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.
Having bought a Ridgid oscillating belt / spindle sander and building my sanding station to house it, I thought my sanding woes were a thing of the past. I use the Ridgid mainly as a spindle sander and although it’s fairly fast and easy to put the belt sander attachment on, it only works in the vertical position and more often I need a belt in the horizontal position. The main points are to hold the sander securely and be convenient to use – no tools needed to put the sander in or take it out.
1 – First mark the measures of the sander on horizontally, vertically and dead flat position on the plywood for the base and two sides for the vertical part of the stand. In my case I had to make the holes in the edge for screwing the sander vertically. 21/22 – Screw the two lateral parts and please look carefully in one of these sides because is necessary to make a hole to pass the sander cord.
Over at Humus Workshop, Spanish maker Román Palma created a three-position stand for a handheld belt sander that makes the tool much more versatile without taking up a lot of room. The belt sander can be installed and removed quickly using two bolts. Mounting the sander makes it easy and safe to shape small pieces while taking advantage of the fast material removal that makes a belt sander desirable in the first place.
Each sander has a different shape, so custom-cut the plywood sides. To trace the pattern for the sides, unscrew any removable housing pieces and lay them flat side down to trace their shape on the plywood. Set the sides edgewise on a flat surface, fit the sander in the sides and check that the sanding belt is parallel to the base.