Shopsmith Belt Sander ?

[roy_okc]

Thanks All for the comments. I'll definitely be on the lookout for a belt sander with all the positive comments. My thoughts have been confirmed about the speed adjustment being a huge benefit and allowing to hold small pieces with finger/hand without getting away and shooting across the room.

[JPG]

Thanks All for the comments. I'll definitely be on the lookout for a belt sander with all the positive comments. My thoughts have been confirmed about the speed adjustment being a huge benefit and allowing to hold small pieces with finger/hand without getting away and shooting across the room.

Does the fact that Mathas Wandel(sp???) uses one mean anything? One of the few machines not 'home made' in his stable.

[Gene Howe]

[quote="JPG"

Does the fact that Mathas Wandel(sp???) uses one mean anything? One of the few machines not 'home made' in his stable. [/quote]

I think that if he feels he can't improve it, he leaves it alone.
I bought mine from Bill Mayo and wish I'd have bought one much sooner.

[dusty]

I totally agree with all of the positive comments about the Shopsmith belt sander. I just wish that the table was a bit larger; about twice its' current size.

[algale]

Actually, Mathias Wandel is ambivalent about his Shopsmith belt sander:

"In front of the lathe is my belt sander. It's a slightly odd shaped piece of equipment, and is actually a ShopSmith accessory on its own base. I find it's nearly impossible to set the tracking on it to keep the belt from wandering into one side or the other. But overall, it's a handy tool to have." http://woodgears.ca/workshop/basement.html

I have had tracking problems from time to time but a recent belt change has cured it at least temporarily.

[wa2crk]

Dusty
Why not use the two bolt holes in the factory table to attach a plywood table temporarily? I have done this and it is a good solution for a short time.
AS for tracking problems try to even out the load on the belt by not sanding in one spot all the time. If you try to sand in the same spot on the belt it will eventually stretch the belt and cause uneven tensioning and tracking problems.
Bill V

[mountainbreeze]

Although I am not a noob to Shopsmith, I have to ask simply because I don't know and have never used one: What can you do with a belt sander that you can't do with the disk sander?

[wa2crk]

The belt always has the belt moving down against the table. Did you ever have the stock come in contact with the upward section of the disc? SURPRISE, SURPRISE. Actually, comic relief aside , the same things can be done on the disc as on the belt sander except for a limited amount of sanding inside of curved surfaces. Also sanding on the back of the belt without platen support for some sanding on external curved surfaces.
Bill

[algale]

Although I am not a noob to Shopsmith, I have to ask simply because I don't know and have never used one: What can you do with a belt sander that you can't do with the disk sander?

Where the sanding is on a surface that will be seen, the belt sander sands in a straight line, whereas the disc sander sands in an arc, partly across the grain. The conical disc sander does not have this issue.

[JPG]

Add to all the above, the increased surface area of the belt. 6 x 48 = 288 square inches whereas the disk(12") only has 113 square inches; more than 2 1/2 times as much. Also more time between passes by the workpiece(less heat buildup in the belt). JMHO, one reason I prefer the aluminum/psa disks is better heat dissipation.

FWIW, the disk(flat) has a built in variable 'feet per minute' feature without changing rotational speed. Faster at the periphery and slower at the center. Also auto reverse(sorta).