Wide Sanding Belts

Industrial-Grade Wide Belts From Red Label

Wide belt sanding machines are used by woodworkers and metalworkers alike to save time sanding and produce a perfect finish on large surfaces. Red Label can supply you with the wide sanding belts you need for your machine. Skip the middleman and order long-lasting industrial-grade wide belts straight from the manufacturer. 

What Classifies As A Wide Sanding Belt?

Wide sanding belts are characterized by their width, which is much wider than belts produced for bench grinders and handheld belt sanders. At what width is a sanding belt considered a wide belt? Wide belts are sanding belts that are 13 inches in width or more. Red Label manufactures wide belts with widths up to 54" and lengths up to 128".

Benefits Of Wide Belt Sanders

Wide belt sanding machines play a crucial role in various sanding applications, especially when dealing with large surfaces or heavy material removal. These belts are wider than traditional narrow belts, offering extended surface coverage and improved stability during sanding operations. They are commonly used in industrial settings, such as woodworking, metalworking, and even in the automotive industry.

Factors To Consider When Selecting Wide Sanding Belts

There are many different belts to choose from in our shop and it can be a bit overwhelming trying to select the right wide belt for your sander. Below are the most important factors to consider when shopping for wide sanding belts. 

Grit Size

The grit size of the sanding belt is a vital consideration that directly affects the finish of your workpiece. Finer grits, such as 180 or 220, are ideal for fine finishing and polishing, while coarser grits like 60 or 80 are more suitable for heavy material removal.

Abrasive Grain

Red Label produces wide sanding belts with two different abrasive grains: open-coat aluminum oxide and zirconia. Open-coat aluminum oxide is the workhorse of the abrasive world. It's the most commonly used abrasive grain and also the lowest priced. It works well for sanding softwoods, but it takes longer to sand harder materials and the belts don't last as long when sanding materials like hardwoods and metals.

Zirconia is one of the strongest abrasive grains available on the market. Its aggressive cutting nature makes it great for harder materials like hardwoods and metals. Being a stronger and more durable abrasive grain - zirconia also maintains a longer lifespan than aluminum oxide. 

Backing Material

The backing material of the wide belt will significantly impact performance and durability. Red Label manufactures wide sanding belts with paper or cloth backings. Paper backings cost less, but they can't be used for wet sanding and they work best for sanding flat surfaces. If you intend to wet sand or sand irregular surfaces, then you'll want to select a cloth backing. 

Belt Joint

Efficient sanding requires smooth belt joints. Overlapping joints can cause uneven sanding and result in a poor finish. Red Label's wide belts are produced with a proprietary belt joint that is so seamless that the belt can be run in either direction. Our belt joints are also built to be strong. They'll last the entire duration of the belt's lifespan. 

Belt Size

Of course, one of the largest factors in selecting the right wide belt for use is finding the right size to fit your machine. If you have an old belt available you can measure the size to make sure you're ordering the correct size. Our abrasive technicians can also help you conduct research to determine the right belt size for your machine. 

Ordering Custom Wide Belts

Not seeing the belts you need? Red Label can custom-manufacture wide belts for you. You can request a quote for custom belts by submitting our custom product quote form. A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible with a quote for your custom belts. 

Why Choose Red Label For Wide Sanding Belts?

Red Label is a family-owned American abrasive manufacturer. All of our wide sanding belts are produced in the United States in our Belding, MI factory. Buying wide belts from Red Label directly supports an American business and American families.

We've been manufacturing wide sanding belts since 1982 and have garnered a reputation for producing belts with an aggressive cut and a long lifespan. Our belts are built with industrial-grade materials and are built to last. We're so confident you'll like our belts that we offer a 100% 90-day money-back guarantee on all orders. 

Questions? Speak With An Abrasive Technician

Have questions about our wide sanding belts? Not sure which wide belt would be best for your machine or application? Our abrasive technicians are here to serve you. We'd love to answer any questions you may have. You can speak with an abrasive technician by calling 844-824-1956 or by filling out an online contact form.