With things the way they are with the economy, more and more woodworkers are looking to get the most use out of the tools they already have, which is why I created this simple base fixture that transforms a standard portable belt sander into a small horizontal benchtop sander. “Use a square rule to ensure that the sander is completely level, if it isn’t save some wood scrap to prop up the end until it has leveled out. To build the fixture, start by cutting out a base plate from 1/2″ or 3/4″ plywood or MDF that’s 14″ wide and 6″ to 8” longer than the length of your belt sander. Set your sander atop the base plate with the open side of the belt rollers facing up, and position the belt platen parallel to the long edge of the base.
I built a small belt sander jig and included on the end of the review for the oscillating sander but never really went into the details of how to build it. Make sure to have this piece wrap around the front of the sander so that you can use the curve of the belt as a spindle sander. If you’re in need of a new belt sander, the RIDGID 3×18 Heavy Duty Variable Speed Belt Sander can be found at the Home Depot for $99.97 and the Porter Cable 3″ X 21″ Variable-Speed Belt Sander 352VS can be found at Amazon for $169..
You will want the base to be 6 to 8 inches longer than your sander; the width should be at least 8 inches beyond the position of your sander’s belt once mounted – basically 8 inches plus the height of your sander. With the sander clamped in place, determine where you want to place the threaded rod for the sander clamp and mark the blocks Remove the sander. The sanding belt housing of my sander was 2″ from the base so I cut the screw down to 1 7/8″. My sander had a slight forward tilt so I left the adjustment bolt a little high.When I checked the plate there was a slight gap at the top which meant the adjustment bolt was a tad too high. No problem! Just use a open end wrench to adjust the bolt, in this case to lower the bolt.Until the square is flush with the sander plate at the top and bottom……. OK! the sander is securely mounted to the base and adjusted so the sander’s plate is perpendicular to the base. Time to build the table.”This is the critical part of the jig.
how to make a belt sander jig Related Question:
Can you turn a belt sander upside down?
It’s possible to clamp a belt sander upside down and freehand your finish carpentry tweaks, but you’ll probably get better results if your sander is firmly and reliably attached using a sanding stand.
Can you make your own belt sander?
Building a belt sander is a relatively simple project. You will need to gather some basic materials, such as a motor, pulleys, belts, and bearings.
Should you push down on a belt sander?
You do not have to push down on the sander. Pull the sander backward letting the weight and sharpness of the belt cut the surface. Don’t pull back and then tip the sander off the edge or you’ll cut off too much wood and need to build it back up with putty.
Can you use a belt sander against the grain?
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.
Why does my belt sander leave marks?
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.
What is the difference between a belt sander and a belt grinder?
The belt grinder belt speed typically runs double from what the belt speed of the belt of a belt sander is running at. Belts grinders you generally have multiple grinding points such as the platen and the second grinding point is the contact wheel.
How tight should a belt sander be?
In basic terms, the amount of tension on the coated abrasive belt should be just enough to keep the belt from slipping on the drive wheel, and to keep the belt from tracking off the wood working machine.