Belt Sanders

[Dawgonhawg]

Does anyone use ANY kind of a belt sander to prep your projects for painting or powdercoat?
If so what do you use.
Thanks, Dawg

[wickedinhere]

I use a dewalt 7 inch sander/polisher variable speed works great.

[jmsrbrt]

No BELT sander...strickly disc.

[Oldsarge]

I have a Grizzly 2x72" knife maker belt sander with zircona belts. Sands 1/4" steel like it was wood.... Also have the Harbor freight 9"x48" disc/belt sander that I put zircona belts/discs on & it works great. At the moment I do general metal fab work... For 12 gage anx thinner I don't know if you'd need anything so aggressive.... What kind of work/prep do you have in mind?

Oldsarge

[Dawgonhawg]

I am wanting to know if anyone is using a wide belt sander or drum sander? Something like a Timesaver Belt SAnder.

Thanks, Dawg

[kdahep]

I have the Jet 16/32 inch drum sander that I use on metal. From 18 ga to 1/2 inch. I use 40 grit sanding rolls. You have to make sure that the belt is on very tight or it will rip them up . I run it a little in the middle to get the strecth out of it then re adjust the tightness, maybe 3 or 4 times. It works well with at least something 7 inches or longer. I did have to change the feed belt motor to a ac gear motor. This sander has a circut board in it and acted as a magnet to short it out. The motor was $30.00 at a surplus place in Nebraska.
Remember it will take a few passes through to get the dross off, as it is only taking off a few thousands each pass

kdahep

[Dawgonhawg]

Kdahep, thanks for the information. I have been wondering about using one of those. i will start a new thread on this subject.

Dawg

[tnbndr]

Anybody on here own one of these??
Pretty pricey but if they work well may be worth the investment.

http://www.csunitec.com/sanding_polishi ... g.html#ptx

[Chopper John]

I use a Dynabrade and it seems similar, http://www.abrasivesupply.com/Dynabrade ... /51585.htm, it does a great job with putting a brushed finish on stainless and works great for prepping steel before I apply Steel F/X.

[Dawgonhawg]

Chopper John, the Dynablade seems like a pretty cool tool. Do you have any problems with it gouging the material on the edges of the belt?

Thanks, Dawg

[AnotherDano]

I use a Ryobi 3x18 left over from m ywoodworking days.
In fact the drive belt wore out and I just got the replacement last week. Gotta remember to let the tool do the work and not bear down on it.

A drum sander is on the shopping list but they aren't cheap!

[Dawgonhawg]

Dano, I saw a piece you did for Scottsrod. His logo. Is the belt sander what you used to clean up the surface?
It looked really good.

Thanks, Dawg

[hinesigns]

Back in the days of me doing ski tuning...I bought a used Alliston wet belt sander for $1,000. I stopped doing ski tech work & tucked the machine away for 19 years. I built a new storage building & had the clean-up guys take the machine. I went to their shop to letter some trucks & they had kept the machine in the corner. I decided I should have it back for the plasma shop. Traded lettering on 1 truck & got it back.LUCKY ME.It has a 6" belt & a water spray system thet drains back through a tray & passes through a double layer of nylons. This prevents any small metal pieces returning to the area where the small aquarium pump feeds the sprayer. For the aluminum pieces, I use a heavy guage rubber glove to hold the pieces down. Works good for trimming your fingernails. For the steel pieces,I use a strong magnet with a handle.
Does 1 fine job. Belts last a long time because the water acts as a lube & coolant.

dry belt.jpg

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magnet.jpg

side view belt.jpg

[AnotherDano]

Dano, I saw a piece you did for Scottsrod. His logo. Is the belt sander what you used to clean up the surface?
It looked really good.

Thanks, Dawg

You know Scott? How do you admit that and still go out in public?

Yes, I used the Ryobi 3x18 hand-held, after a wire cup in an angle grinder - if necessary.
The flap disks can gouge the edges too easily. Especially on little parts. With powder coating, I like a clean, sharp edge on the cuts and a really flat finished surface.

Speaking of little parts... If I have a lot to do, I make a template and avoid having to clamp each piece down. This is one I used with a flap disk while waiting for a new drive belt for the sander to arrive.

0331121945.jpg

[Dawgonhawg]

Dano, I don't tell everone I know Scott, so...lol
I met Scott on Powder 365. We live prett close to each other... He has helped me a lot with my powdercoating.
I like your idea of a templet for grinding.. I will have to try it. Maybe tomorrow.

[fergy]

DSC_0172.jpg

DSC_0172.jpg

i just got hold of this for cleaning up my cut parts
seems to work well as it was made to do sheets of stainless
just have to sort out a magnetic table now