Our 36" wide belt sander is the workhorse of our finishing department. It can surface large panels to consistent thickness, remove mill marks, and prepare surfaces for final finishing - all with speed and precision that would take hours by hand.

What Wide Belt Sanding Does

  • Thicknessing: Brings panels to exact, uniform thickness across their entire surface
  • Surface prep: Removes planer marks, glue squeeze-out, and minor imperfections
  • Flattening: Corrects minor cupping or bowing in panels
  • Finishing: Creates smooth surfaces ready for staining or finishing

Capabilities

Our 36" machine handles panels up to 36 inches wide and over 8 feet long. Multiple grit passes can take a rough-sawn surface to 220-grit smoothness.

Grit Progression

We typically start with 60 or 80 grit for material removal, progress through 120 grit for surface refinement, and finish at 150-220 grit depending on your needs. Each pass removes scratch marks from the previous grit.

Ideal Applications

  • Tabletops and countertops after glue-up
  • Cabinet doors and drawer fronts
  • Butcher block panels
  • Wide boards that won't fit through a planer
  • Final surfacing before finishing

Pricing

Sanding is priced per square foot per grit pass. Contact us for a quote on your specific project.

Equipment & Capabilities

  • 36" wide belt sander
  • Multiple grit belts (60-220)
  • Dust collection system
  • Precision thickness control

Frequently Asked Questions

1 How flat does my panel need to be before sanding?

Wide belt sanding can correct minor unevenness, but significantly cupped or twisted panels should be flattened first. We can advise on preparation requirements.

2 Can you sand veneered panels?

Yes, but with caution. We use light passes on veneer to avoid sanding through. Please let us know if your panel is veneered.

3 What's the thinnest material you can sand?

We can safely sand material down to about 1/4" thickness with proper support. Thinner material requires special handling.