Sanding Belts are beneficial in workshops because of their ability to ensure quick and clean removal of wood and veneer in the woodworking project. They also give a polishing look to the wood. The ease of use of sanding belts by using them with hand-held belt sanders and stationary belt sanders is another positive that makes the shaping and finishing task on the project smoother. While there are different sanding belts available in the market for various jobs, you must choose what best suits your work. You might be thinking, how long do sanding belts last?
Sanding belts usually last for about 12-18 months in a workshop. However, there are a lot of other factors that come into play to decide if the sanding belt will last longer or shorter. Factors like belt abrasive material, sandpaper grit, the surface used on, humidity, maintenance, and others decide the longevity of the sanding belts.
You will have to test a few sanding belts to decide the best one for your project. There is no one size fits all. For different shaping projects, you will have to test sanding belts using other abrasives.
You will also have to decide on the grit size of the belt, depending on the work being carried out. Various trusted brands are providing good shelf life for sanding belts. A good rule is always to buy the belts that you will use within a year.
A variety of good sanders is one our main go-to tools for woodworking. We will discuss sanders in detail in our live workshop sessions. You can watch our past workshops on YouTube here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
How Long Do Sanding Belts Last?
Sanding Belts will last a long time if you are using and maintaining them correctly. You have to do some research on the best sanding belts that suit your needs, but most of the sanding belts, when used appropriately, will last over a year. The best way to maintain a sanding belt is to clean it after every use. This will ensure that it will last the longest and stay in good condition.
There are abrasive cleaning sticks available to clean off the excess sawdust and glue from the wood you are sanding that sticks to the sanding belts. The sawdust and glue combine to reduce the efficiency of the belts. After using the sanding belts, you can use the abrasive cleaning sticks and run them over the sanding belt to remove the impurities. This will clean the sanding belts.
The cleaning sticks are affordable, and you can even place them fixed on a flat surface using epoxy glue and run the belt sander over the cleaning stick. This ensures that the sanding belt remains clean and does a good job every single time.
The material the sanding belt is used for also plays a role in determining how long it will last. You have to use the right abrasive belt on the suitable material. You cannot use Zirconia Alumina sanding belts for polishing work as it is tougher and meant for use on hardwood and metal. Understanding the surface the belt would be used on is essential to make sure the belt lasts long.
Along with knowing the surface the belt is being used on, you should also know the appropriate grit size for the work. There are grit sizes from 24-grit sandpaper all the way to 600-grit sandpaper. The lower sizes indicate higher coarseness levels with larger grains that are suitable for tough removal jobs like removing paint. The higher sizes are suitable for polishing jobs. Usually, grit size in the range of 60-100 is suitable for most woodworking projects. You will also have to pay attention to grit materials used to get the finish you are looking for. Grit materials include Garnet, Aluminum Oxide, Zirconia Alumina, and others.
If your sanding belt has been inside the shelf for more than a year, the chances are that the glued seam becomes loose, and your sanding belt could be blown apart after a few uses. There is glue applied at the seam of the sanding belt to make sure it can be used in a belt sander. However, sometimes the bond of the adhesive is not strong, and at other times since they are kept in the box for a long time, the glue seam can become loose once the heat builds up in the sanding belt, which ultimately leads to snapping the belt.
The temperature of the workshop also plays a role in deciding how long the sanding belt lasts. If you are working in a non-environmentally controlled workshop with alternating degrees of hot and cold temperature, then the sanding belts would not last for a very long time. On the contrary, if you are working in a workshop where the temperature is maintained, the sanding belts can last longer.
There are other factors too that come into play while deciding the strength and longevity of sanding belts. The quality of the belt determined by the brand being used is another factor determining if your sanding belt lasts long. There are good quality brands for sanding belts, including POWERTEC, Makita, and Sungold, that ensure their products are of the highest quality compared to other competitors. It is best to choose a reputed brand when buying sanding belts.
Best Sanding Belts for Woodworking
If you are hard-pressed on time and are looking for the best sanding belts for your wood project, we can aid in your search. We have researched the various sanding belts in the market, the ones with top-rated reviews, and the ones that have been extremely reliable to pick the five best sanding belts for woodworking.
1. POWERTEC 110680
The POWERTEC 110680 is an Aluminum Oxide sanding belt that is 4” x 36” in size. The belt is suitable for a lot of general woodworking projects. We recommend the belt for its 80-grit sandpaper that is extraordinarily durable and aggressive as it can take a lot of material off of hardwood.
The premium-grade grain ensures long-lasting performance and is suitable for heavy-duty sanding of wood, aluminum, rubber, fiberglass, and plastic. The 10-pack will give you enough belts to work with and since they are long-lasting, you can use them for a long time. The seams have no trouble in keeping up with the heavy demands while using in your woodworking projects.
2. POWERTEC 111370
Perfect for woodwork that needs a delicate sanding touch for polishing, the POWERTEC 111370 does an excellent job at the task. It is an Aluminum Oxide sanding belt that measures 1” x 30” using 400-grit sandpaper that makes it suitable for giving the wood project a clean look. This is an excellent value-for-money product that is well made and lasts long. There are ten belts in a pack, and they can last you for a long time.
The belt is perfect for all kinds of wood shaping and stripping works and gives a smooth finish for your project. You can use them for your small wood projects, DIY projects, and craft projects. The strong cloth backing of the belts ensures that they won’t break under pressure. If you’re looking for a super-fine and smooth finish to your wood project, pick up a pack of this belt.
3. Makita 742322-9
The Makita 742322-9 is an Aluminum Oxide sanding belt that comes in the standard size of 4 x 24 inches. The belts that are of 80-grit size are suitable for many sanding tasks in your wood workshop. The industrial-grade construction of the sanding belts ensures that they are durable and provide an excellent finish on the wood.
These belts are designed for heavy-duty wood sanding work and leave high-quality sanded tracks on the wood. If you are a woodworker or craftsman looking for a top-grade sanding belt that will give you the best results, you will not be disappointed with the Makita 742322-9 belts.
4. POWERTEC 414224A
The POWERTEC 414224A works with a range of belt sanding machines to provide high-quality stripping for wood, aluminum, fiberglass, and plastic. The strong resin bond in the belt makes sure that it does not break while providing good results.
The Aluminum Oxide grain with a grit size of 240 gives a smooth finish to the wood. These are 1 x 42 inches belts that are highly-suitable for expertly-crafted woodworks. There are 10 pieces in the pack and the belts are heat and moisture resistant. Even if you are a hobbyist or DIY individual, these belts will be a good choice for your projects.
5. Makita A-34481
These 3/8″ x 21” sanding belts are a perfect choice for sanding of small craftsmanship wooden items. They come in a 120-grit size and are impressive for your woodworking projects requiring clear details. Since they grind quickly, you will save yourself from the hassle of over-grinding on your wooden work.
The belts last long and in case you are looking for replacements, there are 10 belts that come in a single pack. You can get into the nooks and corners of the wood to sand them perfectly with these branded sanding belts.
