I Tested the Delta 18 36 Drum Sander: My Honest Review and Collecting Tips

This replacement belt earned its ranking due to its reliable silicon carbide construction, which offers a steady grip for standard shop tasks. I would point general maintenance seekers toward this option when their original conveyor starts slipping.

The 18 x 47-1/2 inch dimensions match the factory specifications for your machine closely. You will want to watch out for alignment issues during installation, as tension adjustments require patience.

Woodworkers chasing a flawless surface finish will find this four-pack to be the exact match for their final sanding passes. In my assessment, this is the top overall pick for anyone who hates sanding swirl marks out of hardwood tabletops.

The pre-cut sizing saves you from wrestling with rolls of abrasive paper at the workbench. My main reservation is that finer grits wear out faster if you push raw, rough-sawn lumber through too quickly.

An interesting detail about this conveyor is its explicit compatibility with models 31-250 and 31-252, making it a targeted upgrade rather than a vague universal guess. I rank this high for shops that put heavy daily mileage on their sanding equipment.

The heavy-duty backing material resists stretching much better than standard factory replacements. But you should expect a stiffer break-in period while the rubber conforms to your rollers.

The most common complaint regarding coarse abrasives is how quickly they scorch the wood, but these strips manage heat remarkably well during aggressive passes. I consider this heavy stock removal option essential for leveling glue joints and flattening cupped boards.

The coarse 60-grit texture chews through high spots with impressive speed. You must remember to follow up with finer grits immediately, because the scratch pattern is quite deep.

Much like the universal belt ranked higher up, this option provides a dependable middle ground, though it relies on a 120 mesh rating for a slightly finer texture. I would suggest this belt if your general maintenance routine involves mostly softwoods and light plywood.

The moderate grit profile grabs boards securely without leaving harsh marks on the underside of your stock. My only hesitation is that it lacks the heavy-duty reinforcement found on specialized industrial replacements.

These strips built their reputation on aggressive lumber flattening, and that heavy-duty reputation holds up quite well in practice. I view this rough shaping pack as a specialized tool for salvaging reclaimed wood with heavy cups and twists.

The ultra-coarse 36-grit surface removes massive amounts of material before your finer papers ever touch the board. You need to keep a dust mask handy, because this grit creates a tremendous amount of coarse sawdust instantly.