Strip Sander SPT question...

alaskanexile · Post by **alaskanexile** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:57 am

When I was in need of some belts for my strip sander Shopsmith was out of most grits. Ended up getting both the sanding belts and leather belt from Klingspor. Good service, price and products.
Roger

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:34 am

When I ordered the strip sander the other day, I asked the lady that took my order if she knew if a 1-1/4" wide leather belt would be physically too wide for the unit. She didn't know, and I asked her if she could check and e-mail me back, and she agreed to. I got this in this morning's mail.

The leather strop you are looking at is 1/4" too wide. 1" is as wide as you can go. Even if you cut it down the leather is thicker than the thickness of the abrasive belts we sell. Be cause of this the angle to the working surface is different and the only place the leather will touch the chisel is at the back of the bevel so it won't touch the cutting edge.
Unfortunately we do not know where Nick got a lot of the items he uses and he is not here at this time to ask. It is possible you can go to the forum and see if anyone there knows.
I believe it is http://www.shopsmith.net/forums
Thank you

I can understand if it is too wide, but the comment about being too thick was confusing. Anyone care to comment on this response?

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:36 am

My son reported that he purchased finer grit sharpening belts and leather stropping belts from Lee Valley;

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

He said that the leather belt is a little undersized and hard to get on. However, they stretch with use, and according to Nick Engler, eventually get too loose to use.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:06 pm

But doesn't leather shrink after it gets wet?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:08 pm

" I believe it is www.shopsmith.forums" I BELIEVE IT IS?????? She isn't sure?? Who is she asking for answers??? Where's the 'expertise' needed to field user questions?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:09 pm

beeg wrote:But doesn't leather shrink after it gets wet?

NOT Linearly.

BTW Isn't the sharpening angle adjustable???? The thickness would have to be huge to change the angle much!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:51 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:When I ordered the strip sander the other day, I asked the lady that took my order if she knew if a 1-1/4" wide leather belt would be physically too wide for the unit. She didn't know, and I asked her if she could check and e-mail me back, and she agreed to. I got this in this morning's mail.

I can understand if it is too wide, but the comment about being too thick was confusing. Anyone care to comment on this response?

Yes. I can answer that. Please realize my Strip Sander is brand new and I've only used it for 5 minutes to try it out.

Took some measurements before coming in for lunch and found the opening in the throat of the table measures 1 27/64" X 21/32" . Therefore a belt 1 1/4" wide would fit through the table. The there are other measurements you will need to consider, but they will come later.

The space in front of a platen to the front edge of the table throat is 1/8" . Therefore without table modification, a belt that is 1/8" thick will scrape/rub on the table. The good news here is - the table at that part of the throat has been beveled from below and is only about a 16th" thick. It should be very easy to widen the throat to fit a wider belt.

Other measurements that may come into play with a belt 1 1/4" wide are: Drive wheel = 1 1/32" wide
idler wheels = 1" wide
Tracking wheel = 1" wide
At this point I am thinking that an inch and a quarter could work as there is some space on all sides of these wheels.

Another issue that I had. the hole in the case to accept the table control knob was too small, or threaded wrong. I had to tap (Thread chase) it with a 5/16 X 18 tap. It now works great and to the best of my eyesight has good continuous threads. I called Shopsmith and reported this error yesterday. Hope other machines don't have this problem. Hmmm! Maybe this is like my issues with the new Gates belt.

NOTE: (Changing to safety issues) In another post by 8iowa, couldn't help but notice they got sharp chisels using the downward rotation. Take a look at this - and read the note below the pictures]http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... ingatt.htm[/url]

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:13 pm

OK I give up!

I have no idea why no one is will to go to the location I posted where it was ask of Nick if the wider belt would work and he gave an answer. Ask where he got his belt, he gave an answer...

I've already posted the lee valley address as well as the other two pertaining to this and yet the confusion goes on????????????

If no one reads my posts and doesn't feel like clicking a link to get the answers then let me know, I have better things to do then searching this stuff out for you.

Now how was that for a RANT.

ED

alaskanexile · Post by **alaskanexile** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:30 pm

Klingspor's bels are the correct thickness and width.
Roger

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:42 pm

reible wrote:OK I give up!

I have no idea why no one is will to go to the location I posted where it was ask of Nick if the wider belt would work and he gave an answer. Ask where he got his belt, he gave an answer...

I've already posted the lee valley address as well as the other two pertaining to this and yet the confusion goes on????????????

If no one reads my posts and doesn't feel like clicking a link to get the answers then let me know, I have better things to do then searching this stuff out for you.

Now how was that for a RANT.

ED

Do not think Nick is around often enough to provide a timely reply.