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’ve finally finished my new edge belt sander table. Because of the way I work, this kind of edge belt sander is one of the tools I rely on most, and I use it in almost all of my projects. As you can see, it’s simply a portable belt sander that’s been rotated and attached to a table.
Not all belt sanders have these most of the new sander does not have these accessory holes, but check because they may have some other options that would do the same job, or could attach them with a different system that might not be as easy, but equally effective in the end. Next, you will need to lay the sander on its side and mark holes in the backer board in which to mount the belt sander. Before you do that, depending on the belt sander you have, you may want to add a tiny bit of elevation to the sender by setting it on a 1/8th-inch thin piece of plywood, just sot he sand belt sits up off the platen.
how to make a benchtop belt sander Related Question:
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.