Sanding belt direction

neal560sl · Post by **neal560sl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:57 pm

I just aquired a used ss belt sander. I just finished cleaning and lubing the unit and went to install a new sanding belt on it and noticed there is no directional arrows on the inside of the belt. How can I tell the proper direction it should turn? This is a sanding belt from Shopsmith that I just purchased.

Neal

rcplaneguy · Post by **rcplaneguy** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:00 pm

If there are no arrows, assume it can run in either direction.

neal560sl · Post by **neal560sl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:12 pm

That is kind of what I thought but wanted to get someone else to say it too. You use to be able to tell by looking at which end of the belt was overlapped, but these look more like they are butt joined.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:24 pm

neal560sl wrote:That is kind of what I thought but wanted to get someone else to say it too. You use to be able to tell by looking at which end of the belt was overlapped, but these look more like they are butt joined.

Which is why no arrow!:)

Once used, I would mark them if taken off so they can be remounted the same way. Does it matter? I do not know but seems a good thing to not tempt fate.

"Wild Bad Bob" · Post by **"Wild Bad Bob"** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:24 am

Not that the grasshopper should or would dispute the Master, but if they have no arrow, I rotate the rotational direction for 2 reasons;
1; you get the other side of the grit media to cut and get more life out of it.
2; even though I use a belt cleaning eraser, it seem to clean the belt of any build up by itself with opposite direction rotation.
In the true life of the Master and grasshopper, the Master NEVER taught the grasshopper all, because the grasshopper became a Master himself by defeating the Master, which usually was a battle to the death. That is why the Master always held back teaching the grasshopper a few moves, to use at that time!!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:24 am

[quote="rbursek"]Not that the grasshopper should or would dispute the Master, but if they have no arrow, I rotate the rotational direction for 2 reasons]

Do not go fishing with the master b----r little grasshopper!:eek:

Sounds like rotating tires.

Back in olden times reversing the direction of rotation was one of the objectives. Now only front/rear is done(i.e. keep em on the same side so they rotate the same direction).

Guess that makes me 'old school'.

Oooohhhh! Another reason for a reversible motor! What you described would then work on disks!!!

I jest, but I really do not know that it makes any difference.

Just seemed like an unproven, reasonable idea.

"Wild Bad Bob" · Post by **"Wild Bad Bob"** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 12:07 pm

Yes unproven, and not any documented testing.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 12:24 pm

Maybe it depends on exactly which belts are being discussed. The new Shopsmith belts are "clearly marked" as bidirectional.

The older belts were sensitive to direction. If you doubt that, mount and run one backward for awhile. It won't take long.

I am guessing that this is the reason they are marked with "direction of rotation" arrows.

neal560sl · Post by **neal560sl** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:59 pm

I've got to say I am very happy with my belt sander. I actually got to use it today and it works fantastic. On Saturday I made a 7 hour round trip to pick up a SS Mark V 500, Jig Saw, Jointer and Belt Sander that I bought off CL in New Hampshire for $325.00. I mainly wanted the belt sander but figured I could use the jig saw as well. Cleaned and lubed the sander and had to make a new nylon piece in the jigsaw and they both work great! Now I have a Mark V and jointer for sale and with any luck my two items will not have cost me much.