using a Mini Belt Sander

[Flapdisk]

Hi Guys, I bought this 10mm belt sander, the manual that came with it is a generic safety manual for the whole range of different types of sanders, the only thing that came that is specifically for this tool, is the parts list!

So could someone tell me, when the belt is fitted do I leave it under spring tension or do I tighten the screw and lock it? I find if I tighten the screw and lock the spring, the belt stretches in use and after a while comes off?
You can see the screw I am talking about about about a third back from the front roller.

 

[brightspark]

it wants to be spring loaded all the time not set, i have a couple of them both diffrent sizes

 

[Robotstar5]

Let the spring keep the tension, the only adjustment is normally for centering the belt.

 

[Flapdisk]

Thanks guys.

 

[pedrobedro]

That screw is for tracking the belt not tensioning. You can loosen or tighten it to move the belt over to get into corners using the tip or to run it central using the pad underneath on the arm.

 

[Flapdisk]

Hmmm, no it's not Pedro. Is it clearer in this image? I had to loosen it to compress the spring to get the belt on. If you loosen it and compress the spring by pushing down on the front roller, and then tighten that screw it locks it and you can put the belt on with ease and then loosen the screw and it springs back into tension. I thought perhaps the belt should be under spring tension and left it loose and when I used the file it just vibrated out and fell on the floor!
After Robo's comment I was wondering where the tracking adjustment was, but it is not that one.

 

[pedrobedro]

Ah it's different to ours, is there a screw on the other side of the arm to track it with ?

 

[Flapdisk]

I'll have a look today mate, I was looking on the net at a PDF file manual for another brand and I have a rough idea now what the adjuster should look like.

 

[KemppiFrog]

What make is that? Cos I might be interested in buying one.

 

[brightspark]

What make is that? Cos I might be interested in buying one.

its a sip or so it says

 

[Flapdisk]

Well I dunno guys, if I remove that screw the front roller assembly falls off so it's got to be there and it's got to be tight, but if it is, it locks the tensioner. Actually, just saying that has made me think, I wonder if it's too long? it must be reaching and touching the round bar that is down the middle of the spring which has the front roller attached to it, for it to lock the spring action, I wonder if it's not meant to and it's just meant to hold the front pulley spring assembly on and allow you to slacken it to allow the whole assembly to move up and down in that slot to adjust for variations in belt size, and than lock it when you feel the belt has spring tension?

And I can't find any screw that adjusts tracking, considering this thing was three times the price of most I saw online, it doesn't seem very good, although it appears to work ok and tracks ok.

 

[KemppiFrog]

its a sip or so it says

Oh dear, Speksavers....

 

[pedrobedro]

It's known as a finger sander there are lots on Ebay Mr. Frog Black and Wrecker do an electric one called the Powerfile, quieter, cheaper to run than an air tool.

 

[Robotstar5]

It's known as a finger sander there are lots on Ebay Mr. Frog Black and Wrecker do an electric one called the Powerfile, quieter, cheaper to run than an air tool.

We had a few B&D powerfiles at the last place I was at, lasted quite well, the nose roller usually wore out first, but spares readily available and easy to replace.

 

[KemppiFrog]

We had a few B&D powerfiles at the last place I was at, lasted quite well, the nose roller usually wore out first, but spares readily available and easy to replace.

I had a problem with a B&D Powerfile, hence the interest in an air one. The motor/drive ass on the B&D is non-dismantleable. So when the bit behind the drive drum siezed, it either a complete assembly, at near new machine cost, or the bin. No point in fixing it at the cost, as a new one gets a warranty.

 

[Flapdisk]

Well as you can see from the series of photo's, the screw has to be tightened to stop the front roller falling off. I was wrong with what I said last night about wondering if the screw was too long and hitting the rod that goes through the spring, you can see from the pics that it is just in the block, and without it, it all falls apart! The belt cannot be left under spring tension and so within a couple of minutes of use, the belt stretches and falls off
I gather that you adjust the two cros point screws to adjust the tracking. I haven't tried that yet and wouldn't be surprised if it fell apart when I touch them too.
I wouldn't mind but I deliberately bought this one at nearly £70 thinking it would be better than the plethora of £25 ones that are all over the net

 

[Flapdisk]

This forum is strange, I uploaded five photo's and my post is showing about 8 with some repeated?

 

[Wallace]

This forum is strange, I uploaded five photo's and my post is showing about 8 with some repeated?

The people on here are stranger! Looks identical to the Clarke CAT40B and I cannot see a manual for it. The way it's set up looks like the spring sets the belt tension then you lock it off with the screw, tracking doesn't seem to be anything more than bending the pressed steel arm assembly left or right. Perhaps the screw is/was supposed to be given a dab of Loctite and a clearance set so the head slides and the spring keeps the tension?

 

[brightspark]

both of mine are just spring tension not locked . the wheel on end is slightly curved out in the middle so the belt is self centering and doesnt need any adjustment

 

[Flapdisk]

It does track ok and stays in the middle, if I can get it to stay on! I feel a bit of modifying coming on