belt /finger sanders...belt desctructs in no time

[steveo3002]

treated myself to an aldi finger /belt sander , seems really handy while the belt stays on

i seem to have them self destruct or just leap off the rollers really often ...is this just a thing with these tools or is there a knack to using them

 

[Seadog]

Make sure you instal the belt in the correct direction.

 

[James1979]

Your roller bearing in the end of the nose is getting hot and melting the tape that joins the belt I would say.

It’s leaping off as you need to adjust the tracking. There will be a little screw.

Mine does it. I just use it in bursts or set up an airline fired at the nose. The pro ones have an air jet to cool it.

You can rejoin them with fibreglass tape

 

[MoreWellie]

Mines a mcallister but same basic theory
1. get the blue zirconium belts
2. install belt in right direction
3. set the side adjuster so the belt runs in the centre
4. don't press too hard on the job, let the machine do the work

Edit: I got mine from here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144372529303

 

[steveo3002]

Your roller bearing in the end of the nose is getting hot and melting the tape that joins the belt I would say.

i was thinking nah no way i only run it a few mins here and there

just out in the shed fiddling with it and ran it say 20 secs with no sanding and the bearing was hot enough to burn you , so yeah i missed the memo about oiling that , seems a bit cooler now ive dripped some engine oil on it

 

[fizzy]

Mines a mcallister but same basic theory
1. get the blue zirconium belts
2. install belt in right direction
3. set the side adjuster so the belt runs in the centre
4. don't press too hard on the job, let the machine do the work

Edit: I got mine from here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144372529303

Belts make all the difference!
The blue belts are awesome. But beware they aren't all the same.

13 x 457mm Zirconium Sanding Belts 40 / 60 / 80 / 120g Power File Long Lasting | eBay UK

DO NOT USE THESE BELTS WITH BLACK AND DECKER KA900E THIS MACHINE ACCEPTS 13 X 451MM SIZE NOT 13 X 457MM. Size: 13mm x 457mm. Fits 13mm x 457mm Sanders & File Sanders. Zirconium Powerfile Belts. 120 grit fine.

www.ebay.co.uk

They are rubbish!!! Belts crack when you try to put them on and the grit is falling off in the packet. Grit is more a black than blue colour.

 

[fizzy]

These were the good ones I bought before - last ages and never break.

File Sanding Belts- Zirconia- 40,60,80,120 Grit- 10, 12, 13, 19 & 20mm + Norton | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for File Sanding Belts- Zirconia- 40,60,80,120 Grit- 10, 12, 13, 19 & 20mm + Norton at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I usually buy the wide sander belts for belt sanders and cut my own as it's cheaper (and takes all of 2 seconds).

I recently got a set of belts from ebay that last about 10 seconds...it's down to the way they're joined. It looks like they feather out the edge and simply glue the belts together!...my previous belts had a reinforcing tape (similar to fibre stranded packing tape).

The B&D has a rubber roller which is a lot better....my evolution had a metal roller and they'd just overheat very quickly.

That ebay link...nearly £1 a belt

 

[fizzy]

I usually buy the wide sander belts for belt sanders and cut my own as it's cheaper (and takes all of 2 seconds).

I recently got a set of belts from ebay that last about 10 seconds...it's down to the way they're joined. It looks like they feather out the edge and simply glue the belts together!...my previous belts had a reinforcing tape (similar to fibre stranded packing tape).

The B&D has a rubber roller which is a lot better....my evolution had a metal roller and they'd just overheat very quickly.

That ebay link...nearly £1 a belt

It's for a pack of 10 with free postage.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Pardon our interruption...

£10.99 for 10...am I reading this wrong....I can usually tear off 5 or 6 belts from a 75x457 sanding belt for use on the file. Maybe prices have changed a lot recently.

....ah the second link is better at 50p a belt.

I wonder if we could get together and do some sort of bulk purchase...I get through these belts at quite a rate when I'm in full project mode.

 

[fizzy]

£10.99 for 10...am I reading this wrong....I can usually tear off 5 or 6 belts from a 75x457 sanding belt for use on the file. Maybe prices have changed a lot recently.

....ah the second link is better at 50p a belt.

I wonder if we could get together and do some sort of bulk purchase...I get through these belts at quite a rate when I'm in full project mode.

The first link are the crap ones!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The first link are the crap ones!

Cheers...I need a bulk buy as my last lot turned out to be junk....annoying because I specifically bought them as the pic showed the correct butt joint but when they arrived they were the feathered and glued rubbish.

Looking at prices of the 75mm belts...theres not much in it these days vs just buying the 13mm one.

 

[MoreWellie]

The first link are the crap ones!

if you are saying this about my link then apologies to all

I can say the 80 grit ones I got from this particular seller were great and lasted for ages on steel welds. Just looked back and I bought them in 2017 so things could have changed

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Just looked back and I bought them in 2017 so things could have changed

It's the way of things...I usually bulk buy from an ebay seller....in the past they've been fantastic but the last lot have been total carp. They must have changed suppliers....the belts last about 10 seconds...it's a joke! They keep breaking where it's glued!

 

[James1979]

I get mine from a local factors. Bit more than eBay but they’re a consistent supplier.

They were about 50p ish per belt. Based on a 10 pack. I buy a pack or two every week, usually. I got some last week, same pack is now £12 so looks like the links posted above are about right

 

[arian]

Back in the days of British Blades, I'd buy all my belts direct from @johnt1102. I was always happy.

Not seen here since 2014.

He's on Ebay now, but I see he's only got 97.7% feedback, so whilst I'm not sure I should still recommend him, probably worth a look.

 

[mike 109444]

Was that purchase in store or online Steve ?

treated myself to an aldi finger /belt sander , seems really handy while the belt stays on

i seem to have them self destruct or just leap off the rollers really often ...is this just a thing with these tools or is there a knack to using them

 

[steveo3002]

Was that purchase in store or online Steve ?

instore...was a while ago

 

[ian f]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124795868012?var=425826417870 been using these for years. always work well but wear pretty quick when sanding welds but reckon they all will. i tried some norton ceramic ones but didn't last any longer and quite a few snapped at the join within seconds

 

[Agroshield]

He's on Ebay now

I bought off him, no problems. Good belts.

The only issue I have had with the finger sanders is if you use too coarse a belt (like 40 grit). The very small radius of the roller at the end is not good for the larger stones glued to the belt. They come unglued very quickly. In effect, each grit has a minimum bend radius for the belt and for 40 grit, a finger sander roller is too small.