1-1⁄8" x 21" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belt, 40 PACK
1-1⁄8" x 21" Glass Fabrication Sanding Belt, 40 PACK
Available in stock (49996)
A 1-1/8 x 21 file belt is the size glass shops load on a Makita 9031-type file sander to seam cut edges, clean up notches and hinge cutouts, and dress small bevels where a 3 or 4 inch belt cannot reach. We convert these in Anaheim, California from silicon carbide grain on a Y-weight polyester backing, so the belt runs under a water drip or dry without the backing softening or the joint letting go. Grits from 50 through 800 take a rough score-break all the way to the pre-polish stage before a cork belt.
Sold as a 40-pack of a single grit. File belts are narrow and work hard, so a production seaming station goes through them quickly; forty of one grit keeps that station running without a weekly reorder. The same belt fits the CR Laurence LD118 sander named on our original listing and any other file sander built around a 1-1/8 x 21 belt.
- Silicon carbide grain stays sharp on glass where aluminum oxide rounds over in seconds
- Y-weight polyester backing runs wet under a drip or dry without delaminating
- Twelve grits, 50 through 800, so one belt size covers seaming to pre-polish
- Fits Makita 9031 and CR Laurence LD118 file sanders and other 1-1/8 x 21 machines
- 40 belts of one grit per pack for production seaming stations
- Converted in Anaheim, California; custom lengths made in about 3 days
Which grit should you choose for a 1-1/8 x 21 file belt?
The only material offered in this size is silicon carbide, which is the correct grain for glass, stone, ceramic tile and plastics. What you choose is the grit, and the choice depends on where the edge is in the process.
- 50 and 60 grit: seaming raw score-break edges, knocking off chips and shells, opening up a notch or cutout. Start here on fresh-cut float glass and mirror.
- 80 and 100 grit: the everyday seaming grit for edges that will be hidden in a frame or channel. Removes the 50–60 scratch and leaves a clean arris.
- 120 and 150 grit: refining an exposed edge and blending a bevel into the face.
- 180 and 220 grit: a uniform satin edge on shower door cutouts, shelf notches and small mirrors that will not be polished.
- 320 and 400 grit: smooth matte, the minimum you should reach before cork polishing.
- 600 and 800 grit: pre-polish. An 800 grit edge clears on cork faster and with fewer haze marks.
Most seaming stations keep 80, 120 and 220 on hand and add 400 and 800 when polished edges are on the job list.
Grit guide for seaming and edging glass with a file sander
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50–60 | Seaming score-breaks, chip removal | Light pressure, keep the drip running |
| 80–100 | Standard seamed edge, notch clean-up | Removes the coarse scratch |
| 120–150 | Refining exposed edges, bevel blending | Do not skip on visible work |
| 180–220 | Satin edge finish | Stopping point for unpolished edges |
| 320–400 | Smooth matte, pre-polish | Minimum before the cork belt |
| 600–800 | Fine pre-polish | Fastest route to a clear cork polish |
Which file sanders take a 1-1/8 x 21 belt?
- Makita 9031 corded file belt sander. This is the machine most of our customers run these on, usually with a small water drip aimed at the contact point when seaming glass.
- CR Laurence LD118 sander, named on our original listing for this belt size.
- Other electric or pneumatic file belt sanders built for a 1-1/8 inch wide, 21 inch long belt. Check the manual; a 1 x 21 or 3/8 x 21 machine will not track this belt.
Mounting: release the arm tension, slide the belt over the drive wheel and contact arm, then re-tension. Check the inside of the belt for a direction arrow before mounting and run it that way. Set tracking with the adjustment knob so the belt rides centred on the contact wheel with the motor running and no load on the belt. A belt that walks off the wheel is a tracking problem, not a belt problem.
How to get the most out of it
- Run water on the glass, not the motor. A drip bottle or small feed aimed at the contact point keeps the edge cool, stops micro-chipping and holds silica dust down. Keep water away from the sander's vents and switch. If you must sand dry, wear a fitted respirator and use extraction.
- Let the grain cut. Pressure chips glass and glazes silicon carbide. Guide the sander with the arm nose or platen just touching the edge and keep it moving along the edge.
- Use the right part of the arm. Flat platen section for straight seams and arrises; the rounded nose of the arm for inside curves, notches and cutouts.
- Angle for the arris. Hold the belt at roughly 45 degrees to the face to break the sharp corner on each side, then flatten to the edge if a flat seam is wanted.
- Never skip more than one grit. On a polished edge every coarse scratch you left behind shows as a line under the cork polish.
- Rinse between grits so coarse swarf does not ride into the finer belt, and store the remaining belts hanging or loosely coiled, out of sunlight and damp.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Seaming cut edges on float glass, mirror, shower door lites and shelves
- Hinge notches, cutouts, inside corners and small bevels
- Field touch-up of chipped edges on installed glass
- Stained and art glass studio edge work
- Ceramic tile, stone, solid surface and acrylic where a narrow belt is needed
Don't use it for
- Steel or heavy metal grinding; silicon carbide wears fast on ferrous metal
- Dry glass grinding without a respirator and dust control
- Leaning into the work to speed it up; that is how glass chips and belts glaze
- Machines built for 1 x 21, 3/8 x 21 or any other size
How does the cork belt fit into the process?
Silicon carbide takes the edge to a fine matte; it does not produce a clear polish on its own. For a polished edge, finish at 400 or 800 grit, rinse the glass, then switch to our 1-1/8 x 21 cork belt charged with cerium oxide slurry. Run the cork wet at moderate speed with light pressure and re-charge as the cut slows. Cork will not remove scratches coarser than about 400 grit, so do not try to jump from 220 straight to polish.
Specifications
| Size | 1-1/8 inch x 21 inch |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Silicon carbide |
| Backing | Y-weight polyester cloth, wet/dry |
| Coat | Closed coat |
| Joint | Check inside of belt for direction arrow before mounting |
| Grits offered | 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800 |
| Pack quantity | 40 belts, one grit per pack |
| Wet or dry | Both; wet recommended on glass |
| Fits | Makita 9031, CR Laurence LD118 and other 1-1/8 x 21 file sanders |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
| Custom sizes | Made to order in about 3 days |
Frequently asked questions
Do these 1-1/8 x 21 belts fit a Makita 9031 file sander?
Yes. The Makita 9031 is built for a 1-1/8 inch by 21 inch belt, and this is the size glass shops most often run it with. Release the arm tension, slide the belt on, re-tension and set tracking so the belt rides centred on the contact wheel before touching glass.
Can I run a file sander wet when seaming glass?
Water should go on the glass, not into the tool. Most shops use a drip bottle or small feed aimed at the contact point, which keeps the edge cool and controls dust. The Y-weight polyester backing on these belts handles that without delaminating. Keep water clear of the motor vents and switch, and follow the tool maker's guidance.
Which grit gives a clean seamed edge on shower door glass?
A standard seamed edge is done at 80 to 120 grit: 80 to remove the score-break and chips, then 120 to even out the arris. For an exposed satin edge continue to 220. Hold the belt at about 45 degrees to break each corner, keep the sander moving, and let the water and the grain do the work.
Why is this belt sold in a pack of 40?
A 1-1/8 x 21 belt has a small amount of grain on it and is used on the toughest part of the job, so it wears faster than a wide belt. Forty belts of one grit keep a seaming station or a service truck supplied for a reasonable stretch. Call 714-646-3299 or email sales@maverickabrasives.com for case pricing.
Is silicon carbide really better than aluminum oxide on glass?
For glass, yes, without exception. Glass is harder than the aluminum oxide grain used on general wood and metal belts, so that grain dulls almost immediately and starts heating and chipping the edge. Silicon carbide is harder and sharper, fractures into fresh points as it works, and keeps cutting cleanly through every grit in this range.
Will these file belts work on tile, stone or plastic?
Yes. Silicon carbide is the standard grain for ceramic tile, porcelain, granite, marble, quartz, solid surface, acrylic and fiberglass. Use the same wet technique and grit steps as glass. On acrylic go 120, 220, 400 and then flame or buff; on fiberglass start at 50 to 80 for shaping and finish at 120 to 220.
Can you make a 1-1/8 inch belt in a different length?
Yes. We convert belts in Anaheim, California and can make a 1-1/8 inch wide silicon carbide belt to any length your file sander needs, normally in about 3 days. Use the custom belt page linked below or call us with the length and grit. Orders over $200 ship free, and unused belts in original packaging can be returned within 30 days.
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