Stainless Steel - Belt sander

whisper · 16 February 2015, 19:08

Hi, just bought a Sealey polisher with a belt sander attached on one side. The question is when I order a new belt what grit should i go for if I'm working with 316 Stainless steel tube?

This ebay shop does Blue Zirconia Aluminia: P36 - 40 - 60 - 80 - 100 - 120

3 x Abrasive Sanding Belts 100x1000mm (P36-P500) Manufactured in Ireland | eBay

Here's the new toy

Peter_C · 16 February 2015, 20:14

I have an industrial Powermatic sander setup that I use fairly often. Mostly for belts I buy them at Harbor Freight, which is Chinese junk. For how cheap they are though I can blow through 4 of them for the cost of one expensive belt. Now if I was doing stainless all the time I might spend more money.

Hightower · 17 February 2015, 18:04

I would buy three different grits Alex. Roughing P36 an P80 and P120. You might find that using an angle grinder sanding disc is more economical and flexible than a bench sander but you quickly find out what you use the most.

Just a tip which I'm sure you'll know already, but mark inside each belt if it's to be used with stainless steel. If you want to grind mild steel at some point use a different belt and mark that up. The reason for this is so you don't get cross contamination on your nice stainless job. I've seen rust SS and it's not nice.

Festinghouse · 17 February 2015, 22:02

yeah, and dont use a steel wire wheel on stainless either for the same reason i once made a stainless Aframe and cleaned it all up with wire wheel, following day it was covered in rust. a good going over with pickling paste soon sorted it though.

Peter_C · 17 February 2015, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just a tip which I'm sure you'll know already, but mark inside each belt if it's to be used with stainless steel. If you want to grind mild steel at some point use a different belt and mark that up. The reason for this is so you don't get cross contamination on your nice stainless job. I've seen rust SS and it's not nice.

Great tip! I do the same for all my hand wire brushes and spinning wire brushes that are used for stainless, along with aluminum. I learned to do that after experiencing rust on SS, but knew to not contaminate aluminum when welding.

Hightower · 17 February 2015, 22:58

I've actually seen rust on the bends of an A frame where the manufacturer was bending mild steel pipes before making the A frame. Who'd have thought! Doesn't take much!