A belt file, or power file, runs a narrow sanding belt round a slim arm. It reaches into gaps, slots and corners that no other sander can, and it is handy for deburring metal, shaping wood and cleaning up welds. The belts are narrow and short, and a millimetre of width matters: the arm’s pulleys and guides are made for one width.
The common sizes.
- 13 × 457 mm and 1/2 × 18 in. The most common size in our catalogue, used by many cordless and corded files from DEWALT, Einhell, Metabo, BLACK+DECKER and others.
- 9 × 533 mm and 3/8 × 21 in. Makita’s 9032 and its cordless relatives.
- 10 × 330 mm and 3/8 × 13 in. Compact files such as Milwaukee’s M12 and Proxxon’s models.
- 9 × 457 mm and 30 × 533 mm. Less common sizes for particular files.
One file, three documented sizes.
The Makita 9031 shows how a single belt can be written differently from country to country. Makita’s UK, German and Australian pages give its belt as 30 × 533 mm. The US page gives 1-1/8" x 21"; the Canadian page gives 1-3/16" x 21" (30 mm x 533 mm). Converted exactly, 1-1/8 in is 28.6 mm and 1-3/16 in is 30.2 mm, so the two inch figures are not the same width. We keep each record exactly as printed. If you have a 9031, the 30 mm belt is what the metric documents and the Canadian page agree on; for the US version, check the manual or ask Makita which width they mean.
The same pattern, less dramatic, runs through the other sizes: 13 mm against 1/2 in (12.7 mm), 9 mm against 3/8 in (9.5 mm). Metric and inch sizes explains why we never merge them.
Using a belt file.
- Direction. Fit the belt so any arrow on its back points the way the belt runs.
- Tracking. Most files have a tracking knob near the tip of the arm. Run the file briefly and adjust until the belt stays centred on the end pulley.
- Light pressure. The narrow belt cuts fast and heats up; let it do the work, and keep it moving.
- Arm angle. Many files have an arm that swivels. Check the tracking again after moving it.
Sizes documented for belt files.
These are the belt sizes in our catalogue for belt files, with the number of files documented for each. Open a size to see every machine that takes it.
| Size | Machines of this kind | For example |
|---|---|---|
| 13 × 457 mm0.51 × 17.99 in | 11 machines | DEWALT DCM200, Draper BS400D13, Einhell TE-BF 18 Li |
| 1/2 × 18 in12.7 × 457.2 mm | 6 machines | BLACK+DECKER PF260, Bauer 20105E-B, CRAFTSMAN CMCW211 |
| 9 × 533 mm0.35 × 20.98 in | 3 machines | Makita 9032, Makita DBS180, Parkside PBFA 20-Li A1 |
| 3/8 × 21 in9.53 × 533.4 mm | 3 machines | Makita 9032, Makita DBS180, Makita XSB01Z |
| 10 × 330 mm0.39 × 12.99 in | 3 machines | Milwaukee M12 FBFL10, Proxxon BS/A, Proxxon BS/E |
| 9 × 457 mm0.35 × 17.99 in | 2 machines | Einhell TE-BF 18 Li, Ozito PXFSS-018 |
| 30 × 533 mm1.18 × 20.98 in | 1 machine | Makita 9031 |
| 3/8 × 13 in9.53 × 330.2 mm | 1 machine | Milwaukee 2483-20 |
| 1-1/8 × 21 in28.58 × 533.4 mm | 1 machine | Makita 9031 |
| 1-3/16 × 21 in30.16 × 533.4 mm | 1 machine | Makita 9031 |
Counts are the machines of this kind documented for each exact size today. A size page also lists other kinds of machine that take the same size.
Find your belt file’s size ↗︎