Belt grinding aluminum

[ScottRa]

Just a quick question on how well this works. Does a belt tend to load up on aluminum? Tricks for grinding. I’d like to build a belt grinder down the road when I get my table done and just wondered about others experiences.

Thanks!!! Scott

[acourtjester]

Aluminum will get into a belt but not a bad as a wheel, There is a thing that may help to clean it out. It looks like a big rubber eraser, and is sold in the wood working places. They are some to clean belt sanders like the 3"x24" hand help type.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SANDING-BELT-A ... SwdAleaAHE

[Old Iron]

The belt sander is better for aluminum than a disc sander.
Get a ceramic belt rather than an oxide and keep the metal as cool as possible by using water.

[ScottRa]

Thanks guys, good tips! I’ve got a smaller hand built alum project coming, I might see if I can find a ceramic belt for a small hand belt sander I have and try it for that. And wonder if maybe a touch of those big erasers before grinding might help keep metal out of the belt from the start. Have always hated grinding alum on a wheel, and it even does a good job of loading up files. At least a file cleans up with a wire brush.

Scott

[adbuch]

I think you would definitely want to use open coat abrasives as opposed to closed coat to prevent clogging the belt.
David

[ScottRa]

Thanks David,

As is probably obvious I’m limited to in experience to a small belt sander intended for wood so metal is new to me. I’ve seen some on here and that go kart wheel sander on YouTube and realized how useful they can be. When I saw the video of a file literally disappearing into that grinder it opened my eyes.

Scott

[acourtjester]

The 2" X 72" belt grinder do the same with metal, I bet the belts for that "Go cart Grinder" are expensive, but it is beast.

[ScottRa]

Tom,
I have a link to this company at 25$ a belt, but know nothing about them or the quality of their products. FWIW

https://www.abrasiveindustrialsupplies. ... eight-each

Scott