Thread: useing a small bandsaw as a 6mm to 20mm belt sander

I do not see any reason not to adapt your bandsaw for sanding.
When I bought mine (Toolex) many many years ago it came with a sanding belt as well as bandsaw blade. I no longer have the belt and did not actually use it.

Go do it! nothing to lose as it can be a dual purpose machine.

regards, Ned.

PS many years = 30 ? maybe

G'Day Col,
I have an old craftmaster hobby 3 wheel bandsaw, under a pile of stuff;
anyway it originally came with 6mm sanding belts...
It was also 3 speed so you'd be able to use the slowest speed for the sanding.
Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by Black Ned

I do not see any reason not to adapt your bandsaw for sanding.
When I bought mine (Toolex) many many years ago it came with a sanding belt as well as bandsaw blade. I no longer have the belt and did not actually use it.

Go do it! nothing to lose as it can be a dual purpose machine.

regards, Ned.

PS many years = 30 ? maybe

THANKS Ned will keep you up to date with my efforts
Colbra

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Col,
I have an old craftmaster hobby 3 wheel bandsaw, under a pile of stuff;
anyway it originally came with 6mm sanding belts...
It was also 3 speed so you'd be able to use the slowest speed for the sanding.
Cheers, crowie

Thats great Pete it would be easy for you to make a 20 mm sanding belt they are a vey handy thing Big Rig has one the same https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/tu...sander-156438/
Colbra

Hello,

I did the same thing with my 3 wheeled bandsaw. I had some custom made belts done up and it works great! Useless as a bandsaw as the 3rd wheel puts too much pressure on the blade and breaks it. But, as a sander I use it all the time.

Brad

Originally Posted by BradB

Hello,

I did the same thing with my 3 wheeled band saw. I had some custom made belts done up and it works great! Useless as a band saw as the 3rd wheel puts too much pressure on the blade and breaks it. But, as a sander I use it all the time.

Brad

HI Brad how do you think I will go with the small two wheel band saw as per my previous pictures I am waiting to get some 6mm & 10MM belts
Colbra

Originally Posted by colbra

HI Brad how do you think I will go with the small two wheel band saw as per my previous pictures I am waiting to get some 6mm & 10MM belts
Colbra

I don't forsee any problems. Just back off the guides or remove them all together as the belt will touch them if they are too close. It does a nice job of filing down the guides. I made a small block of wood to fit behind the belt so there is a flat surface to sand with. The belt does flex somewhat when you press the wood up against the belt without it. It is the same width as the belt and just clamps to the table. Sort of an L shape bracket.

Hi All
Just a quick up date on things I am trying to make a belt to suit the bandsaw I have broken two so far..... have another one glued and clamped up will try again in morning
Colbra

you need the backing plate made of steel rod to go through the table and fix underneath it, that way you can sand inside a U shape thats only say 5mm wide and 100mm long(1/4 by 4ins. for you blokes that speak funny)
You dont need to change wheels on the saw, band saw wheels are curved anyway so the new belts will centre themselves on the wheels. Like any belt make sure you get the direction right
Phil

Originally Posted by Prime mover

you need the backing plate made of steel rod to go through the table and fix underneath it, that way you can sand inside a U shape thats only say 5mm wide and 100mm long(1/4 by 4ins. for you blokes that speak funny)
You dont need to change wheels on the saw, band saw wheels are curved anyway so the new belts will centre themselves on the wheels. Like any belt make sure you get the direction right
Phil

Hi Phil thanks for that advice on using a steel peg and the size of the wheels not mattering.
But if you read my last post I am having ago at making my own till I see if it works would there be a right and wrong way to the ones I have made as far as putting them on
Col

All finished works well! just have to add backing post to fence
Will now purchase 8mm sanding belts and make up wider wheels to suit 20mm sanding belt.
This part of the project will not be done till after the I clear the deck on my existing projects namely the road grader.
Colbra

G'Day Col,
You may need a small nylon block up against the fence to protect it while supporting the belt.
Cheers, crowie

Hi,

Just to clarify, the backing plate for the belt sander should run along the length of the sand paper, this allows you to apply pressure onto the sander as required and move items of unusual shapes either side, ie if you are doing the edges of a rocking horse head for instance.

The plate is a piece of metal, I used a piece about 3mm thick and 12mm wide for a 15mm belt, this gives it strength and with the belt been slightly wider than the plate you can then get into corners and any edges better.

I have attached some photos showing how I have attached the plate above and below, I also used a bit of U iron to make a guide for the belt to feed down through in order to keep it stable on the plate.

I have been using this particular belt sander (ex bland saw) for over 20yrs, it still has the original backing plate that I fitted when I first modified it.

I hope this helps clarify how to fit a backing plate to a bandsaw modified into a belt sander.

Phil

Originally Posted by Prime mover

Hi,

Just to clarify, the backing plate for the belt sander should run along the length of the sand paper, this allows you to apply pressure onto the sander as required and move items of unusual shapes either side, ie if you are doing the edges of a rocking horse head for instance.

The plate is a piece of metal, I used a piece about 3mm thick and 12mm wide for a 15mm belt, this gives it strength and with the belt been slightly wider than the plate you can then get into corners and any edges better.

I have attached some photos showing how I have attached the plate above and below, I also used a bit of U iron to make a guide for the belt to feed down through in order to keep it stable on the plate.

I have been using this particular belt sander (ex bland saw) for over 20yrs, it still has the original backing plate that I fitted when I first modified it.

I hope this helps clarify how to fit a backing plate to a bandsaw modified into a belt sander.

Phil

Thanks so much Phil for sharing this information I will modify my sander /ex bandsaw I am going to order the 8mm sanding belts through the week after seeing you pictures of the modified three wheel band saw I am going to start looking around for one of those as well.
I mentioned at the end of my last post that I was going to clear the deck before doing any more on the small belt sander project but I will put your ideas into action first.
I started a T&J road grader in January this year but I have spent most of the year traveling about the place. I have a window now until February next year and I hope to have it finished before I go away.
My work rate in extremely slow I may only work for an hour two at the most then wonder off to have a yarn to someone in the street or down the boat ramp. Looking back I can see why Telstra / PMG got a bit disappointed in me after my forty year career with them.
Thanks Again Col