Abrasive Belt Grinding: Choosing the Right Belt, Grit, and SFPM for Optimal Results
Grinding
When you are grinding, selecting the correct abrasive belt with an ideal grit and knowing the right SFPM grinding speed are essential elements to ensure optimal results. These factors are all connected and dependent on each other to achieve your desired outcome.
Keep reading to learn how to select the right abrasive belt and SFPM grinding speed for your next project.

How to Choose the Right Abrasive Belt for Your Grinder
The first step in choosing the right abrasive belt for your grinder is knowing what type of grinding your project requires. Different grinding applications require different abrasive belt grit ranges.
Type of grinding and grit ranges include:
Roughing: 36 – 80 grit
Intermediate: 80 – 180 grit
Finishing: 220+ grit
When selecting an abrasive belt, you must also consider the material you’re working with, the desired finish you want to achieve, and the type of grinding operation used (grinding, polishing, or surface conditioning).
Grinding recommendations from 3M and Norton include:
These are just a few examples of the hundreds of abrasives that are available by abrasive belt manufacturers. The Burr King team can help find the right belt for your job.
1. Grinding Applications
- Material: Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, etc.
- Abrasive Type:
- Ceramic Grain Belts (3M Cubitron II, Norton Blaze):
- High material removal rates
- Ideal for hard metals
- Self-sharpening grains extend belt life
- Aluminum Oxide Belts:
- Economical choice for general grinding
- Best for softer metals and wood
- SFPM Recommendation:
- 3,500–8,000 SFPM for aggressive stock removal
- Ceramic Grain Belts (3M Cubitron II, Norton Blaze):
2. Polishing Applications
- Material: Stainless Steel, Non-Ferrous metals, and Carbon Steel
- Abrasive Type:
- Trizact Belts (3M):**
- Precision structured abrasives for a uniform finish
- Great for polishing
- SFPM Recommendation:
- 6,000–7,500 SFPM for polishing without overheating
- 2,500-3,500 SFPM for grinding and polishing titanium
- Slower SFPM used when using finer grits
- Trizact Belts (3M):**
3. Surface Conditioning
- Material: All metals
- Abrasive Type:
- Surface Conditioning Belts (Scotch-Brite):
- Non-woven belts for deburring, blending, and finishing
- Excellent for preparing surfaces for coatings
- SFPM Recommendation:
- 500-3,000 SFPM for decorative finishing
- 5,000-6,000 SFPM for deburring
- 2,000–5,000 SFPM for controlled surface conditioning and cleaning
- 4,500-6,500 SFPM for oxide removal
- Surface Conditioning Belts (Scotch-Brite):
How to Choose the Correct Abrasive Belt Width for Your Grinder
Belt width is an essential, yet often overlooked, element of proper grinding methods. If your machine belt width is too narrow for your material piece, you run the risk of only being able to grind in a restricted pattern, extending needed grind time, wearing your belt out faster, and making the grinding process more difficult. Burr King manufactures grinders capable of running abrasive belts from ½” wide to 4” wide. Choosing the right machine with the capabilities for your needs plays a vital role.
You can think about selecting the proper belt width for your grinder as choosing the right road to drive on. If we all drove motorcycles, roads could be narrow and turns could be tighter. However, we know that roads are constructed to accommodate all different sizes of vehicles. A semi-truck can’t take tight turns, so roads are straighter and hills are more gradual. If we did however all drive motorcycles, the price of constructing that road would be less expensive.
Roads wear out where people use them. The middle of the lane is always in good shape, but potholes form in the wheel paths. What we get down to is if you have a wider belt that you can not fully utilize, the expense of the abrasive is going to be higher, and you will have increased waste since the abrasive will not be fully consumed. The belt may have some damage from improper use and would need to be prematurely changed.
Proper grinding techniques require high attention to detail and an understanding of your equipment. If you want your grinding equipment to last and your projects to be efficiently completed, it’s important to consistently monitor the grinding process. Below are some grinding best practices to follow.
4 Grinding Tips for Success:
1. Match the SFPM to the Task
- Use higher SFPM for rough grinding and lower for finishing tasks
2. Monitor Heat Levels
- Employ coolants or water to reduce heat, especially at higher SFPM
3. Inspect Belt Condition
- Replace worn or glazed belts to maintain consistent results
4. Choose Belt Backing
- Flexible backing for contours and rigid backing for flat surfaces
- J-weight cloth backing is the lightest and most flexible
- YF and X backing are a heavy weight, suitable for heavy stock removal and well suited for platen grinding
Optimal Grinding
Optimal grinding depends on the correct abrasive belt material and grit, grinding SFPM speed, and belt width. Each factor plays an essential role in the grinding process and directly impacts the grinding quality outcome.
Have questions about which abrasive belt or machine is right for your project? Contact our team today!