“The sander will need”something” to keep it centered in the 12″ wide track, and until I decide what method to use I choose to think of this as the body of the racer. The platen is a flat surface that backs-up the sanding belt and without a firm or semi-firm platen, the belt can’t create a flat surface. Each belt was mounted on the sander and run in mid-air under no load for ten seconds to allow the belt to flex and stretch a bit.
My research uncovered that this sander is the fastest stock sander, with 1650fpm. The platen is a flat surface that backs-up the sanding belt and without a firm or semi-firm platen, the belt can’t create a flat surface. Sanding belts are available in countless grits and in dozens of minerals as well as man-made abrasives.
Stock sanders can be decorated and a guild system is allowed to help the sander go straight down the track. The only rules a modified sander has to follow are 1 – must fit onto the track, 2 – plug into a standard 3 prong 110v outlet , 3 – must use an unaltered store bought sanding belt of any grit. In the event of a sander not being powered “on”, entries have one false start opportunity for the entire race event.
Follow along as a couple first-time Belt Sander Drag Racers plod through the process of selecting a sander, souping-up the drive train, and building a body that hopefully doesn’t fly off during the race. In the words of Bluto in Animal House: “It don’t cost nothin”.
This is John Ellsworth’s “Loco,” a 1950s Porter Cable BB10 belt sander modified for Stock-class competition at the Fenwick Trustworthy Hardware store in Fenwick Island, Delaware. While they give Loco the appropriate freight-train look, everything was done to keep it between the rails in racing. Because of the obsolete belt size of this 1950s sander, Loco used a custom-length, 24-grit Carborundum belt.
how to build a belt sander racer Related Question:
How long is a belt sander race track?
Riders sit on and race hand-held belt sanders on a 40-foot-long plywood track.
Can you get a good finish with a belt sander?
Because they have a lot of power and can handle coarse grits, they excel at the rapid removal of wood. Also, unlike orbital and vibrating sanders, the sanding action is linear, so even with coarse grits you can sand with the grain and get a good-looking result.
Who makes the fastest belt sander?
Here’s a photo of the foundation of our racer: A Makita 9403, which I snagged on Amazon for a great price. My research uncovered that this sander is the fastest stock sander, with 1650fpm (feet per minute). That fact alone makes this a great choice if you are racing in the Stock Class.
How much wood can a belt sander remove?
As mentioned earlier, abrasive belts can only remove a certain amount of stock dependent on grit size. With a three-head sander you can run a grit sequence of 100-150-180 and remove approximately 1/32 inch in one pass.
How much wood can you sand down?
I’m not sure where sanding comes into play here, but yes, you absolutely could sand a 1/2″ off of a piece of wood. It will take some time with a belt sander and even more time if you’re doing it by hand. (On the bright side, you’ll build a good bicep that way!)
Can I sand a floor with a belt sander?
The handheld belt sander can sand off old finish and sand out dents and scratches much more easily than the previous sanders. While it won’t keep up with the speed of a normal floor sander, the hand held belt sander will get the job moving forward with reasonable speed.
Can you use a belt sander on wet wood?
Yes, and no. There are two different methods of sanding to talk about. One is simply using a dry sander on a piece of lumber that might have been left out in the rain or has a high moisture content. The other, known as wet sanding, it a method that’s used to refine a finish on pieces of furniture.
Why does my belt sander keep breaking belts?
Heat, humidity, and age can contribute to belt seam failures, but they’re not the only causes. Check that your belts are turning in the direction indicated on the inside face. When not using your sander, release the tension on the belt.
What size sanding belt do I need?
dimensions listed width/length) Wrap it around the belt sander the same way you would put a belt on it. Cut the string so the ends meet up and then measure the string from end to end. To determine the width of the belt, you can measure the width of the roller or contact wheel the belt will run against.
What are the 3 most important sander safety rules?
Safety Rules Dust mask advised. Don’t wear loose clothing or gloves, keep long hair tied back. Never adjust Sander or setup while Sander is running. Never remove guard unless authorized by Technician or WRL Manager • Setups requiring anything other than the standard sander equipment must be approved by supervisor.
Can you use a belt sander on concrete?
Do not let the slurry dry on the concrete because it will harden in place. If you only have a small area to sand, you can also use a palm sander, orbital sander or belt sander. Rough imperfections may require the use of a special diamond disc and a concrete floor grinder.
How should the belt sander be placed when setting it down after the sanding?
6. When finished sanding lift the belt sander off the material and then release the Off/On switch. 7. Lay the belt sander on its side when setting the tool down.
What belt sanders are made in the USA?
Ickler Belt Sanders – Made in the USA Ickler has been manufacturing high-quality belt sanders since the mid-1930’s. Generations of professionals and do-it-your-selfers have put these rugged, Made in the USA tools to use.
What’s better orbital or belt sander?
A belt sander is more effective for large materials, while the orbital sander is ideal for small spaces and pieces of furniture. A belt sander works effectively on flat surfaces, while an orbital sander can work with various angles.
What is the best grit for sanding wood?
For heavy sanding and stripping, you need coarse sandpaper measuring 40 to 60 grit; for smoothing surfaces and removing small imperfections, choose 80 to 120 grit sandpaper. For finishing surfaces smoothly, use extra fine sandpaper with 360 to 400grit.