Home built 1X42 Belt Sander

[ejames]

I had a lot of help with this sander. A friend of mine built the business end of it from bits and pieces he had laying around his shop. After he sent it to me--he's in Tenn. I live in Missouri-- I mounted it on a simple wooden base,added a motor an pulleys from a cheap drill press I no longer use. Just got it running today. Still have a few odds and ends to finish up. Mounted it like this so I could move it easily if needed. Have a short video of it in operation here- http://www.flickr.com/photos/fastredx/sets/72157626480526363/ scroll to bottom of page.

 

[LJP]

Hi Ed, looks good. Does the belt track OK? Larry

 

[pineyfolks]

Nice, It looks like you have plenty of adjustment to use other length belts too. It's something everyone should have on their build list. Are the 2 tubes spring loaded to tension the belt? How do you adjust tracking?

 

[Pacer]

What did you use for that large drive wheel? That can be a hard item (or terribly expensive) to find/use.

 

[ejames]

It tracks fine. Adjustment is done by loosening the bolt at top and turning the top wheel. Usually can adjust tracking by spinning it by hand.Need a "handle" of sorts at top for adjustments while running. The top wheel is spring loaded.The bottom wheel is from a two wheeled dolly. He chucked it up in his 7X10 lathe and turned it to needed diameter. I've never seen anyone turn rubber on a lathe before !
He patterned this after a Kalamazoo 1X42 he has in his shop. He installed vertical and horizontal platens for me.

 

[Terrywerm]

I rather like the design! It is simple, should be pretty easy to build, and most of the parts are commonly available items. Thank you for posting it!

 

[ejames]

You're welcome Terry! When it come to anything he thinks he can use to build something,my friend is a bit of a pack rat,but it's not often he has to go buy material or parts for a project. Other than the pillow blocks,everything came out of his stash,which is in and around his shop.

 

[Jim1942]

Looks like a nice sander. You'll get a lot of use out of it if your anything like me. I'd be lost without mine. In fact, I ended up building 2. Along with my woodworking and metal shop, I do a little blacksmithing and wanted a sander in each shop. They sure are handy. Mine are a little bulkier, they take a 3 X 120" belt.

Jim Dunn