Thread: Clogged drum sander belts

How is your feed rate, and how light are your passes? I only ever seem to have these kinds of issues when i'm trying to take too much off, or the feed speed is not slow enough.

Passes were very light with the drum barely marking the board, feed rate was 40 on the dial

I read somewhere, that to clean the gum off the belts is to use acetone and a hand held wire brush, repeat if necessary, then use the belt cleaner stick or the soles of desert boots (if you've access to a Salvo shop) to clean off the remainder. Try not to let it get stuck on there too long.
Biggest problem with Pinus is the gum that comes off it, no matter how long it's been.
Kryn

Resin in pine does tend to clog pretty quick. Oven cleaner will generally remove it.

ok, Thanks for the replies, I'll give them a try.

Save old thongs to use as belt cleaners. Sappy pine can be a problem.

For the unknowing how do you use oven cleaner to clean the belt. Oven cleaner is rather caustic so I am not sure of the process. Is there a soak brush rinse process. Any particular oven cleaner. Eg spray or brush on etc.
Thanks
Lyle.

I have soaked my belts in fabric softer for 3 days and just use a stiff kitchen or laundry brush to clean. Then hang on the hills hoist for a whole sunny day. I do a lot of Indian rosewood and it gums up the paper so I have a piece of silky oak I run through and it seams to remove the lite gumming of a few rosewood passes. I will be trying out a new product in the next few weeks that maybe a game changer to drum sanding will let you know how it goes.
Peter


Acoustic and Electric guitars and Basses.

Originally Posted by scuzyboy

I will be trying out a new product in the next few weeks that maybe a game changer to drum sanding will let you know how it goes.

Look forward to your report!
Currently use a spray can and leave 30 mins or so and just hose off, scrubbing brush if necessary but not usually.

Oh paper off the drum. Obvious now
Looking forward to report too.

I normally use metholated spirits and a not too course wire brush to clean gum from my large 20 inch sander disc if it gets clogged up with timber sap . Don't skimp on the metho ,let it soak in then brush away the crud . The metho evaporates quickly and you are ready to rock and roll

Thanks for the replies. I will get some acetone tomorrow & try that. I will also try the other solvents/methods mentioned as soon as we get some sun to dry the belts, its still raining here. Its probably a long shot but is there any chance the timber has taken enough moisture from the air after a couple of very wet weeks to cause/compound the problem?

I think it's more the oil and the tannin that cause the clogging more so than moisture


Acoustic and Electric guitars and Basses.