My Dad’s old Craftsman broke the belt and it sat for 25 years up until last month. I ordered a new belt, but installing it I discovered that the bushing on the drive end was worn out into an oval shape and the belt would not keep tension or stay on track. I rotated the bushing, but it didn’t last another 20 min of use.
When your belt sander goes down, it is very hard to find a replacement that will produce the same results as your belt sander. Three of the main reasons that your belt sander has stopped working are worn parts, drive belt issues, and or a power problem. If the inner wiring on your belt sander has suffered from a problem or short, it will also cause your belt sander to stop working.
To prevent your belt from breaking prematurely, check the recommended belt direction. There are various causes of improper tracking, which we’ll cover in the following section on wide belt sander maintenance. Improper tension pressure: Belt tracking problems can also be caused by improper tension – if the tension isn’t high enough, there will not be sufficient pull for the belt to stay in line.
belt sander not spinning Related Question:
Can a sanding belt be repaired?
You can also mend or make abrasive belts by this DIY method: Obtain some bias binding tape from a fabric store, or you can make your own. Then use CA adhesive to bind the bias binding tape to the cleaned edges of the sanding belt you want to make or repair. I have done this many times, and it works fine.
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.
Can you revive sandpaper?
Start up your power sander and dust collection system, making sure to wear hearing and eye protection. Then slowly press the rubber sole of an old sneaker along the sandpaper. You’ll see (and smell) the results instantly. You’ll have clean sandpaper in seconds, with a hint of hot rubber in the air.
Why does the sandpaper keep falling off?
The reason sandpaper is coming off your sander is that the current sander pad is worn out, replace the pad to fix the problem. Orbital sander pads wear out from regular use, eventually, the hook and loop Velcro will not properly hold onto your sanding discs.
What type of glue is used to make sanding belts?
Lay one end of the belt, grit-side down, on the bench; then apply cyanoacrylate glue to the end of the belt. Lay half of the bias tape’s width on the glue, place waxed paper over the tape, and use a weight to press down on it for about 30 seconds, or until the glue sets.
What kind of tape is used on sanding belts?
Apply the Scotch 8959 tape by using a small piece of swimming pool noodle or other firm foam/rubber like a squeegee pressing firmly and leaving overlap on both ends, make sure there are no air bubbles and the tape is perfectly flat covering both splice ends equally.
Can you cut sanding belts?
You can cut sanding strips from sanding rolls or sanding belts. Cutting from sanding rolls is the more ideal solution.
Why does my Porter Cable belt sander keeps breaking belts?
There are pretty much two reasons they can be breaking so quickly: the belts are old stock (or have been stored in humid or hot locations) or the tension is too high. Or both.
When should I change my sanding disc?
You should change your sandpaper when it gets too clogged by the material you are sanding or if the abrasive side is too worn down to smooth out your surface. If you have noticed that you have to apply much more pressure or it takes too long to work, you should substitute your sandpaper.
Why won’t my sandpaper stick to my sander?
Orbital sanding pads won’t stick if debris or tears in material are present. To replace the hook and loop / Velcro pad: Simply remove the three screws on bottom of sander to replace pad. Here is a link to a replacement pad. Apparently everyone one else is just experiencing worn out sanders or sandpaper disc’s.
How do you clean a hook and loop sander?
Here’s a simple fix: Buy a nit comb at a pharmacy. They’re sold for removing head lice eggs, and the metal tines are much closer together than a standard hair comb. Drag it across the sander’s pad vigorously, and the tines will clear the debris easily without harming the loops.