Where To Buy Custom Sanding Belts, Discs, or Rolls

Topics Covered:

• Abrasive Types
• Abrasive Materials
• Abrasive Backings
• How To Place A Custom Order

When you’re shopping for abrasives online, you’ll find that there are a wide variety of ready-made, off-the-shelf products available and, depending on the manufacturer, most are good quality. However, there are some projects that call for a more tailored approach and an equally customized abrasive solution.

While belt, drum, and disc sanders are now manufactured in an array of standard sizes, older machines or custom-built machines can have uncommon size requirements that many manufacturers can’t or won’t meet. Custom belts are also very popular with woodworkers who often need custom sizes for wide belt machines. Furthermore, industrial machines often require custom abrasives as well. 

At Red Label Abrasives, we can custom manufacture abrasives to meet any unique size requirement. We have been producing premium sanding belts, discs, and rolls for hobbyist makers and businesses of all sizes for over 35 years and enjoy an industry-wide reputation for the highest-quality craftsmanship and materials.

If you’ve never made a customer order for abrasives before, below are some tips for identifying the right solution .

Different Applications Require Different Abrasive Types

The type of abrasive you buy should depend on how you intend to use it.

• If you need to remove a lot of material quickly,sanding belts are great (assuming you have a belt sander). Our custom sanding belts and custom wide belts can also be used to sharpen tools, strip paint from flat surfaces, sand hardwood floors, and remove stock during knifemaking.
• If you don’t have a wide belt sander and need to work on large surfaces,sanding discs work well with an orbital sander. They’re great for finishing wood, removing rust from metal, and preparing surfaces for further work. Red Label Abrasives sellswaterproof film discs,hook and loop discs that are ideal for auto body work, andadhesive-backed discs for multipurpose sharpening and sanding.
• Sanding rolls can be cut into sanding sheets or used on drum sanders to apply a fine finish on workpieces. Our products include rolls specially designed for woodworking or sanding shop applications.

If you aren’t sure which abrasive will deliver best results, call us at 844-824-1956 to discuss your needs and receive recommendations from an experienced abrasives professional.

Select The Right Material For The Application

When it comes to abrasive materials, choices include:

• Aluminum oxide: One of the most popular abrasives, aluminum oxide is low-cost but does an effective job on common applications. The open-coat version is excellent for woodworking while closed-coat aluminum oxide is compatible with metalworking applications like grinding and weld removal.

• Silicon carbide: If you do a lot of finish work, silicon carbide does an even and consistent cutting job. It removes material without excess heat build-up, which is ideal when you work with heat-sensitive applications like epoxy, resins, and stabilized wood.

• Ceramic: While you’ll pay more for custom ceramic abrasives, they have the longest lifespan, which will save you money. Ceramic works aggressively, so you can use it for harder woods and metals.

• Zirconia: A middle-ground abrasive, zirconia does a great job of grinding and polishing metal and removing material from hardwood. It is less expensive than ceramic but has more product longevity than aluminum oxide.

These materials are available in different grit sizes and coating types. A Red Label abrasive technician can explain the best options for your applications so that you make an informed purchase.

Select The Right Backing

Backing makes a difference in how the abrasive may be used. Paper-backed abrasives, which typically include aluminum oxide and silicon carbide, are lower cost and deliver an even cut for finer grits and processes, but are not durable unless infused with a material like latex. For premium abrasive products, you’re looking at a cloth or polyester backing for superior longevity and strength.

Other backing options include:

• Plastic film backing, which is recommended for wet sanding due to its waterproof properties.

• Foam and sponge, which are excellent choices when you’re hand-sanding moldings, veneers, and other contoured workpieces.

How To Place A Custom Order

Abrasives come in a wide range of materials and configurations for a reason: every application is different. The best custom sanding belt, disc, or roll depends on what materials you are working with and what you are trying to achieve. Fortunately, we have all of your sanding bases covered.