To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Recommended belts for finger sander

ProjectBobcat

Active member
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
35
Hi there,

I've got myself an air powered finger sander for smoothing out welds in hard to reach areas, but it's destroying belts in a minute or two. Whats happening is the abrasive seems to be coming off the belt leaving the backing.

Can anyone suggest a decent manufacturer of belts 10mmx330mm? I've tried the clarke supplied ones and some zirconium ones made by Abracs so far.

51Pl1S0a0DL._AC_SX679_.jpg


Thanks

Jim
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

rlitman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,647
Location
Long Island
Subscribing. I don't use my belt files (I have two 3/8" ones and one 1/2" one) all that much, because they do eat belts in minutes (ok, I admit to having REALLY cheap belts), but where I do use them, they're a huge time saver. Maybe if I had better belts, I'd use them more.
 

macgee

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Messages
2,834
Location
Sepulveda Pass, CA
I would try contacting klingspor; they're an american company that's always ranked with the best abrasives out there but small enough to offer odd sizes. Give them a call and see what they have to say. I haven't dealt with them in a while but they seem like good people and I'm still enjoying there sanding disc's and belts to this day. .4" (3/8) x 13" (10mmx330mm ) belts maybe hard to find as it's more of a across the pacific size but contact the ones I mentioned.

EDIT: These are really good belts Norton Bluefire in your size:

https://www.zoro.com/search?q=3%2F8%22%20x%2013%22%20%20belt&categoryl1=Abrasives%20%26%20Polishers

Good sandpaper makes a massive difference over the cheap stuff, you end up paying more in the long run buying the cheap stuff. Every time I try going cheap its instantly regrettable. I've had custom sized belts made for me by good companies and then try the cheaper ones and those are shoved into a dark corner for emergency use but hoping never having to use them. Be careful of the ones you find on Amazon, they look good but then read the reviews. I don't get how they get high ratings with so many bad reviews.

Classic example is Harbor Freight sandpaper, looks good and priced very reasonable but pure junk especially their wet/dry sheets. Their 1000 grit is more like 220 grit and doesn't last long, I'm not joking. I do a lot of lapping and blown away how rough their fine stuff is and how quickly it loads up. I like using Norton, Klingspor, Mirka and 3M sheets and belts whenever I can.

There's quite a few companies that will sell you made to size belts made to your size reasonably if you order enough (like 15+).

I would also contact Tru-Grit, they sell zillions of sandpaper and belt sanders to the knife making community and its there speciality and priced very well. Call them, they're considered one of the very best suppliers of sanding belts.

https://trugrit.com/product-category/abrasives/abrasive-belts/

https://www.klingspor.com/InterNat-Lead/ContactWW.asp
 
Last edited:

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,286
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Klingspor is in fact a German company that has a fairly big American operation. The best file belts are made by VSM another German company. I would recommend their ceramic belts as these last a long time. Norton (Saint-Gorbain) has a good line of ceramic belts which they call Blaze as well as 3M purple belts of course.
 

macgee

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Messages
2,834
Location
Sepulveda Pass, CA
Klingspor is in fact a German company that has a fairly big American operation. The best file belts are made by VSM another German company. I would recommend their ceramic belts as these last a long time. Norton (Saint-Gorbain) has a good line of ceramic belts which they call Blaze as well as 3M purple belts of course.

Yes, you're correct and my bad. I just think of them as US because of there offices and the people whom I spoken to and how long they've been around.

Blaze (ceramic) is excellent and my choice for my 2" x72" sanders, along with Zirconia but not sure if OP and others are willing to spend that money.
Wasn't aware of VSM but they look fairly prevalent online for belts and Zoro sells them in bulk for good prices. Look on the GJ Hot Deal thread for Zoro discount codes.

https://www.zoro.com/search?q=3%2F8%22%20x%2013%22%20belt&brand=VSM
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

JackDiddly

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 6, 2014
Messages
185
Location
SE WI
I had the same problem and grabbed a few from the local weld shop last time I stopped to get my tank filled. I believe they are just norton brand? Huge difference now I can wear the abrasive out completely and haven't had one break yet.
 

BD1

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
4,602
Location
north side
I have a Dynabrade 1/2x18 that takes 1/4x18 belts too. Norton have been great for me. I can't believe how well the 1/4" wide hold up and the job they do.
I had doubts on the 1/4", but after using, I bought from Zoro tools by the box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

GeoBruin

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
3,749
I did the Milwaukee cut off tool conversion using the Harbor freight band file. I exploded the belts that came with the HF sander within a few minutes each.

I went to Empire Abrasives because I've had really good luck with their other stuff and I ordered several of a few different grits. This was over a month ago and I'm literally still using the first belt I put on. Granted, it needs to be changed but it hasn't broken.

Anyhow, I think the moral of the story is good belts work better. Good luck!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom