6" x 48" Surface Conditioning Belts (Non-Woven)

A 6 x 48 belt and disc sander has the widest platen of any common bench machine, which makes it the right tool for putting an even satin across flat stainless and aluminum parts that are too wide for a 4" belt: brackets, plates, gussets, sheet-metal blanks and machine covers. These 6" x 48" surface conditioning belts turn the Jet, Rikon, Grizzly, Delta and Powermatic machines already in most shops into a deburring and finishing station.

The belt is a nylon web loaded with aluminum oxide grain on a reinforced scrim backing, sold one belt at a time in Coarse, Medium, Very Fine or Ultra Fine. It cleans, blends and grains without removing measurable stock, runs cool, resists loading, and can be used wet or dry.

• Fits Jet JSG-6DC, Rikon 50-120/50-122, Grizzly G1183/G1276, Delta 31-695 and Powermatic 31A
• 6" platen width finishes wide flat parts in one pass with no overlap lines
• Four grades on this size: 60–80, 150–180, 220–280 and 320–400 grit scratch
• Sold individually so you can stock one of each grade
• Scrim backing tracks true and holds tension on a long bench-sander belt path
• Free shipping on orders over $200; 30-day returns on unused belts in original packaging

Which grade should you choose on a 6 x 48?

The grades on this size run a step finer than our smaller non-woven belts, so read the equivalents rather than assuming.

• Coarse (60–80 grit scratch), brown: the cleanup grade on a 6 x 48. Removes rust, scale, heat tint and light oxidation from steel and aluminum plate, blends grinder marks after a 60–80 grit coated belt, and leaves a keyed matte for primer.
• Medium (150–180 grit scratch), maroon: the general finishing grade. Deburrs sheared and laser-cut blanks, refines a 120–150 grit coated scratch and gives an even matte finish suitable for powder coat or as a final industrial finish.
• Very Fine (220–280 grit scratch), blue: a directional satin on stainless and aluminum parts, the #4-style brushed look, from a 180–220 grit coated start.
• Ultra Fine (320–400 grit scratch), grey: the finest satin, for decorative stainless, brass and aluminum and as the last step before a buffing wheel.

For most metal shops the pair to keep on hand is Coarse for cleanup and Very Fine for finish. Woodworkers using the machine mainly for wood should keep Medium for deburring the occasional metal part.

Grade guide for flat metal parts on a bench sander

Match the grade to the coated scratch already on the part. Non-woven refines a scratch pattern; it will not remove one that is coarser than its own equivalent.

Which bench sanders take a 6 x 48 belt?

• Jet JSG-6DC / JSG-6DCK, and the Jet J-4210K named on our earlier page
• Rikon 50-120 and Rikon 50-122
• Grizzly G1183 and Grizzly G1276
• Delta 31-695
• Powermatic 31A
• Baileigh ES-9138 and PRM PR7264810, as named on our earlier page for this size

Fitting: release the tension lever or loosen the idler, slide the belt over both drums, re-tension and run the machine with nothing touching the belt while you adjust tracking until it rides centered on the platen. Non-woven belts have no direction arrow and run either way. The web is thicker than a cloth belt, so allow the belt a few seconds to settle after each tracking change. On machines whose belt arm tilts, re-check tracking after moving from horizontal to vertical.

How to get the most out of it

1. Grind with a coated belt first. Bring the part to an even coated scratch that matches the non-woven grade you are going to use: 60–80 grit before Coarse, 120–150 before Medium, 180–220 before Very Fine. The web refines; it does not remove.
2. Light pressure, part flat on the platen. Lay the part flat and let the belt carry it against the platen with only enough pressure to keep it in contact. Pressing hard crushes the web, heats the part and shortens belt life more than anything else.
3. Move the part across the belt width and along its length. That spreads wear across the whole 6" face and keeps the finish even. For a satin grain, draw the part through in one direction and lift off at the end of each pass.
4. Slow down if the machine allows it. Non-woven works best at lower belt speed. On a single-speed sander, shorten contact time and let the part cool between passes.
5. Lubricate aluminum and brass. A water mist or light cutting fluid stops soft metal from smearing into the web. The belt is waterproof; wipe the table afterwards.
6. Keep metal dust out of the wood collector. Steel sparks and aluminum dust in a bag of wood dust are a fire risk. Run a dedicated metal-rated collector or clean the bag out before switching materials. Blow the belt out with air and hang it away from sunlight.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Satin and #4-style finishes on flat stainless and aluminum parts, covers and panels
• Deburring sheared, sawn, plasma and laser-cut blanks without changing dimensions
• Removing rust, scale, heat tint and oxidation from plate and bar
• Blending grinder marks and coated-belt scratches before paint or powder coat
• Cleaning oxidation from aluminum and brass before polishing
• Scuffing fiberglass and plastic parts for adhesion

Don't use it for

• Shaping or stock removal; use a coated aluminum oxide or zirconia 6 x 48 belt
• Fine furniture sanding; a coated belt leaves a better wood surface
• Heavy pressure on the slack section over the drum, which strips the web
• A mirror finish; follow Ultra Fine with buffing wheels and compound

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All surface conditioning belts, discs and flap discs
• 6" x 48" coated Sanding Belts, 2 pack
• 4" x 36" Surface Conditioning Belts for smaller bench sanders
• Airway buffing wheels for a mirror after satin
• Custom belt sizes made to order in about 3 days