How to use a belt sander?

Belt sanders are powerful tools and the best belt sanders will offer you a lot of different features that will make your tedious sanding jobs more palatable and get them done much quicker without the physical effort sanding by hand would take. There are many different brands of belt sanders such as WEN, Makita and Porter-Cable to name a few. Although there are different brands on the market offering their own unique features, most operate in the same basic way and can perform the same tasks.

The features on the different belt sanders make certain aspects of the belt sander easier to use such as Automatic Belt Tracking or Quick Belt Change Levers.  However the way you use the belt sanders and what they are used for remains relatively similar no matter the brand.

Belt sander safety

No matter which brand of belt sander you buy you need to take some basic safety precautions when using your new belt sander. Below are some of the basic best practice safety precautions you should take. First and foremost you will need to protect your ears as these power tools can be very loud and can damage your ears if you do not take proper precautions. Wear earplugs, as even the quietest of these machines put out quite a noise.

Secondly and very importantly, wear a dust mask. Although these machines have dust bags and offer features that reduce the amount of dust emitted, there is still enough to be unhealthy for you.

How to use a belt Sander to Remove Paint

Using your belt sander to remove paint, varnish or stain is simple. First start with a coarse grit belt, something like a 60-grit belt will work well. Remember the larger the number the finer the grit. You will then move your belt sander over the area you are working on. Work the area over a few time, using finer and finer grits until you reach the point where you are happy with the smoothness of the area you are working on.

Remember, if it is wood you are sanding down, work with the grain of the wood and not counter to it. Also do put pressure on your belt sander, these are heavy enough for you just to guide it over the areas you want sanded, if you put too much pressure on the belt sander you are likely to clog up the belt.

Belt sander tips/tricks

Belt sanders are incredible power tools that can do so much more than just sanding and below there are a few tips and tricks that can allow you to accomplish so much more with your belt sander than you ever thought you could. Belt sanders are fantastic tool sharpeners (click here for the review).

They will sharpen chisels and more in seconds. Be sure you are using the stationary belt sander when performing this task and as you will be working on metal, make sure you take the necessary safety precautions by emptying your dust bag of all sawdust before you start.

Choose your sandpaper before you start your project. Course grit paper is great for cutting down rough surfaces and the fine paper will give your wood a satin smooth look and feel. Remember the higher the number, the coarser the grain.

Make sure when you are working on a piece of wood or sanding down your deck that all metal objects such as screws and nails are removed as they can do some serious irreparable damage to your sanding belt.

When you are going to be using your belt sander, remember to always keep it moving as leaving it in one spot will create a gouge in your material. Moving it from side to side or backward and forwards all the time.

Use your sander gently, your sander is heavy so it will already excerpt pressure on your wood to sand it properly. Putting additional pressure on may damage your material causing gouging which is not good at all. When sanding wood, try to sand with the grain of the wood and not against the grain.

Conclusion

A belt sander is an essential, must have tool in your arsenal. It is incredibly versatile and will take care of all of those seemingly impossible sanding jobs in short order. It is easy and simple to use if and you can do much more than just sand down wood with this great power tool.