| A belt sander is a power tool that has two parallel | | | | there to afford a flat but also somewhat soft support, |
| drums on its underside that are spun with a motor. A | | | | or shock absorption, for the sander and the belt as |
| continuous loop of sandpaper, or a sanding belt, is | | | | well. Because the belt rubs over the platen, it's |
| pulled around the drums to sand or level wood and | | | | important to watch for wear; the platen will eventually |
| other materials. Belt sander are a much rougher tool | | | | need to be replaced due to this friction. You may |
| than most sanders and are generally only required for | | | | consider removing the platen periodically to make |
| certain projects demanding quick removal or rough | | | | certain the cork is still intact. When the cork begins to |
| surface leveling. They are also commonly used to | | | | crumble apart, or the metal begins the thin, the platen |
| remove paint or other finishes from materials. | | | | must be replaced. |
| The most conventional belt sanders use 3" to 4 " wide | | | | Changing the Belt: |
| belts. These wider sanding belts offer greater working | | | | To change the belt, flip the sander onto one side |
| surface area on your materials, but they also tend to | | | | leaving the open side facing up, pull the release handle |
| be a bit more difficult to control. It's easy to make | | | | and the rollers will come slightly together to slacken the |
| avoidable errors when working with a belt sander; it | | | | belt. Before replacing the belt be certain it is facing the |
| takes only one moment to lose control or remove too | | | | direction indicated (by arrows) on the bottom of the |
| much material. Of course the same is true of motor | | | | belt - otherwise your sandpaper will be moving in the |
| size, the more amps you have, the more power you | | | | wrong direction. Slide the belt over the rollers and drop |
| have to control. So essentially, operators should be | | | | the handle to tighten the belt to the drums. Align the |
| comfortable and cautious with their belt sanders; the | | | | rollers with the sander's tracking knob to ensure they |
| precision of finish sanding, for example, is pretty difficult | | | | are exactly parallel. The sander must be engaged to |
| to achieve with one of these bulky power tools. | | | | adjust the tracking so be certain the sander is secure |
| Maintenance: | | | | before making any adjustments. The sander may face |
| The bulky build of belt sanders, however, helps them | | | | either up or down as you adjust the tracking, but it's |
| withstand some pretty serious shop abuse. They are | | | | generally easier to do effectively if you can see the |
| tough and general maintenance is relatively simple. | | | | belt as you adjust. The belt should track in the center |
| Mostly you just need to be certain the two cylindrical | | | | of both the rollers and the platen, but if you run into a |
| rollers (drums) the sanding belt sits on remain in perfect | | | | stubborn belt, just be sure it tracks in the center of the |
| alignment. If the rollers are not precisely parallel, the belt | | | | rollers. |
| will not track in the center of the rollers and will slip off. | | | | As all craftsmen know, a great deal of sawdust |
| As a rule, you should try to adjust the rollers each time | | | | comes along with sanding. It's vitally important to keep |
| you change the belt. This can be done with a manual | | | | all your power tools clean, so be certain to blow out |
| tracking knob on the side of the tool. If your drums are | | | | your sander periodically (even after every use) to |
| tilted the belt will either push toward the inside of the | | | | keep it running smooth and efficient. If your belt sander |
| rollers or slip off of them altogether. If the rollers are | | | | is corded be sure to check it for breakage and |
| poorly aligned, they can also push the belt up toward | | | | replace replace it if damage occurs. |
| the housing which could cause damage to both the | | | | Because belt sanders can be rough, remember to be |
| housing and the belt. | | | | cautious and slow as you work. But don't let the bulk |
| It's also important to check the platen for wear, dents | | | | of the belt sander deter you; belt sanders are a useful |
| or scratches when changing the belt. The platen is a | | | | tool and are powerful and practical enough for many |
| thin piece of metal backed with a similarly thin sheet of | | | | wood-shop applications. For quick removal and leveling, |
| cork. It sits (on the underside of the sander) between | | | | the belt sander is unbeatable. |
| the inside of the sanding belt and the sander's shoe. It's | | | | |