9" x 60" Sanding Belt, 4 PACK
9" x 60" Sanding Belt, 4 PACK
Available in stock (50000)
Nine-inch belts sit between the narrow belts that hobby machines take and the true wide belts that production sanders run, and the machines that use them are the small wide belt sanders, panel sanders and oscillating edge sanders found in one- and two-person shops. These are closed-coat aluminum oxide belts on poly-cotton cloth, cut to 9" x 60" and packed four to a box in one grit.
Nine grits from 36 through 320 let one listing cover rough shaping, panel surfacing and a fine final pass. Aluminum oxide is the grain for the wood, MDF and occasional aluminum these machines see; it keeps cutting at the moderate pressure a small machine applies. Converted in Anaheim, California, with custom lengths available in about 3 days.
- Closed-coat aluminum oxide on poly-cotton cloth for wood, MDF, plywood, aluminum and plastics
- Nine grits, 36 to 320, from rough dimensioning to a fine finishing pass
- 4-pack in one grit: one on the machine, three on the shelf
- Cloth backing tracks true on both wide belt drums and edge sander platens
- Cleans with a crepe belt eraser and comes back for another shift
- Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which grit should you choose for a 9-inch sander?
Every belt on this page is A/O - Aluminum Oxide, closed coat. The old page also described zirconia, but it is not stocked in 9" x 60"; we can convert it to order for a shop that runs steel on this machine. For wood, aluminum oxide is the better choice regardless. Pick the grit by what the machine is doing that day.
- 36 grit: rough shaping and heavy removal. Flattening glued-up blanks, knocking down bandsaw marks, taking a warped board back to flat. Shallow passes only on a 9-inch machine.
- 60 grit: dimensioning and cleaning up glue lines, or the first belt when stock arrives planed but rough.
- 80 and 100 grit: everyday surfacing and edge sanding. 80 is the belt most 9-inch machines wear the most.
- 120 and 150 grit: pre-finish. Paint-grade MDF and plywood stop at 120.
- 180 and 220 grit: last pass before stain or clear on hardwood. Stop at 220 for stained work.
- 320 grit: a light final pass on veneer, oiled pieces and clear-coat work, and a fine finishing belt for aluminum and brass.
Grit guide for small wide belt and edge sanders
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Flattening blanks, heavy removal | 1/64 in per pass on a small machine |
| 60 | Dimensioning, glue lines | Do not jump to 120 from here |
| 80–100 | Surfacing, general edge sanding | Most-used grit |
| 120–150 | Pre-finish, paint-grade panels | Removes the 80 scratch |
| 180–220 | Final before stain or clear | Stop at 220 under stain |
| 320 | Veneer, oil, clear, aluminum | Skim pass; no dwell |
What machines take a 9" x 60" belt?
- Small 9-inch wide belt sanders and panel sanders, the benchtop and compact floor machines used in small shops for thickness-sanding boards and panels up to 9 inches wide.
- Oscillating edge sanders built around a 9-inch-wide, 60-inch belt.
- Other 9-inch machines that take a 48-inch belt use our 9" x 48" belts, and long edge sanders in the Grizzly G9985 class take our 9" x 138-3/4" belts. Length tolerance on most machines is about plus or minus 1/4 inch, so match the manual.
Mounting: slide the belt on with the grain out, tension it, and set tracking with the machine running so the belt rides centred on the drum or platen. Look inside the belt for a direction arrow before mounting; if one is printed, run the belt that way so the joint trails. For any other length or width, we convert custom belts in about 3 days.
How to get the most out of it
- Respect the horsepower. A 9-inch machine has a small motor. Take 1/64 inch per pass at 36 to 60 grit and keep the feed moving; deep passes bog the motor and burn the belt.
- On an edge sander, keep the part moving. Parking a part on the platen wears a groove in the belt and burns the edge. Use the full height of the platen and let the oscillation spread the wear.
- Step grits in order. 36, 60, 80, 120, 180, 220. Skipping more than one grit leaves scratches that show under the finish.
- Run dust collection every time. Loading is what ends a belt's life early, and a 9-inch belt has little surface to spread dust across.
- Clean before you change. Hold a crepe-rubber belt eraser lightly against the running belt. Most aluminum oxide belts that look worn out are simply loaded, and cleaning brings most of the cut back.
- Work across the belt width on a wide belt machine so it wears evenly instead of in one track.
- Store spares hanging or loosely rolled, off the floor and out of the sun, and let a cold belt warm to room temperature before running it.
Two guides from our blog cover the calls we get most on this size: why sanding belts break and chatter marks and finish problems on wood.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Thickness-sanding boards, cutting boards and small panels up to 9 inches wide
- Edge sanding doors, drawer parts and face frames on an oscillating edge sander
- Flattening glued-up blanks and removing planer and bandsaw marks
- MDF and plywood surfacing for paint
- Light finishing on aluminum, brass and plastics at 120 grit and up
Don't use it for
- Steel plate and weld removal as a regular job; that is a zirconia belt, available as a custom size
- Wet sanding; these are dry-use belts
- Running a belt with a lifted joint or torn edge
- Finer than 220 on wood that will be stained
- Machines that call for a 48-inch or 138-3/4-inch belt
Specifications
| Size | 9" wide x 60" long |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | A/O - Aluminum Oxide |
| Backing | Poly-cotton cloth |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check inside of belt for a direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 36, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320 |
| Pack quantity | 4 belts, one grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Dry |
| Machine type | Small 9-inch wide belt sanders and oscillating edge sanders |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Made to order in about 3 days; zirconia on request |
Frequently asked questions
Will a 9" x 60" belt work on both a wide belt sander and an edge sander?
Yes, as long as the machine calls for a 9-inch-wide, 60-inch belt. The cloth backing is stiff enough to run flat over a contact drum and flexible enough to track around an edge sander's drums and platen. Check the manual or measure your old belt; most machines only tolerate about a quarter inch of length difference.
Why is only aluminum oxide offered in 9" x 60"?
Because the machines that use this size are almost all sanding wood, MDF and plywood, and aluminum oxide is the grain that cuts those cleanly at the pressure a small machine applies. Zirconia needs heavy pressure to stay sharp and tends to burn wood on small machines. We can convert zirconia in this size to order for steel work.
How much can I take off per pass with the 36 grit belt?
About 1/64 inch on a small 9-inch wide belt machine. Deeper passes stall the motor and heat the belt until it glazes. It is faster overall to take shallow passes at a steady feed than to force a deep one, and the belt lasts far longer that way. Go to 60 grit as soon as the surface is flat.
Can I use these belts on aluminum?
Yes. The poly-cotton cloth aluminum oxide cuts aluminum, brass and plastics cleanly. Use 80 to 120 for shaping and 180 to 320 for finishing, keep pressure light, and clean the belt often with a crepe eraser because soft metal loads the grain quickly. The same belt goes back to wood afterward without a problem.
Why did the belt burn a strip in my pine boards?
Resinous softwood loads a closed-coat belt fast, and a loaded belt rubs instead of cutting. Turn up the dust extraction, take lighter passes at a faster feed, and clean the belt with a crepe eraser as soon as the cut slows. If you sand pine all day, ask us about an open-coat custom belt.
How many belts are in the pack and are they one grit?
Four 9" x 60" aluminum oxide belts of the same grit per pack. Most shops keep a 4-pack of 80 or 120, the grit they change most, and add a pack of 36 or 60 for rough work and 180 or 220 for finishing. Orders over $200 ship free, and unused belts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days.
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