors, panels and sheet stock. The 6" x 300" is a twenty-five-foot cloth belt for those machines, and we stock it in Aluminum Oxide for wood, Zirconia for steel and aluminum, and Silicon Carbide for plastics, solid surface, laminates and non-ferrous metal.

All three are poly-cotton cloth belts that can be run wet or dry. We convert them in Anaheim, California, two to a pack, in 36 through 400 grit, with zirconia held in the coarse grits and aluminum oxide and silicon carbide carrying the fine end.

• Stroke sander length for tabletops, doors, panels and sheet stock
• Aluminum oxide for wood, the grain we recommend for woodworking almost every time
• Zirconia for heavy stock removal on steel, stainless and aluminum
• Silicon carbide for plastics, solid surface, laminates and the cleanest scratch
• 36 through 400 grit; poly-cotton cloth that runs wet or dry; two belts per pack
• Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which 6" x 300" belt should you choose?

On a stroke sander the belt speed is fixed and the operator sets the pressure through the pad, so the grain has to suit both the material and a light hand.

• Aluminum Oxide: the woodworking belt. It cuts hardwood, softwood, veneer, plywood and MDF cleanly at pad pressure, leaves the most even scratch before finish and lasts longest on wood. It also handles aluminum, steel and composites when cost matters more than speed. Poly-cotton cloth, wet or dry, offered across the full 36 through 400 range.
• Zirconia: heavy stock removal and long life on steel, stainless and aluminum. The grain self-sharpens under moderate-to-heavy pressure, which is more than a wooden panel wants; on wood it tends to tear the grain and burn. Held in the coarse grits, 36 through 120, and we can convert other coarse zirconia grits to order.
• Silicon Carbide: the sharpest grain of the three and the one for plastics, acrylic, solid surface, laminates, fiberglass, stone and non-ferrous metals. It leaves the cleanest scratch pattern, which makes it a good finishing belt on lacquered or painted surfaces, but it wears fast on steel.

A woodshop stroke sander usually carries aluminum oxide 80 for flattening, 120 for general work and 150 or 180 for the last pass. A fab shop carries zirconia 60 and 120 plus aluminum oxide 220.

Grit guide for stroke sanding

What machines take a 6" x 300" belt?

We have not verified individual models against the 6" x 300" size. Stroke sanders from different makers use different drum spacings, so confirm the length in your manual or measure the old belt before ordering.

• Horizontal stroke sanders with a 6" belt, the woodworking machines used for tabletops, cabinet doors, panels and casework.
• Metal stroke sanders and long-bed finishing machines that run a 6" x 300" belt on plate, sheet and extrusions.
• Long edge sanders built around a 6" x 300" loop.

Mounting: back off the tension, carry the belt to the machine coiled rather than dragged, slide it over both drums grain side out, check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and run it that way, re-tension, then turn the belt by hand and set tracking centered. A twenty-five-foot belt takes a moment to settle; re-check tracking after the first minute under load. Other 6" lengths are made to order in about 3 days.

How to get the most out of it

1. Keep the pad moving. The belt only cuts where the pad presses it down. Long overlapping strokes along the grain give a flat, even surface; stopping dishes the work and burns.
2. Use light pressure. A long belt cools between passes, so let the grain cut. Pressing harder does not speed up aluminum oxide on wood, it just heats the panel and loads the belt.
3. Keep the pad flat. Tilting the pad digs a line at its edge. On veneered panels stay at 120 and above and take very light passes.
4. Step grits in order. 80, 120, 150 or 180 for wood before stain; 36 or 60, 120, 220 for metal.
5. Lean on zirconia. On steel the grain needs enough pressure to fracture; keep the part or the pad moving so stainless does not blue.
6. Run silicon carbide wet where the material allows it. Plastics and solid surface finish cleaner with water, and the cloth backing tolerates it. Woodworking stroke sanders are dry machines.
7. Keep extraction strong and clean the belt with a crepe rubber belt eraser when resin loads it; loading is why long belts seem to die early.
8. Store belts hanging in their coil, away from humidity, and let a cold belt warm up before mounting.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Flattening and finishing tabletops, cabinet doors and glued-up panels (aluminum oxide)
• Levelling veneered and plywood panels at 120 and above
• Steel and aluminum plate, sheet and extrusions on a metal stroke sander (zirconia)
• Plastics, acrylic, solid surface, laminates and fiberglass (silicon carbide)
• Sanding between coats on painted or lacquered panels (silicon carbide, fine grits)

Don't use it for

• Zirconia on wood; it tears and burns, use aluminum oxide
• Silicon carbide on steel; it wears out quickly on ferrous metal
• Grits finer than 220 on wood before stain; the surface burnishes
• Parking the pad in one place to remove a defect
• Running against the direction arrow or with a lifted joint

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All narrow sanding belts
• 6" x 335" Sanding Belts, 2 pack for longer stroke sanders
• 6" x 274" Sanding Belts, 2 pack
• Belt eraser for cleaning loaded belts
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days