How to Make Improvements to a Belt Sander/Grinder
The small, inexpensive ($80+) 4″ X 36″ belt/disc sanders seem to me to be one of the best ways I’ve spent a few bucks in my shop. Cleaning up some stock, polishing a flat surface, or similar tasks is usually quick. It will hollow grind a wood chisel very nicely. Switching from a grit of 80 to one of 240 is just a matter of a minute. It does, however, stall easily, but for the price…
My biggest gripe has been that the 1/2″ bar that supports the disc sanding table had more give to it than I cared for. Holding work on the table tended to spring the table away from the disk.
This problem was solved by putting a 1/2″ bolt, with a nut and washer directly under the supporting rod. My sander is bolted to the wooden table top securely.
Directly under the center of the supporting rod I drilled a 15/32″ hole and tapped it. The bolt was adjusted to touch the supporting rod – Voila. The disk sanding table is now quite rigid.
Author: Paul Pierce
