Old sanding belts

jimhender

Hello,

I'm new to the forum. I have a question regarding sanding belts.

I was given an old Shopsmith by my Grandpa and it came with about 20 belts for the belt sander (6x48). Unfortunately, after sitting unused for more than a decade, the glue on the seams of the belt has let go and the belts all come apart as soon as I try to use them.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I could fix the seams? :confused:

JPG

Before they come apart, apply packing tape across the joint on the back side.

No guarantees, but worth a try.

chapmanruss

jimhender,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

Unfortunately, old unused Sanding Belts are not very good for use. Storage conditions will affect how long they can be good for before having problems like yours. The same is true for Sanding Drums. Some Sanding Belts are directional so make sure you are mounting them correctly.

You could try JPG suggestion and hope the packing tape gets good adhesion. U Haul has a good adhesion packing tape we found when moving. Better than most. Avoid thicker tapes like duct tape. Do not over tension the belt.

Sanding Belts and Drums are items that are not good to stock up on for more distant future use.

edma194

You can get 6x48" belts from Harbor Freight at pretty low cost, I think about $15 for a pack of 5 belts. They aren't the greatest belts but they work. The tape may work. I have also seen a video on how to make your own belts from rolls of sandpaper and instructions for a glue joint. I kind of doubt that will work out on belts in the condition you describe.

jsburger

The above post is SPAM. The poster added a hidden link in the quoted part of the post. Reported.

The post I am referring to has been removed by the moderator. Thank you for your work.

HopefulSSer

jsburger wrote The above post is SPAM. The poster added a hidden link in the quoted part of the post. Reported.

Boom

edma194

jsburger wrote The above post is SPAM. The poster added a hidden link in the quoted part of the post. Reported.

To be clear about this, the post above yours is now gone.

GetterDone

edma194 wrote You can get 6x48" belts from Harbor Freight at pretty low cost, I think about $15 for a pack of 5 belts. They aren't the greatest belts but they work.

Question about price of belts verses quality.

Those HF belts are $3.oo each and I shop there often.

So, with free shipping from SS now their belts average $7.6_ to $8.00.

In your opinion are the ones from SS better all-around for the price?

They are probably worth the extra price.

I am not trying to Hijack the thread. :)

I just got a belt sander a couple weeks ago.

Hopefully this will add to the thread info. :cool:

edma194

GetterDone wrote In your opinion are the ones from SS better all-around for the price?

I think so with current prices. I have used those Shopsmith belts and they last longer and cut better. They also clean well.

If you grind metal that could tear or rapidly wear out a section of the belt you might prefer to risk a cheaper Harbor Freight belt instead.

GetterDone

edma194 wrote
GetterDone wrote In your opinion are the ones from SS better all-around for the price?
I think so with current prices. I have used those Shopsmith belts and they last longer and cut better. They also clean well.

If you grind metal that could tear or rapidly wear out a section of the belt you might prefer to risk a cheaper Harbor Freight belt instead.

This is exactly what I need to hear. :)

I will get Caught from time to time sanding a piece of metal. :D

I try to be very conservative with sandpaper and let it do the work. ;)

So, with that info, 1 HF set and a Few different grits from SS.

Thanks

chapmanruss

GetterDone,

I have both the Shopsmith 6" Belt Sander and the Shopsmith Strip Sander besides Sanding Disks, Drum Sanders, etc. I do use the Strip Sander with the Chisel Sharpener Attachment to sharpen Lathe Chisels. I have used it on a lot of Chisels and have yet to wear out a set of belts used for that task.

As you said

I try to be very conservative with sandpaper and let it do the work.

I get Lathe Chisels with many of the Shopsmith Tools I buy to restore so a lot of chisels to sharpen. I have also used the Sharpening Guide that uses the 12" Sanding Disk and those last a long time too. The Shopsmith Sandpaper stands up to metal use and is a quality product. You may have noticed that Shopsmith sells Sandpaper in different sizes that do not fit the Shopsmith Belt, Drum and Sanding Disk sizes.

JPG

A shopsmith vendor using the shopsmith brand(a mutual agreement I assume). I have my suspicions who the vendor is, but far too speculative to divulge.

GetterDone

chapmanruss wrote GetterDone,

I have both the Shopsmith 6" Belt Sander and the Shopsmith Strip Sander besides Sanding Disks, Drum Sanders, etc. I do use the Strip Sander with the Chisel Sharpener Attachment to sharpen Lathe Chisels. I have used it on a lot of Chisels and have yet to wear out a set of belts used for that task.

As you said

I try to be very conservative with sandpaper and let it do the work.
I get Lathe Chisels with many of the Shopsmith Tools I buy to restore so a lot of chisels to sharpen. I have also used the Sharpening Guide that uses the 12" Sanding Disk and those last a long time too. The Shopsmith Sandpaper stands up to metal use and is a quality product. You may have noticed that Shopsmith sells Sandpaper in different sizes that do not fit the Shopsmith Belt, Drum and Sanding Disk sizes.

Thanks chapmanruss

I will get SS paper on my next order.

I did notice they carry other sizes, At first thought (Are there attachments I am not aware of?) :D

I need to fix my signature like you have done. :)

I have the 6" belt sander and the strip sander is in the scope of things I want.

Since my weekend purchase, I have 2 Sharpening jigs now.

I have several lathe chisel sets also. ;)

JPG

Just to be clear, I was referencing SS branded abrasives available apart from SS in the post above.

GetterDone

JPG wrote Just to be clear, I was referencing SS branded abrasives available apart from SS in the post above.

Okay

I see. :)

rlkeeney

I use Harbor Freight belts because having a local source for them trumps everything else. When working on a project that must be done on time and the belt breaks or tears, I don't want to wait days for a replacement. I need it now. Harbor Freight is my only local source. I learned the hard way to limit the number of spares I have.

edma194

chapmanruss wrote GetterDone,

I have both the Shopsmith 6" Belt Sander and the Shopsmith Strip Sander besides Sanding Disks, Drum Sanders, etc. I do use the Strip Sander with the Chisel Sharpener Attachment to sharpen Lathe Chisels. I have used it on a lot of Chisels and have yet to wear out a set of belts used for that task.

Russ, to clarify my point, it's not sharpening chisels or other edges that can ruin a belt. I use the belt sander for coarse grinding steel and aluminum, rounding corners, radiusing edges, removing large amounts of metal sometimes. It's very easy to wear a stripe into a belt from heat or aggressive cutting, or catch a rough edge that will cut into the belt. This kind of work also breaks down coarse grit on the belt rapidly. The disk sander is much better for this kind of work because the paper is glued to a solid plate, but it's sometimes easier to work with the belt sander because of the constant speed across the belt.

Also, like rlkeeney mentions, they are available at Harbor Freight all the time, no need to wait for Shopsmith or other vendors to ship belts to me.

chapmanruss

Ed,

With what you are sometimes using the Belt Sander for your comment in your previous post below makes good sense.

If you grind metal that could tear or rapidly wear out a section of the belt you might prefer to risk a cheaper Harbor Freight belt instead.

I agree that it is better to use a cheaper belt or sanding disk paper for that kind of work. I have done metal grinding too with the Disk Sander. And yes, I got mine at Harbor Freight.