A belt grinder runs a long, narrow belt fast over a contact wheel, a flat platen or a slack stretch of belt. Metalworkers use them to deburr and shape; knife makers grind bevels on them; the wider machines, often called linishers, flatten and finish metal parts. The belt sizes range from short 2 in belts on combination machines to 6 in wide belts two metres long.
The main families.
- Combination grinders: about 50 × 686 mm. Bench machines with a grinding wheel on one side and a short belt arm on the other. In our catalogue they mostly take a 50 × 686 mm belt, written 2 × 27 in on inch-labelled machines.
- 2 × 48 in and 50 × 1220 mm. A common size for compact belt grinders and small linishers.
- 2 × 72 in. The size many purpose-built knife grinders use, with interchangeable contact wheels and platens. The long belt runs cooler and lasts longer than a short one.
- Wide linishers: 75, 100 and 150 mm. Machines for metal finishing take wide belts such as 75 × 2000 mm, 100 × 1220 mm and 150 × 2000 mm. Inch documents sometimes give the 2000 mm length as 78-3/4 in.
Lengths that look alike are not interchangeable. A 2 × 48 in belt is 609.6 mm shorter than a 2 × 72 in one; even within a family, check the length your machine is documented for. Metric and inch sizes covers pairs like 2 × 48 in and 50 × 1220 mm.
Choosing a belt.
- Abrasive. Aluminium oxide is the general-purpose grain. Zirconia and ceramic grains are tougher, cut steel faster and last longer under pressure, which is why they are popular for heavy grinding and knife bevels. Silicon carbide suits non-ferrous metals, stone and glass.
- Grit. Coarse grits (36 to 60) remove metal; medium grits (80 to 120) refine the shape; fine grits and non-woven belts finish the surface. Work through them in steps.
- Backing and joint. Grinder belts need a strong cloth backing and a joint made for the speed. If the belt has a direction arrow, it points the way the belt travels.
- Heat. Steel heats up quickly on a fast belt. Keep a quench pot of water near the grinder for small parts, and never grind aluminium and steel on the same belt; mixed dust can be a fire hazard.
Belt grinders run fast and throw sparks. Wear eye protection, keep the guard and tool rest set as the manual says, and keep sanding dust, rags and solvents away from the spark path.
Sizes documented for belt grinders.
These are the belt sizes in our catalogue for belt grinders and linishers, with the number of machines documented for each. Open a size to see every machine that takes it.
| Size | Machines of this kind | For example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 × 48 in50.8 × 1219.2 mm | 16 machines | Baileigh BG-248-2, Baileigh BG-248-3, Baileigh BG-248S |
| 2 × 72 in50.8 × 1828.8 mm | 10 machines | Grizzly G1015, JET J-4103, Kalamazoo Industries 2FS72 |
| 75 × 2000 mm2.95 × 78.74 in | 9 machines | ELMAG BSM 75x2000, ELMAG HD 75x2000 A/HD-B, HAFCO BS-76 |
| 100 × 1220 mm3-15/16 × 48.03 in | 8 machines | Draper BL1500D, ELMAG BSM 100x1220 N, HAFCO BS-48 |
| 50 × 686 mm1.97 × 27.01 in | 8 machines | Clarke CBG6SB, Draper GD650A, ELMAG KSM 150/686 |
| 150 × 2000 mm5.91 × 78.74 in | 7 machines | ELMAG HD 150x2000 A/HD-B, Güde GBSM 150, HAFCO BS-152 |
| 50 × 1220 mm1.97 × 48.03 in | 4 machines | Linishall 1220/50/M1, Linishall 1220/50/M3, Linishall 1220/50/P1 |
| 50 × 1520 mm1.97 × 59.84 in | 4 machines | Linishall 1520/50/M1, Linishall 1520/50/M3, Linishall 1520/50/P1 |
| 100 × 1520 mm3-15/16 × 59.84 in | 4 machines | Linishall 1520/100/M1, Linishall 1520/100/M3, Linishall 1520/100/P1 |
| 4 × 36 in101.6 × 914.4 mm | 3 machines | Baileigh IGBB-436, JET IBGB-436, JET IBGB-436VS |
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 grinder’s belt size ↗︎