Slipping Belts

[hman]

Some good information here: https://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44078. One thing they mention is the use of molasses as a belt dressing, plus some source info on other stuff.

A brazilian years ago, I took an R&R in Australia, including a couple days on a farm in the "outback." My host had a huge circular saw, powered with a wide flat belt connected to a drum on his tractor. The belt was not getting traction, so he got out his can of treacle. Best I can tell, it's concentrated molasses. It did the job nicely. Thanks for tickling my memory!

... and a +1 on violin rosin. I used to use it on the narrow V belt on my 9x20 lathe. Just held the cake against the sides of the belt as it was running.

 

[epanzella]

Try 5/8" belts. If the belt bottoms out in the pulley before the sides have full engagement it won't drive it's rated load.

 

[Illinoyance]

I replaced the old leather belt on my South Bend 10K with synthetic. The synthetic belt kept slipping. Unable to find a source of belt dressing, I sprayed the contact side of the belt with 3M no. 77 spray adhesive. It worked.

I agree with those who condemn the use of belt dressing on V belts. On flat belts it is necessary.

 

[mattthemuppet2]

AX (cogged) belts will help a bit, but a variable speed motor like a treadmill DC motor will help a bunch more. However, at the end of the day you're doing the hardest work with the smallest driving pulleys so some slip is inevitable. Only real cure for that is a slower motor and bigger pulleys, or even better a poly-V belt set up. That's a hell of a lot of work though.