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3 x 21 sanding belts

lardy1

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Mar 17, 2019
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Sure a lot of options online. I've always tried to use 3M but they don't seem to be lasting as long as they used to. What other brands are out there that aren't frustrating junk?
 
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Steve_P

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Sep 15, 2010
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The last 3X21 belts I bought were by Powertec from Amazon. I've gone thru several of them in both grits that I bought, and IMO they're great for the price.
 

Fixr

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Dec 23, 2012
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Maybe not exactly relevant to the question, but something I blew a fair number of dollars learning:

Do Not Stock Up On Sanding Belts For Occasional Use! The adhesive at the splice dries out over time and the belt will blow out the first time you put it to use. Keep just barely enough fresh ones around. This does not apply if you routinely use up several belts a day or even a month. (But I got such a killer deal on dozens of 3M belts!:cry:)
 

Wiz02

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Jul 13, 2007
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Southeastern PA
Maybe not exactly relevant to the question, but something I blew a fair number of dollars learning:

Do Not Stock Up On Sanding Belts For Occasional Use! The adhesive at the splice dries out over time and the belt will blow out the first time you put it to use. Keep just barely enough fresh ones around. This does not apply if you routinely use up several belts a day or even a month. (But I got such a killer deal on dozens of 3M belts!:cry:)
Great advice. I learned this the hard way. Have you tried gluing the belt back together? I just ran to HD and bought new belts.
 

Fixr

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Great advice. I learned this the hard way. Have you tried gluing the belt back together? I just ran to HD and bought new belts.
I learned after about the 3rd belt and pitched the whole rather large box. It's been several years since I've used a sanding belt, so I shouldn't expect the few newer ones I have now to hold together.l
 

four.cycle

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^ I've got belts out in the garage over ten years old and they run fine until I hit nails and stuff. I've had very few of them fail right out of the gate like that. What they told me when they sold them to me was to keep them away from humidity and temperature extremes.

That said, "stocking up" is NOT generally a good idea for exactly the reasons @Fixr mentions. Maybe I've been lucky.
 
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Fixr

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Dec 23, 2012
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^ I've got belts out in the garage over ten years old and they run fine until I hit nails and stuff. I've had very few of them fail right out of the gate like that. What they told me when they sold them to me was to keep them away from humidity and temperature extremes.

That said, "stocking up" is NOT generally a good idea for exactly the reasons @Fixr mentions. Maybe I've been lucky.
Mine ran great until I leaned on them a bit, which I usually do almost immediately, because I usually use a belt sander for stock removal. Then thwap-thwap-thwap-thwap-zizzzz.
 

four.cycle

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Oct 19, 2015
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I am still running an old 1939 Porter-Cable that uses a 3 x 27 belt. I had to have them made up special, so ordered in lots of ten so I'd save on freight.
I have had a few come unbuckled on me and start flappity-flapping wildly, but usually it was hitting a bump or something.
They made me up some 24-grit belts. I ran out of those. I use the 36-grit and 40-grit to remove bark and small bumps from sticks, so the belts have a pretty short lifespan.
 

RTM

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May 13, 2019
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SF Bay Area
I bought some belts online, and they were **** spliced and taped together, not lapped and glued. You can buy the tape online, and possibly repair the old ones. I posted links elsewhere.


Here is one option

 
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KnurledNut

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Jan 28, 2011
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n/a
Im currently using some USA-made Gator belts on my wormdrive. They are taped instead of glued. Mine are a couple years old so YMMV on new stock.
 

djjsr

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Sep 4, 2006
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In the cornfields
I used some Gator belts (from Menards) that held up surprisingly well. I even sanded some rough spots on my concrete driveway with 36 grit and never broke a belt.
 
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