Change your sanding belts less often—these belts have a zirconia alumina abrasive that continuously fractures to form new sharp edges. These self-sharpening edges are great for aggressively removing material on steel and wood.

Avoid clogs when you're removing paint or rust. The widely spaced grains on these belts give dust and debris a place to collect so they won't build up on the surface.

When you need to achieve a more consistent finish, choose nylon mesh sanding belts over paper- or cloth-backed belts.

One of the sharpest abrasives, the silicon carbide on these belts sands soft metals and nonmetals like aluminum and rubber with ease, and it generates minimal heat to prevent material buildup.

At least 16" wide, these sanding belts leave a smooth, consistent finish on large workpieces. They have an aluminum oxide abrasive, which is the most common abrasive for general use.