Here are three things to consider before adding a belt sander to your home workshop. The standard belt sander operates with a 3-inch wide belt, but there are different size classes to choose from: 3×18-inch sanders, 3×21-inch sanders, and the largest, 3×24-inch sanders. Clamp the belt sander upside-down to a sturdy work bench and press the tool you’re sharpening lightly to the belt.
I have three Makita’s , two 3×24 and one 3×18 , these are good , affordable sanders , I have a 3×18 Skill wich is a sad thing to call a belt sander , I have a 3×24 Craftsman , so so and last is the 3×18 Back and Decker …. wich is a notch above the Skill but not very far ahead of it. The Makita also has a graffit pad on the plate on wwich the back of the sanding belt rides on, I have not worn through a sanding belt with these , I have with some other models with out the pad. A man does not always grow wise as he grows old , but he always grows old as he grows wise. The only reason I do not have more experience with Makita belt sanders, is because the old sanders I’ve had have worked fine.
SIZE. The size of a belt sander is measured by the width and length of the belt. The platen on a belt sander is the plate on the bottom of the sander that comes in contact with the workpiece. If they’re out of alignment, the belt can rub against the housing and damage both the belt and possibly the sander too.
I started using a Skil 3×18. Then I went to the Ryobi 3×21. I went through two Ryobi sanders and now have a Bosch 3×21 and a Porter Cable 4×24. The Ryobi and Bosch are designed the same way, having a flat top, which I highly recommend. I built a ‘cradle’ out of scrap and can flip the sander on it’s back and use it for sanding small pieces and use it that way all the time. A big belt sanding job was starting at 36 with the 4×24 down to 80, down to 120 with a 3×21 and finish with a random orbit.
Belt sanders are the big, powerful gorillas of the sanding world. If you’re new to belt sanders or have been frustrated by yours, read on to find out how to keep that big ape under control. Sanders for $100 to $250 when looking for the best belt sander.
belt sander 18 vs 21 Related Question:
What size belt sander is best?
A common size for home shop use is a 3″ x 21″ sander. This size offers a sizeable sanding area, without the fatigue generated by running a large machine. I think you’ll find it can handle most tasks in the shop.
What size belt sanders are there?
Sanding belts are available in a variety of sizes from ¼” x 18” all the way up to 60” x 360” and beyond (popular sizes include 2 x 72, 2 x 42, 1 x 30, 2 x 48, 3 x 18, 4 x 36, and 4 x 24).
What is the best speed for a belt sander?
The optimal speed for belt grinders is largely dependent on a number of factors, including type of abrasive grain, grit grade, workpiece material, and more. Generally speaking, a safe speed in most cases is 3,000 surface feet per minute. You can calculate surface feet per minute using the formula SFPM = RPM X .
What grit sizes are commonly used on a belt sander and why?
Choosing the Right Sanding Belt Grit The heavier the job, the coarser the sanding belt you’ll need. 40 to 60 grit is best suited for the heaviest work. When you’re performing tasks such as smoothing surfaces or removing minor blemishes, you’re better off using sandpaper with 80 to 120 grit.
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.
How tight should a sanding belt be?
Most wood sanding applications require a belt tension near 40 psi. Because the goal is to keep the belt from slipping, users sometimes err on the side of using too much belt tension. Several problems can result from excessive belt tension.
What kind of sanding belts are best for metal?
As high-performance belts, both zirconia and ceramic sanding belts will last longer and remove metal faster than aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sanding belts. Both belts have the ability to resharpen as they wear and both are primarily used on metal applications. In the end, both types of belts are excellent belts.
Should I get a belt sander?
Good for initial wood work, a belt sander is perfect for getting wood ready to be worked on. A belt sander can remove any material off wood in no time.
Can you use ceramic sanding belts on wood?
Ceramic abrasives are ideal for aggressive cutting of metals and hard woods. The material works best when high speed and high pressure is applied. It is so aggressive, caution must be used to prevent scorching of the working material if you’re working with wood.
How many RPM is a belt grinder?
Belt Sander/Grinder provides motor speed of 3,600 rpm.
How do you find the linear speed of a belt?
A conveyor speed, or in this case the linear belt speed, can be calculated using the formula pi/2*D*RPM/60. In this formula, D is diameter and RPM is the rotations per minute of the conveyor. The value is then divided by 60 to convert the speed into distance per second.
What is the roughest grit sandpaper?
What Is Sandpaper Grit? Sandpaper grit is sized by a gauge number, with lower numbers signifying larger, coarser grits. For example, #24- or #40-grit sandpaper is a very coarse, rough sandpaper, while the #1,000-grit paper is extremely fine with very small abrasive particles.
How can I make my sanding belt last longer?
Another way to extend the life of your belts is to prevent clogging and loading in the first place. This can be done with an abrasive belt grease stick that goes on the belt before use. These sticks have a lightweight grease that spreads a thin layer of lubricant over the surface of your sanding material.
What grit is extra fine sandpaper?
Choose the Right Grit Sandpapers are commonly graded as coarse (40 to 60 grit), Medium (80 to 120), Fine (150 to 180), Very Fine (220 to 240), Extra Fine (280 to 320) and Super Fine (360 and above).
What happens to many walking surfaces where finishing sanders are used?
What happens to many walking surfaces in areas where finishing sanders are used? They become slick because of the saw dust covering. If a finishing sander sparks excessively when being used what should be done? Inspect, recondition or replace the brushes.