In this blog, we show you how to diagnose common belt sander tracking problems and fix them. Try using the sander with another belt- if the tracking problems stop, replace the faulty belt. To see if your belt is properly reslit, you can measure the width of the belt at several points around the belt.
Trying to diagnose and isolate the root causes for wide belt sander issues can be extremely difficult. In light of this difficulty, the abrasive technicians at Fintech Industrial Abrasives have compiled a list of the most common wide belt sander issues and their respective potential fixes. Constantly running workpieces through the sander in the same place on the belt can quickly wear out that portion of the belt and lead to loading and belt burning.
belt sander not tracking straight Related Question:
Can you adjust tension on a belt sander?
If the belt is shifting toward the side of the sander that the knob is on, then loosen the knob by turning it about half a turn counterclockwise. If the belt is shifting away from the side of the sander that the knob is on, tighten the knob by turning it about half a turn clockwise.
Why is my belt sander leaving lines?
If the inside of your sander has a lot of dust, there is likely an issue with the machine and it often shows in the materials run through the machine. Excessive dust buildup can result in burn marks or lines on the workpiece. Dust buildup can also cause tracking issues and prematurely wear out the belt.
When using a belt sander you should never?
1. Do Not use the belt & disc sander if you are too tired, hungry, sad, mad, or dehydrated. Never work while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any medication that creates drowsiness or impaired thinking.
How much tension should a belt sander have?
Most wood sanding applications (such as mould sanding using narrow cloth belts) require a belt tension of approximately 40 psi. However, there are some special exceptions. For example, abrasive planing operations using coarse grits typically demand belt tension in the range of 70 to 90 psi.
How do you prevent belt marks?
Make sure your contact roller has the proper rubber hardness (durometer) for your application. We recommend a durometer of 60 for most sanding applications. Harder contact rollers will take off more material but they are also less forgiving increasing the likelihood of unwanted marks. Use a platen for finish sanding.
What is a platen on a wide belt sander?
Platens. Platen heads are the work horse of the segmented platen machine. They are mostly used for conventional sanding of raw wood or between coats on finish. Most parts run through a wide belt machine will have the grain running parallel to the feed. This is the type of head that would sand these parts.
Should you use gloves with a belt sander?
Never wear gloves when using a belt sander. Many work gloves do not always fit tightly. This creates a situation where the gloves can actually become caught in the sander. You should always wear protection for your ears when using any type of power tool.
How much weight should you apply to the belt sander while sanding?
No need to lean on the sander. Just let the weight of the machine do the work. When you get to the end of the board make sure the platen doesn’t cantilever too far past the edge. Allow 1/3 or less of the platen length to project over the edge.
When changing sanding belts or discs what should be done to the belt disc sander?
When changing sanding belts or discs, what should be done to the belt/disc sander? Disconnect the machine from the electrical service. On most disc sanders the table can be adjusted ___________ degrees. 45.
Which roller should you not adjust when tracking a belt?
As this is not practicable, the use of adjustable cylindrical rollers for belt tracking is not recommended for reversing operation.
Why does the sandpaper keep breaking on my belt sander?
A reason why your belt could have popped could be because of excessive loading of the material being sanded. While this is not the most common, we have occasionally seen that foreign particles in the machine or a wide variation in workpiece thickness can cause too much pressure and thus cause the belt to snap.
What are three ways you learned in this lesson a belt sander can be used for?
Belt sanders are multiuse tools. They are commonly used for trimming to a scribed line (photo), sanding very rough surfaces, leveling surfaces (like a replacement board in a hardwood floor) and freehand rounding and shaping.
What is a 1 inch belt sander used for?
The H3140 1″ x 30″ Belt Sander provides a moving abrasive surface that can be used to shape and contour small workpieces. By tilting the adjustable table, sanding operations can be performed on miter-cut, or other angled workpieces.