2" x 60" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 6 PACK

Extra belt length is the cheapest heat control there is: a 2" x 60" belt carries a quarter more grain than a 2" x 48" and gives each inch of it longer to cool between passes, which is why 2" x 60" bench grinders and belt/disc combos are popular with tool-room and maintenance shops grinding steel all day. These 2" x 60" metalworking belts come in zirconia for carbon steel and iron, ceramic for stainless, hardened and tool steel, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) for stainless and aluminum that heats and loads, and Cloth A/O for the 150–600 grit finishing belts.

We convert them in Anaheim, California on a Y-weight poly-cotton backing with heat-treated grain, so they hold up to a rigid platen and a heavy hand without stretching. Six belts of one grit per pack; the backing runs wet or dry.

• Zirconia, ceramic, Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid) and cloth aluminum oxide in a 2" x 60" size
• Longer belt run than a 2" x 48": more grain per belt and cooler grinding on steel
• 24–600 grit covers weld cleanup, tool sharpening and pre-polish on one machine
• Y-weight poly-cotton cloth built to outlast typical paper or light-cloth belts; wet or dry
• 6 belts of one grit per pack for 2" x 60" bench grinders and belt/disc combos
• Converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which grain should you choose for each metal on a 2" x 60"?

A 2" x 60" bench machine has enough rigidity to feed the self-sharpening grains, so choose by the metal and by what the belt has to do.

• Zirconia: mild and carbon steel, cast iron, weld beads, rusty stock and general fabrication. It micro-fractures under moderate-to-heavy pressure and keeps cutting; press into the platen. Offered 24–120 grit.
• Ceramic: the orange-red belt for stainless, hardened steel, tool steel, HSS and nickel alloys. Constant cut rate for its whole life under firm pressure, then it dies abruptly. Ideal for regrinding lathe tools and punches and for stainless fabrication, provided you lean on it; run light it glazes and heats the part.
• Zirconia+ (Grinding Aid): zirconia with a grinding-aid top coat over the aid in the resin. It cuts cooler and resists loading, so it is the belt for stainless, aluminum, titanium and any job where the part is bluing or the belt is packing. On a dry bench machine this is the stainless belt to start with.
• Cloth A/O: heat-treated aluminum oxide, forgiving at light pressure and the right grain for brass, bronze and soft aluminum. All of the 150, 180, 220, 320, 400 and 600 grit belts in this size are aluminum oxide; they remove the coarse scratch and prepare the surface for paint, graining or a buff.

Do not finish with zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit; they leave a bright, shallow scratch. Step to Cloth A/O and then a non-woven belt.

Grit guide for steel, tool steel and aluminum on a 2" x 60"

Step no more than one grade at a time. A deburring sequence on laser-cut steel is 80 zirconia then 120; a lathe tool regrind is 60 ceramic, 120 ceramic, 220 Cloth A/O. Aluminum goes 80, 120, 220 Cloth A/O with the grease stick applied at each grit.

What machines does a 2" x 60" belt fit?

• 2" x 60" bench belt grinders used in tool rooms, maintenance shops and by knife makers who prefer the longer belt.
• 2" x 60" belt and disc combination sanders and bench belt sanders that list this belt size.
• Shop-built and imported grinders designed around a 60" belt loop.

Confirm the length in your manual; 2" x 48" and 2" x 72" machines are common and neither will tension a 60" belt. Before mounting, check the inside of the belt for a printed direction arrow: if there is one, run the belt that way so the joint trails; if there is none, the joint is bi-directional. Tension, rotate the belt by hand and centre the tracking on the platen before switching on. Odd lengths are made to order in about 3 days.

How to get the most out of it

1. Use the longer belt to your advantage. Spread the work across the full width and keep the part moving; the 60" loop carries heat away between passes, so a moving part stays cooler than on a shorter belt.
2. Press into zirconia and ceramic. They stay sharp only while they micro-fracture under load. A shiny, quiet belt on hardened steel is glazed, not worn: press harder or move to the grinding-aid belt.
3. Quench tools and thin edges. Dip in water between passes, use a fresh belt for the final grit, grind edge-trailing on fine grits and stop at the first sign of straw colour.
4. Run aluminum slow and lubricated. Lower the speed if your machine allows, rub a grease stick on the running belt and use the grinding-aid or Cloth A/O belts so the grain does not pack.
5. Run wet if the machine is set up for it. The poly-cotton backing tolerates coolant; a drip on stainless or titanium keeps the part cool and the belt clear.
6. Collect metal dust safely. Use a dedicated metal-rated or wet collector; never pull steel sparks into a collector that holds wood dust. Wear eye and face protection.
7. Clean and store. Clear loaded Cloth A/O belts with a crepe belt eraser. Hang spare belts or roll them loosely, keep them dry and out of sunlight, and warm cold belts before running.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Regrinding and sharpening lathe tools, punches, chisels, drills and mower blades
• Deburring laser-cut, plasma-cut, sheared and machined steel and stainless parts
• Weld cleanup and shaping on brackets, frames and small fabrications
• Knife bevel grinding and refining on a 2" x 60" grinder
• Aluminum, brass and bronze work with the grinding-aid and Cloth A/O belts
• Wood and handle material with the Cloth A/O belts

Don't use it for

• Finishing with zirconia or ceramic above 120 grit; switch to Cloth A/O or non-woven
• Running ceramic at light pressure; it glazes and heats the part
• Sharing a collector between wood dust and steel sparks
• Machines that take a 2" x 48" or 2" x 72" belt; measure first

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• 2" x 60" Sanding Belts, 12 pack, for wood and general use
• 2" x 60" Surface Conditioning Belts for satin finishing
• 2" x 48" Metalworking Sanding Belts, 6 pack
• All knife making belts and kits
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days