Table of Contents
A belt sander can be just the tool you need to flawlessly remove paint from a range of wood and metal materials. The result achieved is smooth and prepped, ready for the next stage of your home improvement project. However, the best results are achieved when your tools are at their peak, with the belt of the belt sander providing excellent detailing and a sharp focus when new.
When using your belt sander, a large amount of dust is created and may subsequently damage your tool or alter its tracking, causing repairs to be required. However, it is possible to repair some types of damage and make alterations to the sanding belt yourself, saving you both time and money.
Sander Belt Repair Guide
Check the Tracking
The belt of your sanding belt can slip away from the middle from time to time, mainly as a result of a large amount of dust which is generated during use. To check the tracking of your sanding belt, ensure that the machine is turned off and that the tool is completely disconnected from its power source. The belt should be tracking in the middle of the rollers and can be easily adjusted if need be.
Adjusting the Rollers
When unscrewing the necessary screws present within your sanding belt, you can easily loosen the motor and unravel the rollers. The rollers may either be found in a toe-in position or a toe-out position. Set the belt of your sanding belt in place and reconnect the tool to the desired power source, ensuring that the tracking is entirely centered.
Tension Tightening
When using your sanding belt, listen carefully to assess whether you can hear any types of undesirable sounds or ‘slapping’ noises. Such noise may signal that the belt from your belt sander may need to be tightened. This task can be completed quickly and easily with a simple screwdriver, tighten the adjustment screw. Too much tightening can provide a negative effect, however, so ensure that just enough tightening is provided to prevent the belt from slipping.
Problems with Dust
Every time you sand an item with your sanding belt, a collection of dust is formed which should then be collated within a particular area of the sanding belt tool, offering an easy collection and easy disposal. Empty the dust from the tool regularly to experience optimum results, checking for any blockages or any breaks in the seams at all opportunities.
Ventilation
When operating your belt sander, ensure that the room you are positioned in offers excellent ventilation, particularly in regards to the level of dust which may be collected in the air. A separate fan could be used to cool the sanding belt down and to also keep your working area free from dust.
Checking Torque
The sanding belt should ideally produce sufficient levels of torque; if this is not the case for you and your tool, assess the quality and benefits of the pulley and whether any defects are present, replacing this if any defects are found.
