Strip Sander SPT question...

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:40 pm

Anyone have/use the Strip Sander SPT? SS had an e-mail sale notice earlier this week offering the Strip Sander SPT for a decent price. I checked out the 3 videos of Nick using the strip sander and had a question for anyone that has and uses one. Nick showed using a leather strop belt for final sharpening, and the video said that they were available from places like Woodcraft or Woodcraft Supply.... I checked out Woodcraft's web site and didn't find any strop belts. I did a google for them and did find one online source, but their belt was 1-1/4" x 42", and the belts offered by SS for the Strip Sander are 1" x 42". Would a 1-1/4" x 42" leather belt physically fit on the SS Strip Sander and work, or is it just too wide? If it's too wide, (or even if it would work) does anyone have any other sources that they've found for leather strop belts that would work on the SS Strip Sander?

Just doing my part to keep SS in business...

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:48 pm

Hi,

The wider belt should work. I think if you check in past posts both Nick and I have referenced places to get belts so a search might be in order... you might want to use the google search engine as it might do a better job then the forums one. Search would look like "belt nick site:www.shopsmith.net"

Ed

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:58 pm

Ed, thanks much for the pointer... I should have known to do a search before I asked. Consider me self-chastised.

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:35 pm

Hi,

I was in hurry before but I have gotten the belts from Lee Valley before and they are thin and need a little break in to work well. To be honest I've forgotten the other place but they sell a sharpening set up and the wider belts so that may be the one you found. I got my strip sander used so the other owner(s) and not been so careful and manged to enlarge the opening for me as well as provide a burn area inside by not cleaning the sawdust out before grinding some metal and well I guess they smelled the smoke and took care of it before it did much damage....

Anyway if you haven't found the thread yet it is at:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=1106

Ed

tom_k/mo wrote:Ed, thanks much for the pointer... I should have known to do a search before I asked. Consider me self-chastised.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:17 pm

Tom:

My son and I purchased strip sanders after being impressed with this tool's ability to sharpen lathe and bench chisels. My son has a leather stropping belt and as soon as I can ask him who his source was, I'll PM you.

We recently had a "sharpening night" and set up the strip sander, with sharpening attachment, on the Shopsmith Power Station. Since the power station runs the belt in the downward direction we could not use the stropping belt. We went through the grids, finally sharpening with an 800 grid belt. I then, by hand, gave the edge a final hone on a 6000 water stone with a nagura stone slurry. This produced a really "scary sharp" edge. I may not even bother to get a leather stropping belt.

paul heller · Post by **paul heller** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:41 pm

8iowa wrote:My son has a leather stropping belt and as soon as I can ask him who his source was, I'll PM you.

Don't PM - I'd like to know as well. Please post the answer here instead.

Paul

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:30 pm

paul heller wrote:Don't PM - I'd like to know as well. Please post the answer here instead.

Paul

Better yet BOTH!

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:59 pm

The larger belt is at:
http://www.chippingaway.com/WoodCarving ... rpener.htm

The leevalley belts are at:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... at=1,43072

You might also note the belts to 1200 which is what I use before going to leather. And also get some the green honing stick for the leather belt.

The place Nick mentioned is at:
http://belchercarvingsupply.tripod.com/
I think you will have to call for information.

Of course you could always check my previous post which gives you a link to a previous posting on all of this...

BTW the rotation direction of the sanding belts/leather belts is critical... you might get lucky for a while but sooner or later you will catch them with the sharp edge.... The shopsmith unit needs to be mounted to the main output side of the machine so the belt passes from below going towards the top. I understand Bill has a method of mounting a hub through the cover and letting you use the stripsander on the other side in a backwards position.

Ed

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:19 am

Either way (extra shaft mounted to left or normal mount to right), you work from the BACK side of the SS(side opposite side with power switch).

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:10 am

Yep that is how it works so if you want to have a switch at hand you need to buy one and plug the shopsmith into that as a safety off... just like when you try to cut a large chunk of plywood and the switch is covered over by the wood... of if you are sitting using the jig saw and are out of arms reach of he switch or using the drum sander on the end of the belt sander again out of reach. Being safe can mean spending money for some extra stuff.

Ed

jpg40504 wrote:Either way (extra shaft mounted to left or normal mount to right), you work from the BACK side of the SS(side opposite side with power switch).