Flammable beltsander!

[skotl]

You know that feeling when you have a mask on and you're sure you can smell burning...?

Normally that happens when I'm wearing a welding mask but this time it was a grinding mask while I was using the Aldi belt sander. Stopped what I was doing to see white smoke coming from underneath the belt.

Took the cover off to be greeted with this (it was a lot orangier and firey just before I grabbed my phone):

It's some kind of plastic guard under the belt, directly in the line of fire of all the sparks.
This is it after a scoosh of water and with the screws removed and some of the soot vacuumed out:

Melty:

Now removed. I have no idea what it's purpose was but I reckon it's far safer without it:

Seems like a bit of a design flaw - if you've got an Aldi belt sander it might be worth taking the cover off and checking what state the plastic thingy is in, then consider removing it.

 

[brightspark]

its for stopping the crap flying all over the place behind the belt . it would help if you cleaned it after use

 

[Wallace]

It's most likely a woodworking tool hence the plastic. A common problem on a linisher or grinder when the metal starts to get hot and the sparks keep burning fanned by the air lowfrom the belt passing over it.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Replace it with a metal one if you can be bothered

 

[skotl]

its for stopping the crap flying all over the place behind the belt . it would help if you cleaned it after use

Fair point!

There is actually a plastic guard in front of the combustible bit, so it's not obvious it's getting crudded up:

I'll make a replacement out of non-flammable metal...

 

[Barking Mat]

Burn baby burn, disco inferno.

Not helpful....

Coat , door.

 

[brightspark]

haven't got a deflector plate on mine and the crap builds up on the motor simple enough to make one as well

 

[the artfull-codger]

Like B S I don't have a deflector plate on mine,never needed one as I clean up after use, one thing you've got to be wary of is never ever grind steel & alloy without cleaning off first as you're actually creating thermit [one of its uses is to thermit weld continuous rail track,I once read about a chap who's son was belt sanding steel, later his Dad used the sander to sand alloy & it exploded in his face.

 

[skotl]

Like B S I don't have a deflector plate on mine,never needed one as I clean up after use, one thing you've got to be wary of is never ever grind steel & alloy without cleaning off first as you're actually creating thermit [one of its uses is to thermit weld continuous rail track,I once read about a chap who's son was belt sanding steel, later his Dad used the sander to sand alloy & it exploded in his face.

Good advice - thanks. I only use the sander to grind steel so I'll make some kind of removable cover /guard and vacuum it out before use each time.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

Like B S I don't have a deflector plate on mine,never needed one as I clean up after use, one thing you've got to be wary of is never ever grind steel & alloy without cleaning off first as you're actually creating thermit [one of its uses is to thermit weld continuous rail track,I once read about a chap who's son was belt sanding steel, later his Dad used the sander to sand alloy & it exploded in his face.

I set my lathe on fire after turning some steel then turning up some magnesium which needed to be precise, so the chips were like dust. Tiny spark from the blunt tool on the magnesium and up went the swarf. It likes burning does that stuff.

 

[the artfull-codger]

I set my lathe on fire after turning some steel then turning up some magnesium which needed to be precise, so the chips were like dust. Tiny spark from the blunt tool on the magnesium and up went the swarf. It likes burning does that stuff.

Dodgy stuff magnesium, I was melting some alloy in my foundry once [all scrap] & put some magnesium in the crucible [didn't know it was that] it went up with a feirce white flame,managed to scoop it out but it wouldn't go out just kept burning,[backside nipping] I do the vinegar test on unknown alloy now.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Dodgy stuff magnesium

Is that the same stuff they used to keep in jars of oil in science classes at school?

 

[Cobbler]

Is that the same stuff they used to keep in jars of oil in science classes at school?

That’s phosphorus I think Slim. Magnesium looks like aluminium, someone I know used to deal in scrap, he bought some sacks of aluminium via a government auction, sold it on to a scrappy who managed to set alight with a cutting torch nearby. Lots of heat & brilliant white flames, it turned out it was magnesium not Ally! It was before all the health & safety paperwork, I doubt if it would happen today. I think magnesium is what is used in fireworks to give the blinding white effect.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That’s phosphorus I think Slim.

Ah yes, as soon as I read your post I recognised the name.

Science at school for me was nearly 60 years ago , and even then I only did the first couple of years then switched to languages.

 

[MattF]

Do they store sodium in oil too?

 

[Cobbler]

Ah yes, as soon as I read your post I recognised the name.

Science at school for me was nearly 60 years ago , and even then I only did the first couple of years then switched to languages.

Same as me then, left school 56 years ago, did do science though, no languages, bilingual though, speak English & talk B@llocks

 

[slim_boy_fat]

bilingual though, speak English & talk B@llocks

 

[Cobbler]

Do they store sodium in oil too?

Yes Matt, just looked it up, I was wrong, phosphorus is stored in water. Sodium reacts with water, phosphorus catches fire on drying out.

 

[daleyd]

 

[skotl]

View attachment 256033

How did you get into my garage?