Filter
Top Products
12
GENERAL SANDING
SECURE THE WORKPIECE and maintain a FIRM GRIP on the
sander. Movement of the sanding belt against the workpiece
will try to move the work backward and/or the sander forward.
Verify that the switch is “OFF” before connecting the sander to
the power circuit.
1. Hold the sander off the work before starting the motor.
2. Lower the sander to the work, touching the rear part of the belt first. Level
the machine when moving it forward.
3. Guide the machine over the work in overlapping strokes. Allow the sander
to do the work.
4. Avoid applying excessive pressure. The weight of the machine is usually
sufficient for a fast smooth finish. A slight increase in pressure may speed
removal of material, but too much pressure will slow the motor and
decrease removal.
5. Work back and forth over a fairly wide area to obtain an even surface.
6. Do not let the tool tilt. The edge of the belt can make a deep cuts into the
surface.
7. Do not pause in any one spot during the sanding operation. The belt will eat
into the work and make the surface uneven.
8. Lift the tool from the work before turning the motor off.
9. Always be sure that the motor has completely stopped before putting the tool
down.
FAST SANDING ON ROUGH WORK
To smooth a rough surface quickly, use a coarse grit abrasive belt. With the belt
positioned diagonally across the grain, move the tool in the direction of the grain
(Fig. 5).
Overlap the strokes and cover the
entire surface, working from both
sides of the board (angle left and then
angle right.) Smooth the surface by
guiding the sander back and forth
with the grain. Change the belt to a
medium grit and follow the same
procedure.
Finish by thoroughly working the grain
lengthwise. Change again to a fine
grit and repeat. Always finish sanding
with the grain.
SELECTING AN ABRASIVE BELT
The principle abrasive materials used on belts for machine sanding are aluminum
oxide and silicon carbide. Aluminum oxide is the softer of the two, but is tougher
and more suited for woods and soft (non-ferrous) metals. Silicon carbide is
extremely hard and is best suited for surfacing stone, marble, and glass.
Abrasives are classed as open-coated (with grits spaced apart), or closed-
coated (with grits close together). Closed coatings provide hard, fast cutting
action for hardwoods and dense metals, while open coatings are more suited to
soft materials and painted surfaces.
To obtain the best finish, start with a “COARSE” grade of abrasive and change
to “MEDIUM” and then to“FINE” as work progresses.
Fig. 5