What belt sanders do you guys have/like and what do you generally use them for?
I'm thinking about picking one up, but not sure what all I could use it for.

 

harbor freight good enough for sharpening the tungsten

 

Burrking by far one of the best ones out there i used it for everithing in school there also very $$$$$

 

LOL. I use a fine grit bench grinder wheel for that. Works fine, but it's starting to get some mean grooves.

 

I have used them for shaping and deburring tubing. Biggest thing I have noticed is others buy cheap ones with low powered motors which always bog down. If you get one I would make sure to get one with a larger motor because always having to limit pressure is annoying. I usually use it on intercooler tubing or on headers/exhaust where I am just trying to take off small amounts and get a final fit.

 

Deburring and sharpening tungstens mainly for me. Works really well for deburring tubing if you're building a header. I don't do much fab work so I don't have a huge list of uses either...

 

Most quality belt sanders are expensive, or dont have a proper size motor. The enco planer is def a good value and comes with a 2hp motor. If i could do it again id prolly buy that.

However, i built a little homemade jew special. Snagged a harbor freight pos 6x48 on craigs for 50 bucks. Trashed the stand and all. Bolted the top to a small 1/4 steel frame that i cut and pooped on, bought a 3hp 3400 rpm motor from mcmaster carr, and then just put 4 bolts to hold the motor down. At first the speed was way too high, and it shredded belts (as seen in picture) and was just scary to use lol. Once i put a smaller pulley on it (like 3 bucks) it works really well, no alignment problems and have been using it for over 2 years, no skipping and very smooth operation with lots of torque.

This is a horrible pic, i've since put legs on the frame and taken it off the table and bed lined it. But you get the idea.


As far as using the sander out of the box. I wouldnt lol. The motors say "1hp" they're actually 1/2hp. Unless you use the force of a fairy women when you're pressing the metal on the sander you'll stop the belt with no trouble at all. Either that, or you better plan to have a shitload of time on your hands standing there.

 

x2 on this. I'm looking into getting a good one as well. I was looking into "The General" ones. friend has one says it works pretty well.

 

I can never find used stuff i need. Decided to start this group. Hope people find it useful.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/821068997908026/

 

I found an old craftsmen one for next to nothing at a local auction, it works ok for what I have. You need to have good belts if you're going to do anything with stainless though, but for Aluminum it's just fine.

However, might do the 3HP motor thing and make a monster out of it lol.

 

I picked this one up.


http://www.general.ca/products/1_gen...er/15-005.html
It has an 18 amp motor that is more than enough for fab work. I have decked manifolds with it and you can really lean into it if you want (but if you are, you have the wrong belt for what your doing)

The platen is long enough to be able to face an inline 6 manifold, wide enough to face 4" exhaust pipe without the pipe being edge to edge and is awesome.


The sander was about a grand before taxes, and the belts aren't cheap either. I ordered custom belts that are pretty costly. (25-35$ each) Not pictured.

 

That is sexy

 

Find a free treadmill on craigslist, on that is motorized. Strip it down to the rollers motor frame,baseboard and controller, you will have to relocate the controller. Shorten the longest section of the frame and baseboard to the length of to whatever size belt you want to use. Then you can narrow the rollers, move the bearing, or use a couple of belts across. If you use multiple belts tape the backs of the belts to one another. Last make a dust cover for the motor.

When you are done you have an adjustable speed stronger than HF cheap sander

 

I picked up the good old harbor freight 6x48 because it was all i could afford. I put a ceramic 50 grit belt on it and im pretty happy. I have a dedicated 20amp line i put in my shop with like 10 or 8 ga wire so maybe that helps. I did the flange below which was warped good, in about three minutes with no issues.

 

It does help having a nice sander.

Is the platen long enough for the flange to be fully on it on the 6x 48?

 

It does, almost lol. It is about 1/4" shy. Works like a beast and the creamic belt rocks. The belt it came with didn't work well. Please ignore those welds, they were my first ones

 

Here is the pile of metal it ripped through in those three minutes.

 

Our original Jet 6x48, purchased in 2002, is still going today. Literally 12 years of daily abuse. We've replaced the on/off switch atleast 4 times, and we've worn out about 3 plattens. Other then that... beast.