Zirconia Sanding Belts

Zirconia Sanding Belts: The Ultimate Guide for Metal and Wood Applications

When it comes to achieving exceptional results in sanding and finishing projects, zirconia sanding belts stand out as a superior choice for both metal and wood applications. Engineered for durability and efficiency, these sanding belts offer unparalleled performance, making them the go-to solution for many professionals and hobbyists alike. Zirconia Sanding Belts are the workhorse of the sanding belt category!

Why Choose Zirconia Sanding Belts?

Zirconia sanding belts are renowned for their high-performance attributes. Here’s why they are preferred over traditional sanding belts:

• LONG LIFE: Zirconia abrasive grains are tough and self-sharpening, which means they are more durable and last longer than aluminum oxide grains.
• COST-EFFECTIVENESS – The long life matched with the relatively low increase in product cost provides a better value proposition for customers compared to the economical AO or the high end Ceramic grains.
• ENHANCED CUTTING EFFICIENCY: These belts provide aggressive cutting action, making them ideal for heavy material removal…Metal Hogs!
• HEAT RESISTANCE: Zirconia's heat-resistant properties prevent overheating, reducing the risk of burning the workpiece, less coloring and fast stock removal.
• VERSATILITY: Suitable for both metalworking and woodworking, offering flexibility in various industries.

What should you use your Zirconia Sanding Belts on?

METALWORKING

• Grinding and Polishing: Ideal for surface preparation, weld blending, and finishing.
• Deburring: Removes sharp edges and burrs from metal parts.
• Shaping: Perfect for forming and shaping metal components, providing a smooth finish.

WOODWORKING

• Stock Removal: Efficiently removes large amounts of wood, making it perfect for initial stages of sanding.
• Surface Preparation: Prepares wood surfaces for finer sanding and finishing.
• Smoothing: Provides a smooth and even surface, ready for painting or staining.

Choosing the Right Zirconia Sanding Belt for Your Job:

• Grit Size: The grit size you choose depends on your specific needs. Coarse grits (40-60) are best for heavy material removal, medium grits (80-120) for general sanding, and fine grits (150-240) for finishing.
• Backing Material: Choose a strong backing material like cotton, polyester, or a blend to ensure durability and flexibility.  Not sure what you need, give us a call and we can help walk you through your options.
• Belt Size: Ensure the belt size matches your sander. Your sander should come with an operators guide.  We suggest checking the guide to ensure you are purchasing the correct belt for your machine. Too tight or too loose belts can affect performance and safety.

Choosing the Right Grit:

Zirconia Sanding Belts come in various grit options, ranging from coarse to fine grits. Selecting the right grit for your sanding application is crucial for achieving the desired finish. Coarse grits are ideal for rapid material removal, while fine grits are best suited for finishing and polishing tasks.

• Coarse Grits: 40-60
• Medium/Coarse Grits: 80-100
• Medium Grits: 120-150
• Fine Grits: 180-220
• Very Fine Grits/Finishing: 240 and up

What Size Belt Do I Need?

By far the fastest way to determine your sanding belt size is to take an existing belt and measure it.  Sanding belts are measured width by length so a 2 x 48 belt would be 2” wide and 48” long (sanding belt length is the circumference of the belt).  There are two methods for determining belt length using an existing belt:

Cut it in half and measure the total length

-or-

Press the belt flat and measure from end to end.  Take that number and double it for overall length

We don’t suggest cutting a new belt as that would render it useless.  Instead save that method for older worn-out belts that have little or no useful life left in them.

If your still having an issue determining your belt size, feel free to reach out to our team with your machine info and we will do our best to find the correct sizing for you.

Benchmark Abrasives stocks belt widths 3/8” to 6” and 13” to 79” in total length.  You can use the handy filters on the left side of the screen to easily find the belt that fits your needs.

How to Use Zirconia Sanding Belts Effectively

• Proper Installation: Always ensure that the belt is installed correctly, with the arrow on the belt lining up with the direction of rotation of the sander.  Running your belt in the wrong direction can snap the belt joint rendering your belt useless.
• Correct Pressure: Apply consistent, light pressure to avoid overheating the material and the belt.
• Regular Maintenance: Clean the belt regularly to extend its life and maintain its sanding efficiency. Use one of our abrasive belt cleaning sticks or compressed air to remove dust and debris.

Maintaining Zirconia Sanding Belts

• Storage: Store in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture damage and warping.
• Cleaning: Periodically clean belts to remove resin build-up and maintain optimal performance.  Extend the life of your belt with our belt butter and clean up with our abrasive belt cleaning sticks.
• Inspection: Check for wear and tear regularly. Replace belts when abrasive grains wear down to avoid compromising the finish quality.  If your belt has a snag or a tear in it, it’s time to throw new belt on your machine.  Damaged belts can damage workpieces by leaving unintended scratch patterns behind.

My Sanding Belt Is Clogged And Won’t Sand Anymore, Is It Trash?

• Not necessarily.  Sanding Belts, like all other coated abrasives, are subject to loading up.  This is more prevalent when sanding softer materials like woods or non-ferrous metals like aluminum.  You can extend the useful life of your abrasive belt by using one or both of our sanding accessories; belt butter and our cleaning stick
• Belt Butter – a life extending grease that helps to prevent coated abrasives from loading up.  Apply some of the belt butter before you get your grind on and say good riddance to the material load up.
• Cleaning Stick – an industrial rubber eraser that removes the material loaded up on any sanding disc or sanding belt.  Bring the cleaning stick to the belt while it is running and it will knock out the material, leaving you with a renewed belt and added life.