belt sander belts

[sunnybob]

Does anyone make their own sander belts?

Because my supply chain is usually 2 weeks or more, I'm looking to make my own. I have a 4" sander and the belt strips are readily available here on long rolls, but no made up belts small enough for my machine.

I've just tried a you tube version where you overlap the strip 20mm and superglue. It kind of worked, but even spending time filing off the grit from the overlap it was still very bumpy as it went round. Plus of course the files arent going to last very long.

 

[woodpig]

You will probably need to make yourself a little jig but I've heard folks have had some success with bonding the ends of the belt together using reinforced parcel tape (the clear stuff with visible filaments in it) and polyurethane Gorilla glue. Others suggest using polyurethane glue with Tyvek.

 

[sunnybob]

I made one today, and it was stupidly easy to make. But the bump of the join made it very difficult to sand smoothly.

I just cut each end at 15 degrees, filed a 20mm strip at one end, and used superglue.

I put a piece of paper between the belt sides and over the join to stop the superglue from binding the belt or the club hammer I put on top while the glue dried. Thats it, apart from the bump.
I tried to get the reinforced parcel tape today but no luck.
I wondered if any one had perfected it.

 

[Rorschach]

I tried making my own, glue joints work well but are time consuming and bumpy as you say. I tried the tape method but never found a tape that works for long. Commerical makers use a special tape that is heat treated to cure, the tape is very expensive to buy.

 

[sunnybob]

I've been surfing, looking to maybe lay in a stock. I cant believe the price differences. anywhere from £2 to £14 per belt!
The correct ones for mine are a fiver a time, plus postage.

I want grits of 80, 150, and 240. I am surprised that many ebay sellers only sell 60 or at best 80 grit.

 

[marcros]

Try bnd abrasives.

 

[woodpig]

I've just ordered a few belts that I've not tried before that are very cheap. They don't actually fit my machine (too long) but if the quality is good enough then I plan to adapt my machine to take them by adding a jockey wheel. Anyone know where I can buy a single long board wheel? Any diameter but needs to be at least 51mm wide, preferably with bearings.

 

[sunnybob]

Try bnd abrasives.

Just tried to find my size on that site. I'm obviously not technical enough. I had to choose from about a hundred grit types that I have never heard of.
I hate clever web sites.

 

[sunnybob]

This site is quite impressive. I can actually understand it, AND the prices are right.

http://www.hollisonsupply.co.uk/sanding ... 5mm-1.html

 

[ColeyS1]

What size are you after ? Best belts I've found so far for performance, cost and smooth ride are mirka belts.
We had a 'Sait' sandpaper rep come in to demonstrate his products. His hand sandpaper was superb, his belts however were fkin awful !!! It seems like what should be a fairly crucial feature of a belt (not bumpy) is still done poorly by some belt manufacturers. Fair play to you for doing it yourself

Coley

 

[sunnybob]

I need 100 x 916.

They are available (at a price) in the UK but not here in cyprus. So I have to plan 2 to 3 weeks ahead, and unless I buy a lot, the shipping costs double the price.
Continuous belt is widely available here, and seems to be a lot cheaper than the UK, so its sensible to make my own, I just need to find the right method.

 

[woodenstx]

Evostick contact adhesive might be good.. the green can (proper lairy stuff).

I just looked where I normally get my belts from (ITS) but they dont go upto 916mm

 

[monkeybiter]

Might be overkill but if you could find a cloth backing, glue the belt to the backing strip of the same length but 180 degrees 'out of phase', so that when fully glued the entire belt has a backing but the joins in the backing and the belt are at opposite sides of the 'circle'. Might use a lot of backing but there should be no bump.

 

[No skills]

Can you not butt join the belts and superglue some fabric across the back of the joint, a long piece of fabric would help eliminate some of the 'bump'.
I see screwfix sell the sizes you want but not the grits (up to 120 only), perhaps firms don't see the larger bed sanders as finishing tools (?).

 

[sunnybob]

Mike, I think if I double up on the belts then theres no cost saving.

Its strange, but I have a charnwood 4" belt and 6" disc sanding machine. I never thought of it as large till now.

I cant work out why every builders merchant has 100 metre rolls of many different grits, but they just give me the blank stare when I ask what to join it with.
I am now looking for some of that clear parcel tape thats reinforced with fibre glass threads, I reckon that superglued to the under sides will work.
How do you serious woodworkers use those rolls?

 

[Shrubby]

That belt size is very common in metalworking, try looking for Linisher belts
Mirka, Sia, Hermes, 3M, Klingspor all make good quality belts - see if you have a local distributor
Matt