Aluminum Oxide

Typical Applications:
- Backstand
- Swingframe
- Centerless/cylindrical
- Wide belt/flat sanding
- Portable belt sander
- Disc sander
- Wire drawing/planetary
- Slack of belt
- Stroke sander
- Edge sanding
- Sanding sleeves/drums
Abrasive Industrial Supplies is excited to announce that our new Abrasive Manufacturing Machine is fully operational. This machine has enabled us to reduce our lead times AND improved the consistency of our belts.
What can we make for you?
Yup! You read that right. Abrasive Industrial Supplies is now shipping stock and custom abrasive belts worldwide.
It's always great to see what projects you, our valuable customers, are using our abrasives for. Here are the latest photos we've received.
This beautiful woodworking was submitted by Monte Pettit from Bellevue, NE. Thanks for your submission Monte! Click on the photo for a larger view.
Milt Neeley, The Artistwelder shared these Aluminum Letters with us. Click on the photo for a larger view.
Jack Yarbrough shared this photo of a beautiful knife he made. Click on the photo for a larger view.
Send a photo or photos of your current project(s) along with a brief description to photos@abrasiveindustrialsupplies.com and we'll showcase you too.
Please note photos may also be used on social media or email.
If you've ever ordered sanding belts and when they arrived found out you'd ordered the wrong length, this post is for you.
There are several ways to determine the correct belt size for your machine.
Measuring to ensure you have the correct belt length is a simple but VERY important process.
Remember, Abrasive Industrial Supplies will make virtually any size sanding belt you need. Contact Customer Service by phone (800-433-8010) or email for a quick quote.
This is a complicated question, but one we're going to try to simplify for you. Pretty much any abrasive can be used for sanding or grinding metal but different metals and operations make some abrasives better than others. We're going to help you sort that out in this post.
What kind of metal are you working on?
This is the first question you need to answer. Sanding or grinding aluminum requires different materials and technique than sanding or grinding copper because the metals have unique properties.
Abrasive Type | Metal |
Aluminum Oxide (AO) |
Effective on all metals including aluminum, brass, chrome, stainless, bronze, copper, titanium, etc. |
Silicon-Carbide (SC) |
For non-ferrous metals and softer metals such as aluminum and brass. |
Zirconia-Alumina (ZA) |
Generally used for stainless and tough metals. |
Ceramic-Alumina (CA) |
Best for stainless and tough metals. |
What are you doing to the metal?
Polishing requires a totally different abrasive than material removal so you have to factor this into your selection.
Operation | Abrasive Type |
Stock Removal |
Ceramic-Alumina for hard-to-grind metals and alloys. Zirconia-Alumina for stainless, exotic and heat-sensitive metals. |
Blending Welds |
Ceramic-Alumina for hard-to-grind metals. Zirconia-Alumina for stainless steel. Aluminum-Oxide for most metals. |
Polishing |
Aluminum-Oxide. Silicon-Carbide. |
Cost
While this isn’t a technical aspect of selecting your sanding belt abrasive, it often can factor into your decision, especially where more than one abrasive fits your requirements. One thing to remember when evaluating cost is belt life. For example, Ceramic-Alumina belts tend to be more expensive than other belts but have a longer life so you don’t have to replace the sanding belts as often.
Some Final Tips
When you’re sanding or grinding metal, it’s important to keep the metal cool. We recommend using water or a sanding/grinding lube to prevent overheating the surface.
Always follow safety guidelines. Don’t sand or grind around flammable materials. Work in a well-ventilated area and always, always, always wear eye, hearing and respiratory protection.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Aluminum-Oxide | Ceramic-Alumina | Silicon-Carbide | Zirconia-Alumina |