How to Repair a Sanding Belt

A sanding belt is your best friend in woodshop. What a dilemma it can be to have it not working properly. But fear not, for the solution is probably really quite simple. Most sanding belts have a tendency to slip off tracking or consume too much dust. You will want to know your torque for your sanding belt as well.

Instructions

Fix your sanding belt easily

1

If the tracking is a problem, then see if the belt is tracking in the middle of the rollers.

2

Loosen the motor.

3

Toe-in or tow-out the rollers. Adjust until the tracking is centered.

4

If there is a problem with tension, simply tighten the belt. When it stops slapping, you know youve repaired the belt sander. Dont tighten too much though. You just want it not to slip.

5

If you determine that dust is the cause of the problem, fixing it is simply a matter of running the belt away from the motor. Make sure you note which direction the belt is running. Also, if you work with an open frame motor, try installing a frame/ shield for the motor. You can purchase a totally enclosed and fan cooled frame from any serious hardware or tools store.

6

If your torque isnt enough, you may need to check the pulley. The head pulley is equal to the torque x the speed/ RPM.