Standard Metal Sanding Belts

Industrial-Grade Closed-Coat Aluminum Oxide Sanding Belts From Red Label

Our closed-coat aluminum oxide sanding belts are designed for sanding hard and dense materials like metal. We produce our belts with industrial-grade materials that feature a load and heat-reducing top coating. All of our belts are hand-built in the United States in our Belding, MI factory. Shop our wide selection of metal sanding belts to find the abrasives you need for stock removal, beveling, sharpening, finishing, and more. 

Standard Metal Sanding Belt Sizes

Red Label manufacturers closed-coat aluminum oxide metal sanding belts in a wide array of sizes. Our belt sizes range from 1/4" X 18" up to 6" X 360". We carry all of the most popular sizes, including 2" X 72", 4" X 36", 2" X 42" and 1" X 30". You can filter by size on this page. If you don’t see the size you need, we can also custom-manufacture belts for you. You can fill out our form for a custom order request to receive a free quote. 

Open-Coat Vs. Closed-Coat Aluminum Oxide Sanding Belts

Red Label manufactures aluminum oxide sanding belts with two different coating types: open-coat and closed-coat. The coating type refers to how much of the sanding belt’s surface is coated in abrasive grains. Approximately 50-70% of the surface area on an open-coat aluminum oxide belt is covered in aluminum oxide grains while 90-95% of a closed-coat aluminum oxide belt is covered in grains. 

Open-coat aluminum oxide sanding belts are primarily designed for wood and other soft materials that produce a lot of sanding debris. The space between grains creates more airflow, which prevents clogging and heat build-up. However, a lower density of abrasive grains means that the belts don’t provide as aggressive as a cut. You do not want to purchase open-coat aluminum oxide sanding belts to sand metal, because it’s going to take significantly longer to perform sanding work. 

Closed-coat aluminum oxide sanding belts grind and sand metal much faster due to the higher grit-to-surface ratio. They are the better choice for hard and dense materials like metal.  

Standard Vs Premium Sanding Belts For Metal

We refer to our closed-coat aluminum oxide sanding belts as our standard metal sanding belts. This is because these belts are commonly utilized and are considered entry-level belts for metal sanding. There are stronger abrasive grains available and we utilize these grains in our premium metal sanding belts. Our premium metal sanding belts include our zirconia sanding belts and our ceramic sanding belts. 

Both zirconia and ceramic are more durable and aggressive than aluminum oxide. Ceramic is considered an ultra-premium abrasive grain with the highest level of strength and the longest lifespan. Zirconia is a middle-of-the-road product that sits between ceramic and aluminum oxide in terms of performance and durability. Zirconia sanding belts last two to three times longer than aluminum oxide belts, while ceramic belts can last up to five times longer than aluminum oxide belts. 

Ultimately, closed-coat aluminum oxide belts will get the job done when it comes to sanding metal, but they’ll take longer to sand and you’ll replace your belts more frequently. You’ll save money in the short term by buying standard belts, but you may find that the cheaper belts will end up being the most expensive items in your shop in the long run. Premium sanding belts save you money over time both in reducing production times and cutting tool expenses with less frequent replacements. 

Why Choose Red Label For Metal Grinding Belts?

Red Label Abrasives has been producing sanding belts since 1983. In that time, we’ve established ourselves as a leading abrasive manufacturer and manufacturing metal grinding belts is one of our specialties. All of our belts are produced to be industrial-grade. They’ll provide consistent, quality results with some of the longest belt lifespans on the market. We’re so confident you’ll enjoy our metal sanding belts that we even offer a 90-day 100% money-back guarantee. 

If a quality product at a great price wasn’t enough, we also take great pride in being able to offer exceptional customer service and unrivaled customer support. You’re more than just an order number when you work with our small, family-owned company - you’re a valued member of our maker community. As such, we make sure we’re always available to answer your questions and provide assistance. 

Questions? Speak With Our Abrasive Technicians