Sanding belts are essential tools in the abrasives industry, especially when working with wood projects. They easily remove old paint, smooth uneven surfaces and provide a consistent finish for all types of wood. They are popular and common tools used in the woodworking industry, but they don’t last forever. At some point, a craftsman will need to replace your sanding belt with a new one. Although they are not very expensive, it is worth keeping them as long as possible. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to extend the life of sandpaper bands. Read on to find out!

care tips

Sandpaper belts are used in conjunction with belt sanders, a power sander that retains two wheels to hold the sanding belts. Belts travel along these two wheels at a selected speed and provide sanding for wood, metal, and more. There are three main types: aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and zirconium alumina. There are also maroon sanding bands that are perfect for sanding fine wood. Aluminum oxide sanding belts are great for wood and metal, while silicon carbide sanding belts are great for things like ceramics, rubber, glass, marble, and even stone. For harder metals such as stainless steel and cast iron, zirconium alumina is the preferred sanding belt.

Regardless of the type of sanding belt you have, there are a few ways to increase the lifespan and prevent premature wear. A helpful tip to get you started: when ordering in bulk, never buy more than a year’s worth of sandpaper belts. If you’re having trouble estimating how many sanding belts you expect to use in a year, simply ask an abrasives professional for free advice. For now, here are some tips you can review:

Never order in bulk to save money.

Buying a large number of sanding belts to get a better deal is not always a “proactive” option. You may be at risk of joints aging and breaking in the next year or two. Buy a year’s worth and no more for best results.

Avoid “closing” sales and unknown manufacturing dates

Buying sanding belts on sale or clearance is usually not a good bet. This is because they have an expiration date, and those that are desperately trying to sell are probably close to their expiration date. Also, don’t buy sandpaper belts if you can’t confirm the date of manufacture. If you don’t know how old they are, you can’t tell if they still hold any value or quality. Just always make sure you buy a NEW product.

Always store in a safe and dry place

You want to keep your sander belts in a place that won’t be disturbed or damaged. Ideally, this area should be temperature controlled, or at least dry at all times. Low humidity levels are the best environment for these types of tools. Consider an air-conditioned room or garage.

New belts that break may be defective

If your new belt breaks right at the seam within 90 days of purchase, it is most likely due to a manufacturing error or defect. In this case, the manufacturer must replace the belt for you. Just be sure to save your broken item in case you need to show it to them first. For this reason, it is also important to locate the manufacturer’s contact information before purchasing new belts.