Tricks to get new leather belt on belt sander?

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Apr 27, 2007
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I just got a Surgi sharp leather belt in for my 2x48 Kalamazoo belt sander. I understand they are made to fit snug, but this sumbitch doesn't feel like it will ever fit on there. Ran the heat gun over it for a few minutes, and that helped some, but still not stretched out far enough to put on. I am almost at the breaking stuff until I hurt myself point with this stupid thing.

Any other hints for putting this on, besides insulting it's birth parents and their questionable origins?

Thanks,

Dan
 
Pull the leather in your hands to stretch it. .

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!
 
I had the same issue with my leather belt when I had my belt sander. Easiest way is to just muscle it on. Once it is on it will become easier to take on and off, but remember to NEVER leave it on when not in use. It will stretch and eventually not fit if left on.
 
Pull the leather in your hands to stretch it. .

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!

DO NOT PULL ON THE SEAM!
So what your sayin is don't pull on the seam then? :D


Some brand belts/sanders can be a real pita, if its so tight it doesn't want to run you can leave it sit awhile to stretch, turn it by hand every so often and just wait. It's better to muscle it on and let the sander stretch it than to try and stretch it by hand if at all possible.
 
I am not as frustrated as last night, so I will try again today. It still seemed about 2 inches shorter than what I needed to barely put on. Like I said, this is my first leather belt for my belt sander, but I really don't think I should have to struggle that much to put this damn thing on.
 
What sander/size and where did you get the belt? It sucks but this is a pretty common thread around here. Did you try water or just stretching it on?

Do you have a wife/girl friend/room mate/teenage child? As much as we all hate to admit defeat sometimes a second set of hands can get it over the edge.
 
Lightly brush the BACK of the belt evenly with a few drops of plain water, less than a teaspoon across the whole belt then do the stretch as killer suggested.

That should do it.
 
Loop the belt around the top pulley, then around the bottom as far as it will go. Turn the bottom pulley while gripping the belt against the bottom pulley.
 
I just remembered when I finally muscled the belt onto my sander it would not start turning. I did a few dozen turns by hand and let it sit for a few hours to stretch it enough to run whole straining the motor. Two or three uses and it worked like a tight belt.
 
Lightly brush the BACK of the belt evenly with a few drops of plain water, less than a teaspoon across the whole belt then do the stretch as killer suggested.

That should do it.

Rhinoknives knows what's up! This was the best and only advice that worked! Thank you. After a light brushing of water on the belt, that sumbitch finally stretched on! Took off after I was done, but I really didn't think I would ever get that damn thing on.

Booyeaah!
 
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