Abrasive sanding belts come in a variety of materials—some natural, some man-made such as diamond dust, sand, garnet, silicon carbide and powdered glass—backed by cloth, film or foam. Ceramic abrasive belts, made by using aluminum oxide, are by far the most common. You'll also find them in narrow (for bench sanders or backstand grinders), portable (for hand-held tools) and wide (for large surfaces) widths.

To choose the right abrasive belt materials, take into account the type of backing and the grit or grain of the abrasive material; as always this must be balanced against your budget, but you cannot afford to skimp on an essential step in the manufacturing process. Follow this checklist when considering abrasive belts:

1. Collect information from your engineering department about what sort of finish you need. If you're a small business owner but don't know the answer to this, you may need the services of an independent engineering consultant.

2. Put together a budget—how much can you afford to spend on abrasive belts?

3. Take inventory of the equipment you already have. Is there anything that could run abrasive belts already on hand?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out which industrial abrasive belts are right for you

Ask your engineering department for help--what are the specs you're looking for?

I recommend: Norton Abrasives offers an extensive selection of abrasive belts to choose from, both woven (cloth backed) and not, as does Abrasive Sales. Make sure that you only buy those belts that suit your current or projected future needs.

Juggle the budget to make room for custom belt abrasives

Disposable supplies sure add up fast, but you can't skimp on quality. Are specialty belt abrasives for you? Manufacturer sales reps are paid to tell you 'yes'; you'll get better feedback from your own engineering department or a paid independent consultant.

I recommend: Eastwind Flexible Diamond Abrasives is a custom abrasive belt supplier with the apt slogan, "Nothing can resist a diamond." 3M sells CBN (cubic boron nitride) belts that are second in hardness to only diamond.

Buy abrasive belt sanders to do the work for you

Those abrasive belts aren't going to do you any good until you find a machine on which to mount them. As with the belts themselves, be sure to consider durability, maintenance and replacement costs before you buy. Check back in with engineering, a consultant, or at last brainstorm your current needs to make sure any machinery you purchase will be a good investment.

I recommend: ToolFetch and Xode both carry a line of industrial abrasive belt grinders for tabletop, industrial and portable applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to inquire about the expected life and duration of the abrasive belts you purchase. When you factor replacement costs and frequency into the equation, the supplies that require a larger initial layout may be the best deal when all is said and done.