Silicon Carbide Abrasive Belts - Premium Pro

The Sanding Process

Just like snowflakes, there are no two floors that are exactly alike. The surface conditioning process, though, when followed correctly, will leave a glass-like sheen on the finish and a durable floor that will last for many years.

What do the pros know that makes their floors so beautiful and worth the investment? They follow the process. Sand, vacuum, sand, vacuum, sand, vacuum. Finish, screen, finish, screen, finish, screen.

Choosing The Right Belt

We carry a wide variety of sanding belts, so depending on your portable expandable drum floor sander, choosing the right sanding belt is crucial to efficient operation. We give you helpful hints to make sure that you're choosing the belt that is appropriate for your sander, but the two most important pieces of information are the belt size and the abrasive grit material. You can choose from Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide (on this page), Zirconia Alumina or Monster Professional Ceramic Abrasives.

Silicon Carbide Abrasives

Silicon carbide sanding belts enable you to easily remove material more quickly than aluminum oxide, but doesn't last as long. Use it on wood, plastic and metal for tasks such as rough sanding, removing paint or rust, and sanding between coats when finishing. Use it on drywall to smooth joints. Silicon carbide products has a waterproof backing that you can use for wet sanding, which is a good technique for minimizing scratches when applying liquid to lubricate the work surface. Wet sanding also helps to prevent the sandpaper from clogging with dust, removing loose abrasive particles and reducing airborne dust.

Pros Know: Grit Size Progression Counts

Sanding a wood floor requires a three-step process, starting with the largest grit and progressing smaller and smaller. Most pros start with either a 36 or 40-grit paper, progressing to 60-grit or 80-grit, and finishing with either 100-grit or 120-grit. The starting grit might need to be 12-, 20- or 24-grit if the floor is in especially poor condition.

Follow With Mesh Screen

The key to getting a glasslike finish is mesh screens. When used correctly between coats, the mesh screen knocks down any fibers that rose into the finish surface, creating bumps and uneven finish. Screens smooth out those fibers and allow another finish coat to be added to a smooth surface. Learn More About Mesh Screens