6" x 79" Sanding Belts, 4 PACK

The Grizzly G0839P oscillating edge sander runs a 6" x 79" belt, and the same loop length turns up on metal fabrication belt heads and older long-bed edge sanders. We stock this size in four grains so one listing covers both shops: Cloth A/O for wood and fine metal finishing, Zirconia for carbon steel and aluminum stock removal, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for stainless and anything that burns, and Ceramic Shredder for hardened and stainless steel on machines with real horsepower.

Every grain is coated on poly-cotton cloth that can run wet or dry, sold four belts to a pack in 24 through 600 grit. We convert them in Anaheim, California, and can make any other 6" length to order in about three days.

• Verified fit for the Grizzly G0839P edge sander and other 6" x 79" belt heads
• Four grains in one size: Cloth A/O, Zirconia, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid), Ceramic
• Y-weight poly-cotton backing on the metal grains stands up to platen pressure
• 24 to 600 grit covers weld knockdown through pre-polish and door edges
• Four belts per pack keeps a coarse, medium and finish set on the machine
• Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which 6" x 79" belt material should you choose?

Match the grain to the material and to how hard your machine can push. Zirconia and ceramic only earn their price under pressure; aluminum oxide is the forgiving grain for light-duty work and every grit past 120.

• Cloth A/O: heat-treated aluminum oxide on poly-cotton cloth, wet or dry. This is the belt for the G0839P on solid wood, plywood edges and face frames, and it is the only grain we offer in 150 through 600 grit, so it is also the finishing belt on aluminum and steel after a zirconia or ceramic pass. Lowest cost per belt.
• Zirconia: alloyed grain on Y-weight poly-cotton that fractures under load to expose fresh edges. Choose it for mild and carbon steel, weld knockdown, heavy hardwood shaping and aluminum stock removal. Offered in the 24 to 120 grit range; run it light and it dulls like expensive aluminum oxide.
• Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): the same zirconia with a grinding aid applied over the top of the grain in addition to the aid already in the resin bond. The top coat lubricates the cut and pulls heat out of the part, so it is our pick for stainless steel, steel under heavy pressure, aluminum and titanium. It outlasts plain zirconia on ferrous work because it runs cooler.
• Ceramic (Shredder): orange-red sol-gel grain on Y-weight poly-cotton that renews its cutting edges continuously and holds a near-constant cut rate for its whole life. Buy it for stainless, hardened and tool steel on a rigid, 2 HP or larger machine. It costs more than zirconia and outlasts it on hard steel, but it glazes and blues the part if you run it with light pressure.

A woodworking shop with a G0839P needs Cloth A/O and, at most, a zirconia 36 or 40 for hogging hardwood. A fab shop grinding steel wants Zirconia or Zirconia+ in 36 to 80 for removal and Cloth A/O 120 to 220 for the blend. A stainless or tool-steel shop should be on Ceramic for the coarse work.

Grit guide for 6" x 79" belts on wood and metal

Never skip more than one grade. On metal, stop zirconia and ceramic at 120 and finish with A/O or a surface conditioning belt; on wood do not go past 220 before stain or the edge burnishes and blocks penetration.

What machines take a 6" x 79" belt?

• Grizzly G0839P oscillating edge sander: verified fit. Release the tension lever, slide the belt over both drums, re-tension, spin the belt by hand and set the tracking knob so it rides centred before you power up.
• Other long-bed edge sanders built around a 79" loop. Measure the old belt or check the manual; most edge sanders have enough tension travel to take up a small length difference, and we also stock 6" x 78-3/4" and 6" x 80" for machines that call for those.
• Metal fabrication belt sanders and belt grinders with a 6" wide platen and a 79" belt path, used for plate edges, deburring sheared parts and weld grinding. Use a dedicated metal-rated dust collector or wet collection; steel sparks and wood dust in one collector are a fire risk.

Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and run the belt in that direction. If there is no arrow the joint is bi-directional and either way is fine. Keep the oscillation centred on the platen so the belt wears across its full width.

How to get the most out of it

1. Give the metal grains pressure. Zirconia and ceramic self-sharpen by micro-fracturing under load. Lean the part into the platen firmly and keep it moving; light pressure glazes the grain and puts heat into the work, which is how stainless turns blue.
2. Go light with aluminum oxide. On wood, let the belt cut with steady feed and no dwell. Cherry and maple burn first, and a burn mark means a dull belt or a stalled part, not a bad belt.
3. Slow down for aluminum and use grease. If your machine has variable speed, run aluminum slower than steel and rub a belt grease stick on the running belt. It keeps aluminum from packing between the grains and lets one zirconia belt do far more work.
4. Use the whole belt. Move the part across the width of the platen and vary the table height on an edge sander so one band of grain is not doing all the work.
5. Clean before you replace. A crepe-rubber belt eraser pressed lightly on a running A/O belt pulls out packed resin and wood dust. If a zirconia or ceramic belt looks shiny but is not loaded, it needs more pressure, not cleaning.
6. Wet only where the machine allows. The poly-cotton backing tolerates coolant on belt grinders built for it. Do not introduce water to a woodworking edge sander.
7. Store belts hanging. A 79" cloth belt folded in a drawer develops a crease that will thump on the platen. Hang them, keep them out of sunlight and humidity, and let a cold belt warm up before you run it.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Edge sanding cabinet doors, face frames, drawer fronts and panel edges on the G0839P (Cloth A/O 80–220)
• Weld knockdown and plate edge flattening on carbon steel (Zirconia 24–60)
• Stainless steel fabrication where heat tint is a problem (Zirconia+ 36–120, then A/O)
• Hardened, tool and high-alloy steel on a rigid belt grinder (Ceramic 24–80)
• Aluminum extrusions and castings with a grease stick (Zirconia or Zirconia+)
• Fine graining and pre-polish on metal (Cloth A/O 320–600)

Don't use it for

• Expecting a finish from zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit; switch to Cloth A/O
• Ceramic on an underpowered or flexible machine, or with light hand pressure
• Running one collector on wood dust and steel sparks
• Any belt with a lifted or cracked joint
• Wet running on a machine that is not built for coolant

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All sanding belts
• 6" x 78-3/4" Sanding Belts, 4 pack
• 6" x 80" Sanding Belts, 2 pack
• Grease stick for sanding belts and band saws
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days