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belt sanders -- worth getting one?
- Thread starter cognitivefun
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,117
I never use exotic belts and the only time I have damaged one using edge-forwards sanding is when I tried to sharpen the scallops of a serrated blade using the edge of a belt.
--Now for all the caveats. I only use belts with heavy cloth backing, because those are the only ones that I run across for my 4"x36" sander. I never apply heavy force except with the belt supported by the platten with is wider than the belt. Even when I use the "unsupported" portion of the belt it is only unsupported for about .75" which is not much on a 4"-wide belt.
With adequate support I often sharpen garden tools with enough force to stall my sander motor (more than 50 pounds). This still doesn't damage the belts. I think that your only problem is when you catch the edge of the belt with your edge.
--Now for all the caveats. I only use belts with heavy cloth backing, because those are the only ones that I run across for my 4"x36" sander. I never apply heavy force except with the belt supported by the platten with is wider than the belt. Even when I use the "unsupported" portion of the belt it is only unsupported for about .75" which is not much on a 4"-wide belt.
With adequate support I often sharpen garden tools with enough force to stall my sander motor (more than 50 pounds). This still doesn't damage the belts. I think that your only problem is when you catch the edge of the belt with your edge.