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Wet belt sanders are the standard coldworking tool for smoothing, edging and beveling cut glass without heat – water-cooled belts on a vertical or horizontal platen. This is a genuinely small, specialist market: most of what’s sold under different retailer names (Kingsley North, Delphi Glass, His Glassworks, Arrowhead Lapidary) is the same Covington Engineering machine line, so the list below groups by actual manufacturer, not by which glass-supply shop is selling it.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Covington Engineering Model 761 Deluxe Commercial Wet Belt Sander | $900-$950 | Amazon |
| 2 | Covington Engineering Model 760 Commercial Wet Belt Sander | $650-$750 | Amazon |
| 3 | Covington Engineering Model 762 Horizontal Wet Belt Sander | $750-$850 | Amazon |
| 4 | Gryphon Wet Belt Sander | $500-$600 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | CRL 2300RP Wet Abrasive Belt Sander with Roller Platen | $2,300-$2,600 | Amazon |
| 6 | CRL H82 Horizontal Wet Belt Sander | $2,000-$2,400 | Amazon |
| 7 | Bee Manufacturing Wet Belt Sander | $2,200-$2,800 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Covington Engineering Model 761 Deluxe Commercial Wet Belt Sander
Covington’s 1/2 HP deluxe model, built for high-production studio work on larger or heavier glass pieces – the most-recommended step-up sander for serious hobbyists and small studios.
- 1/2 HP motor
- 3-inch belt width
- Built-in water valve and spray nozzle
- Rustproof aluminum-topped base
- Handles heavier, larger glass pieces than the basic model
- Widely stocked by every major glass-supply retailer, so parts and belts are easy to find
- Roughly double the price of the basic Model 760
Covington Engineering Model 760 Commercial Wet Belt Sander
Covington’s more affordable production sander, using the same belt format at a lower-power 1/3 HP for hobbyists who don’t need the 761’s capacity.
- 1/3 HP motor
- 3 x 41.5-inch belts
- Built-in water valve
- Lam-I-Cushion aluminum-topped base
- Cheaper entry point into Covington’s belt-sander line
- Same belt format as the 761, so belts are interchangeable between the two
- Less power than the 761 for thick or large glass
Covington Engineering Model 762 Horizontal Wet Belt Sander
The horizontal-platen version of Covington’s line, useful for flat-grinding edges rather than the vertical models’ standing-belt approach.
- Horizontal belt platen
- Water-fed cooling
- Same Covington motor and build quality as the 760/761
- Horizontal orientation suits flattening and edge work some studios prefer over a vertical belt
- Different technique from the vertical models – not a drop-in replacement if your workflow is built around vertical sanding
Gryphon Wet Belt Sander
A genuinely different manufacturer from Covington – Gryphon’s compact machine is aimed at hobbyists and small workspaces rather than production studios.
- 90 sq. inch grinding surface
- 3-inch wide belt
- Built-in adjustable work platform
- Smaller footprint than the Covington machines, better for limited workshop space
- Good option for light glass fusing and jewelry work as well as flat glass
- Less production capacity than the Covington 761 for heavy daily use
CRL 2300RP Wet Abrasive Belt Sander with Roller Platen
C.R. Laurence’s own-manufactured 110V vertical belt sander for glass fabrication – a separate product line from Covington, sold direct through CRL’s glazing-supply catalog.
- 110V AC motor
- 4 x 106-inch belt format
- Roller platen for consistent contact
- CRL’s own build, distinct from the Covington line, giving a genuine second manufacturer to compare against
- Roller platen format suited to glazing and architectural glass work
- Pricier than the equivalent Covington vertical sander
CRL H82 Horizontal Wet Belt Sander
CRL’s horizontal-platen counterpart to the 2300RP, using the same 4×106-inch belt format.
- Horizontal platen
- 4 x 106-inch belts
- CRL’s own build
- Horizontal option from CRL’s own line, not a Covington rebrand
- Professional/architectural glazing price point, well above hobbyist machines
Bee Manufacturing Wet Belt Sander
A Canadian-made machine, positioned by glass-shop discussion as CRL’s real competitor at the commercial-production tier, with a belt-tensioning system some users prefer.
- Canadian-built
- Commercial-grade tensioning system
- Comparable capacity to the CRL 2200-series
- A genuinely distinct manufacturer at the high-production tier, not a relabeled Covington or CRL unit
- Less common in the US than Covington or CRL, so parts and service may mean longer lead times
Buying tips
- Almost everything sold under a glass-supply retailer’s own listing (Kingsley North’s ‘760’, Arrowhead’s ‘761’, His Glassworks’ pages) is the same Covington Engineering machine – compare by Covington’s model number, not by which shop you’re buying from.
- If you’re a hobbyist doing occasional fused-glass or jewelry work, the Gryphon or Covington 760 covers it; step up to the 761, CRL, or Bee only once you’re running a production workload.
- Keep the water feed running continuously while sanding – a dry belt on glass heats up fast enough to crack the piece, which defeats the point of coldworking.
- Buy spare belts in the grit range you’ll actually use (typically 80-220 grit) when you buy the machine – belt format differs between the Covington 3-inch and CRL/His Glassworks 4-inch machines, so they aren’t interchangeable.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.