Belt grinders. technical features of “tractors”. All about belt sanders Adjusting the rotation speed

Today, the market offers a large number of different tools designed for grinding various surfaces. One of the most popular is the belt sander or simply sander. Those who want to purchase a high-quality and reliable blade for their use will have to choose from a huge assortment. But there are no special secrets or difficulties in how to choose a belt sander. This tool, like any other, has a number of main and secondary characteristics. Knowing and understanding what this or that characteristic is responsible for, you can easily determine which LSM suits you best.

Purpose of a belt sander

When choosing a belt sander, you need to know in advance how and what it will be used for. Without this, it will be quite difficult to choose the right model. And when you consider that each sander has different performance characteristics, it becomes even more difficult to choose.

The purpose of a belt sander is to sand and remove old paint and varnish coatings from smooth wooden and metal surfaces. The operating principle of this machine is extremely simple and consists of a cyclic movement of an abrasive belt looped on a roller mechanism. Using a blade grinder, you can grind smooth surfaces of both large and small areas. The belt sander is mainly used for coarse and intermediate sanding with the removal of a large layer. Using a belt sander, you can prepare the surface for finer sanding with an eccentric or vibration sander.

Important! For the most part, LBMs are designed to work with flat surfaces. But there are a number of belt sanders designed for processing convex surfaces. Examples of such sanders are the Metabo RB 18 LTX 60 and AGP WS 760. They are positioned as belt sanders for rough grinding, satin finishing and mirror polishing of surfaces.

It is also necessary to decide how often and under what loads the blade will be used. This will determine what type of belt sander you should purchase. So, for rare use with short work cycles, you can purchase a household grinder. They are relatively cheap, but the working life of such blades is designed only for short-term use. The more expensive and at the same time the most reliable sanders, designed to work in difficult conditions, are professional ones.

Main characteristics of a belt sander

When choosing a belt sander, you need to pay special attention to its main performance characteristics. These include power, rotation speed, width and length of the abrasive belt, as well as the weight of the machine. The quality and speed of work execution directly depend on these characteristics.

Blade blade power

The defining characteristic of any power tool is its power. Most manufacturers indicate it in the model name. This parameter affects most other characteristics. The rotation speed, electricity consumption, weight and, most importantly, the quality and period of continuous operation of the grinder depend on it. The power range of belt sanders is from 500 W to 1700 W.

Among low-power LSM, it stands out especially belt sander Makita 9032. This sander is sometimes called a power file because it has a narrow belt that allows you to reach narrow and hard-to-reach surfaces. But still, the lion's share of the belt sander market is machines with power from 700 W to 1500 W. This segment includes belt sanders Makita, Metabo, Bosch, Festul, Interskol and many others. When choosing a particular brand, it will be quite difficult to determine the best sander. If you focus only on the power of the grinder, then the more powerful the grinder, the better. But it is worth remembering about other characteristics, which together will allow you to determine the most suitable belt sander for certain requirements.

LSM belt rotation speed

This is the second most important characteristic for belt sanders. After all, the speed of surface treatment and the quality of work depend on it. The rotation speed of the abrasive belt directly depends on the power of the sander itself. At the same time, in addition to power, the rotation speed is also affected by the width of the belt itself.

LBMs with speeds from 75 m/min to 2000 m/min are available on the market. But it should be noted that high-speed machines use narrow abrasive belts, while low-speed machines use wide belts. Most belt sanders on the market have belt rotation rates ranging from 300 to 500 meters per minute. The optimal indicator for a household grinder is a speed of 400 m/min. One of the machines that combines high rotation speed, wide belt and power is Belt grinder Fiolent MSHL 1-100.

But the downside of high speed and power is rough surface grinding. For comparison, you need to look at surface and eccentric sanders. A surface grinder grinds about 1 gram of processed material per minute, and the power of this tool rarely exceeds 400 W. The eccentric removes 2 - 5 grams, and the power range is 300 - 600 W. But, for example belt sander Fiolent with a power of 1200 and a speed of 550 m/min, it has a production of 12 - 15 grams per minute. Therefore, when choosing a belt sander, it is necessary to adhere to the golden mean in terms of power and belt rotation speed.

LSM weight

A fairly important characteristic is the weight of the grinding machine. This indicator largely affects the convenience and quality of the work performed and depends on the power of the grinder itself. The more powerful the blade, the greater its weight. Of course, in most cases, a blade grinder is used for grinding horizontal surfaces, where it stands securely on the surface. But there are a number of jobs, for example, sanding a door slope or window frame, when the sander needs to be kept suspended. And in this case, a lot of weight will be more of a disadvantage.

Most machines weigh up to 4 kg. And only high-power belt sanders over 1000 W weigh 5 kilograms or more. For example, belt sander Makita 9404 has a power of 1100 W and a weight of 4.7 kg. Or belt grinder Interskol LShM-100/1200E with a weight of 5.6 kg. The large weight of these blades is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The fact is that when starting the machine, if it is on the work surface, it can be torn out of the hands at high speed, which will lead to injury to the operator. Therefore, the machine is first turned on and then placed on the surface to be treated. At the same time, for grinding, the large weight of the machine can be an advantage and will be enough for high-quality processing.

Dimensions of LShM abrasive belt

The rotation speed and power of a belt sander are related to another characteristic - the width and length of the abrasive belt. This seemingly simple indicator affects several characteristics at once. Including the quality and productivity of work. The wider the belt, the lower its speed and the more power required to operate. At the same time, machines with a narrow belt have high speed with relatively low power.

The standard tape width is 75 mm, 100 mm, 115 mm. The length is also more or less standardized. In this case, the multiplicity step along the length is 5 mm. But some models of belt sanders have non-standard sizes, which can be 232 mm or 142 mm along the length of the abrasive belt. Which causes certain difficulties when purchasing consumables. A good example is belt sander Skil 1215AA, whose tape size is 76x457 mm. In contrast to Skil, belt sander 9404 companies Makita has dimensions of 100x610, which makes it quite easy to find consumables for it. The dimensions of the tape are quite important. Firstly, it is easier to find consumables for a standard size. Secondly, the greater length and width of the tape will allow you to process a larger surface before the tape is completely worn out. But, remembering the relationship between power, belt rotation speed and its width, you can find a blade with optimal values of these parameters.

Additional functions of the belt sander

Each manufacturer tries to add unique and useful features to their products that will make them stand out from all the others. Such additional options often have a lesser impact on the quality and productivity of work, but make the work noticeably more comfortable. Such additional functions include speed control, the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, soft start and much more.

Power supply for the grinder

Today, battery-powered construction tools are the norm, and belt sanders are no exception. This approach is very justified, and for those who have to work in conditions without electricity, a cordless sander will come in handy. An example of such a LSM is.

Rotation speed adjustment

One important function of the machine is associated with the rotation speed, namely the ability to adjust it. This additional feature is very useful for a belt sander. By adjusting the rotation speed of the abrasive belt, you can control the quality of the work performed, which allows you to do both rough and finer grinding of the surface. There are various models on the market and some of them do not have this feature. But when choosing one model or another, preference should be given to a blade grinder with the ability to adjust the speed of rotation of the belt. An example would be belt sander Makita 9911, allowing you to adjust the speed in the range from 75 m/min to 270 m/min.

Dust removal method

The belt sander is unique in that dust is removed by suction from the engine cooling fan. Each manufacturer approached this working moment in its own way. This has led to the fact that some models have one significant drawback - dust settles on the rollers and moving parts, which leads to their rapid wear and the need for replacement or lubrication. When choosing a particular grinder, you need to pay attention to the method of collecting and removing dust. The container or bag itself should not be located near rollers or other moving parts. And if this is what the designers intended, then you should make sure that it is easy to access for cleaning the tool. An example of such a design would be belt grinder Caliber LShM-750. It should also be noted that if you need to disassemble the blade for repair or lubricate parts, you can lose the warranty on it, which happens quite often. Therefore, before purchasing such a model, ask the seller about the possibility of lubricating and disassembling parts of the unit yourself without losing the warranty.

Possibility of connection to a vacuum cleaner

All grinders of one type or another have a special dust collector, but there are models that are equipped with dust removal using a vacuum cleaner. For example, Bosch belt sander, model PBS 7 A, has in its arsenal both a dust collector and the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner. When choosing a particular model, you should make sure that this useful option is available, or at least that there is an adapter for the vacuum cleaner. After all, thanks to it, you can increase the period of work without cleaning the bag, which will only have a positive effect on the speed of work.

Starting current limitation

As noted earlier, the belt sander is turned on in midair and then only lowered to the surface. On low-power and light grinders the starting moment is not felt much, but on heavier and more powerful grinders the machine jerks. To eliminate this effect, many manufacturers equip their tools with a starting current limiter, or as it is also called a “soft start” system. It allows the blade to gain momentum gradually, making it much easier to start working with a heavy and powerful tool. When choosing a belt sander, this option will not play a significant role on the quality of the work, but will make it easier to start.

Method for replacing the abrasive belt

In the process of working with blade grinders, you have to change the abrasive belt more than once. To do this, it is sometimes necessary to remove the protective cover or loosen the tension rollers in order to remove the old one and install a new tape. In most cases, this does not take much time, but you don’t really want to keep a pair of keys on hand and fiddle with them when replacing the tape. Of course, manufacturers found a way out of this situation and created machine models where the belt can be replaced without any additional tools. When choosing a belt sander, you should pay attention to the method of replacing the abrasive so that it is as comfortable as possible for you and does not complicate the process of working with the blade.

Tape position and tension regulator

When considering the size of the tape, we mentioned the possibility of adjusting its tension. This option, despite the fact that it is additional, is important when choosing a LSM. Many quick change belt models do not have any manual adjustments for belt tension or alignment. And not every user knows how to properly adjust the tape tension. Therefore, manufacturers have developed automatic centering and belt tension. This greatly simplified the work with such machines and allowed even beginners to use them. When choosing between several models, you should give your preference to a machine with automatic adjustment of the position and tension of the tape.

Additional equipment

In addition to useful additional functions, manufacturers try to highlight their products with the help of various useful accessories. This can be either a branded suitcase for the sander or various removable parts, such as a sanding frame, a clamp or additional handles. But more important is a set of sanding belts, a spare dust bag and a vacuum cleaner adapter. In any case, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the configuration of a particular model. Perhaps it is the presence of some little thing that will make you make the right choice for yourself.

One of the most successful blade grinders with optimal power parameters, belt rotation speed and the ability to adjust it, a wide and long belt, is Belt sander Bosch GBS 75 AE Set Professional. This professional tool, despite its rather high price, boasts excellent performance characteristics and excellent reliability. It should be especially noted that this machine meets such requirements as a dust collection bag removed from the rollers and the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, automatic centering and belt tension, low weight, speed control and much more. If the Bosch belt sander seems too expensive to you, then it can be used as an example when choosing another, cheaper model.

The main purpose of a belt grinding machine (BSM) is to process relatively smooth surfaces of various sizes. In most cases, this type of tool is used to prepare surfaces for priming and painting or to remove old paintwork.

There are models designed to work with rounded surfaces. This tool is used for cleaning and grinding pipes, joints and welds, and processing round parts made of wood or metal.

Professionals often use stationary grinders in their work. They allow you to work with individual parts of various sizes and shapes. Such equipment, unlike hand tools, allows you to perform work with the necessary accuracy and speed.

How to choose a belt sander

The LSM is a fairly universal tool, but not the most complex. The main components of the device design are: an electric motor, tension shafts and a belt with an abrasive coating. When choosing a particular model of grinding machine, as when choosing any other power tool, pay special attention to the technical characteristics. Here is an overview of what exactly you should pay attention to when choosing a tool.

Power

Productivity and “endurance” directly depend on this indicator. The power of LSM in the “household” segment ranges from 500 to 900 W. This is enough to perform basic operations under average load.

Professional models have a more powerful drive. Some models can consume up to 1600 W. Such a tool is not afraid of heavy loads and is able to work for a long time.

Speed

The quality of surface treatment depends on the speed of the belt. Coarse abrasive material is best used at low speeds, and the use of fine-grained “sandpaper” gives better results at medium and high speeds.

Speed indicators of LSM start from 75 m/min. Most models of sanders rotate the abrasive belt at a speed of 120 to 400 m/min. Some grinding devices can achieve 500 or more meters per minute. Such parameters are typical for a tool with a wide blade. Models with a narrow abrasive belt can have speeds up to 2000 m/min.

Working surface area

There is another important parameter on which performance depends. Standard models for domestic use are designed to install an abrasive blade 75 mm wide. Devices of a higher class have tension shafts for 100–130 mm tape. The length of the working surface can be from 120 to 200 mm. The exceptions are angle grinders and various specialized models that use annular blades with a width of 6 to 40 mm.

Useful features

The capabilities of a grinding machine are determined not only by technical characteristics. Some design solutions not only add functionality, but also make the tool convenient to use.

Speed adjustment. This function allows the grinder to be used both for rough processing with coarse abrasives at low speeds, and for fine-grained finishing grinding at medium and high speeds.
Smooth start. Eliminates jerking when turned on. This function is especially useful in heavy and powerful models.
Automatic blade centering. Eliminates the need to adjust the position of the tension rollers when changing consumables.
Quick belt replacement. Some machines have a tension mechanism, which is equipped with a special lever that makes it easy to change the blade.
Removing dust. In the design of most inexpensive models, manufacturers limit themselves to a pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner. A professional tool may have its own cleaning system. Usually this is an additional impeller and several channels for cleaning the sole and working area. All dust is blown into the dust collector.
Bounding box. Its purpose is to limit the processing depth and prevent distortions.
Possibility of permanent mounting. A useful option when processing individual parts that are more convenient to work with, holding them with two hands.

Belt angle grinder

A type of grinding tool that differs from traditional models in the layout of units and the location of the electric drive. The engine in such machines is installed along the body, and rotation is transmitted through an angular gearbox. The tensioning mechanism with the tape is fixed to the gearbox housing.

Belt angle grinders are designed to work with a narrow abrasive blade. The sole in such devices corresponds to the tape used and can have a width of up to 40 mm. Thanks to this design, angle grinders can easily handle surface treatment in recesses, gaps between parts and other hard-to-reach places.

Externally, the tool resembles a “grinder” with an attachment installed on it. But despite the similarities, the technical characteristics are different. This applies to power and rotation speed. In addition, most grinders of this type have variable speed control, and some are equipped with a dust removal pipe.

Belt Sanding Machine for Pipe

A pipe grinder is a type of belt angle grinder. The difference lies in the design of the tension mechanism. The tool is designed for processing rounded surfaces and therefore does not have a sole.

There are two options for tensioning the sanding belt: on two or three rollers. In the second case, the tension mechanism has a movable part on which one of the rollers is mounted. This allows the blade to flex to capture a larger surface area during operation. This device allows for more accurate and high-quality processing.

Stationary grinder

This type of equipment is often used in woodworking production. The device and principle of operation are similar to hand tools: tension shafts, electric drive, abrasive belt. The difference lies in dimensions, power and working surface area.

Stationary grinders make work convenient if you need to process a small part. Both hands are used, which improves accuracy and productivity. It is especially beneficial to have a stationary machine when there is often a need to work with a large number of parts.

Having decided which tool will meet the tasks, all that remains is to choose the manufacturer and the appropriate model.

RUB 2,959

Grinding machine Bort BBS-801N 93728007

Max. disk rotation speed 260 rpm. With starting current limitation. Electric - from the network. With protection against accidental activation. Max. belt speed 260 m/min. Machine type - belt. Tape width 76 mm. Power 800 W. With dust collector. Network cable length 3.0 m. With additional handle. Fastening the sheet - clamps. Tape length 457 mm. Weight: 3.10 kg.

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Machine type - belt. Electric - from the network. with a network cable length of 3.0 m. With a belt speed of 300 m/min. With a tape width of 75 mm. With belt length 533 mm. Additional handle. Blocking accidental activation. Dust collector. With a power of 710 W. With weight: 3.20 kg.

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Belt sander ELITECH MSHL 900E MSHL900E

Power 900 W. Tape length 533 mm. Network cable length 3.0 m. Sheet fastening - clamps. Tape width 75 mm. Electric - from the network. With protection against accidental activation. Machine type - belt. Max. belt speed 300 m/min. With additional handle. With dust collector. Weight: 4.50 kg.

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RUB 3,330

Belt grinder Vikhr LShM-75/900

With belt length 533 mm. Dust collector. Machine type - belt. Blocking accidental activation. Fastening the sheet - clamps. With a tape width of 75 mm. With a power of 900 W. with a network cable length of 3.0 m. With a belt speed of 360 m/min. Additional handle. Electric - from the network. With weight: 3.50 kg.

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RUR 6,295

Belt sander Bosch PBS 75 A 06032A1020

Electric - from the network. Power 710 W. Network cable length 3.0 m. With additional handle. Max. belt speed 300 m/min. With protection against accidental activation. Machine type - belt. Tape length 533 mm. With dust collector. Tape width 75 mm. With weight: 3.20 kg.

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Grinding machine Whirlwind LShM-75/900

with a network cable length of 3.0 m. Machine type - belt. With a tape width of 75 mm. Blocking accidental activation. Fastening the sheet - clamps. With a belt speed of 360 m/min. Dust collector. Electric - from the network. With a power of 900 W. Additional handle. With belt length 533 mm. Weight: 3.50 kg.

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Metabo RBE 15-180 Set green-black

With starting current limitation. Machine type - belt. Power 1550 W. With overload protection. Tape width 40 mm. Max. disc diameter 4 mm. Max. belt speed 1680 m/min. Electric - from the network. With protection against accidental activation. With additional handle. Tape length 760 mm. Fastening the sheet - clamps. With weight: 13.80 kg.

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Grinder Kolner KBS 533x76 V

Dust collector. Blocking accidental activation. with a network cable length of 4.0 m. Sheet fastening - clamps. With a power of 950 W. With a tape width of 76 mm. With belt length 533 mm. Machine type - belt. With a belt speed of 400 m/min. Electric - from the network. With weight: 3.00 kg.

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RUB 5,390

Belt sander Bort BBS-801N 800 W 76x457 mm

Max. belt speed 260 m/min. Tape length 457 mm. With starting current limitation. Network cable length 3.0 m. Sheet fastening - clamps. Machine type - belt. With dust collector. Power 800 W. With additional handle. Tape width 76 mm. With protection against accidental activation. Max. disk rotation speed 260 rpm. Electric - from the network. Weight: 3.10 kg.

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Belt sander Caliber LShM-750, green 1180

Machine type - belt. With a power of 750 W. With a belt speed of 200 m/min. Dust collector. Fastening the sheet - clamps. With a tape width of 76 mm. With belt length 457 mm. Electric - from the network. with a network cable length of 4.0 m. Blocking of accidental activation. With weight: 2.80 kg.

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RUB 2,870

Whirlwind Belt sander LShM-75/800

Fastening the sheet - clamps. Tape width 75 mm. Max. belt speed 360 m/min. Power 800 W. Tape length 533 mm. With protection against accidental activation. Electric - from the network. Machine type - belt. With dust collector. Network cable length 3.0 m. With additional handle. With weight: 3.00 kg.

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Grinding machine Enkor LME-900/533E

With a belt speed of 340 m/min. With a tape width of 76 mm. Machine type - belt. Blocking accidental activation. With a power of 90 W. Electric - from the network. with a network cable length of 3.5 m. With a tape length of 533 mm. Fastening the sheet - clamps. Additional handle. Dust collector. Weight: 3.60 kg.

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Belt sander VIHR LSHM-75 / 800 72/6/1

Machine type - belt. Electric - from the network. Fastening the sheet - clamps. Tape length 533 mm. With protection against accidental activation. With dust collector. Tape width 75 mm. Power 800 W. Network cable length 3.0 m. With additional handle. Max. belt speed 360 m/min. With weight: 3.00 kg.

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Belt sanding machine REDVERG RD-BS120

Fastening the sheet - clamps. With a tape width of 100 mm. with a network cable length of 3.5 m. Machine type - belt. With belt length 610 mm. Additional handle. With a belt speed of 400 m/min. Dust collector. Blocking accidental activation. With a power of 1200 W. Electric - from the network. With weight: 6.70 kg.

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Belt grinder Kolner KВS 533x76 V

Tape width 76 mm. Tape length 533 mm. With protection against accidental activation. Fastening the sheet - clamps. With dust collector. Network cable length 4.0 m. Machine type - belt. Max. belt speed 400 m/min. Power 950 W. Electric - from the network. Weight: 3.00 kg.

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RUB 2,870

Belt sander WIHR LSHM-75/800 72/6/1

with a network cable length of 3.0 m. With a belt speed of 360 m/min. Fastening the sheet - clamps. Machine type - belt. With a tape width of 75 mm. With belt length 533 mm. Additional handle. With a power of 800 W. Dust collector. Blocking accidental activation. Electric - from the network. With weight: 3.00 kg.

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There are some nuances that are characteristic only of this type of power tool. So…

SWITCH LOCK BUTTON FOR CONTINUOUS OPERATION.
This function is available on both HOUSEHOLD and PROFESSIONAL LBMs. For the second type, it is more necessary for non-tiring (relieves stress on the fingers) and long-term work, especially when sanding large areas.

ELECTRONIC BELT SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM.
With this option it becomes more versatile (MAKITA 9911, BLACR & DECKER KA85EK, BOSCH PBS7AE). This grinder is capable of not only high-quality sanding of plastic (at low speed), but also quickly processing a large surface area.
SPEED is set with a special wheel. The same system is found in ELECTRIC DRILLS, grinders, and ELECTRIC JIGSAWS.
The most advanced FSM (PROFESSIONAL) have

in its “arsenal” a SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING SPEED WHEN LOAD INCREASES.
With stronger pressure on the tool, the SPEED remains the same, and accordingly, the productivity of the saw blade remains at the same level.

REMOVABLE AND ADJUSTABLE HANDLE.
A REMOVABLE ADDITIONAL HANDLE is quite rare, although there is undoubtedly some benefit from this feature. Without the HANDLE, the blade becomes a little more compact, which is sometimes an advantage, especially when you need to get into a hard-to-reach place.
The same applies to the ADJUSTABLE ANGLE HANDLE. In this situation, the part is not removed, but is tilted back. In addition, if necessary, you can adjust the HANDLE to suit your hand (BLACK & DECKER KA88, XTA80EK).

STATIONARY USE.
if necessary, it can be used as a machine for fine processing of small-sized workpieces. It is attached to

in an inverted position using special clamps, which are usually equipped with most blades (mainly HOUSEHOLD class).
However, when using the BELT SANDER in this way, extreme caution must be exercised, as there is a risk of injury from contact with a fast-moving SANDING BELT (SKIL 1205, RUOBI EBS9576V, INTERSKOL LShM75E).

REPLACING THE SANDING BELT.
The changing process is quite simple: you need to release the BELT TENSION LEVER, then insert a new one in accordance with the indicators so that the direction of the arrows on the BELT and on the blade body coincides, then return the LEVER to its original position.

AUTOMATIC BELT CENTERING.
It is believed that this is an invention of the SKIL company. This option is found in both PROFESSIONAL and HOUSEHOLD models of BELT SANDERS (SKIL 7650AA, SKIL 7620AA, BOSCH PSB7A).
It happens that different SANDING BELTS have different alignment: for some it is more accurate, for others it is with an error. When adjusting the RIBBON manually - using the “thumb” - you have to adjust the position of the front roller. In the process of working with different TAPES, regular adjustment will still be necessary, which takes time and effort (HAMMER LSM800, BORT BBS800, STERN 75X457).
AUTOMATIC setup is easier. One of the rollers has the shape of a barrel (for most blade grinders, both are cylindrical), so the contact with the SANDING BELTE is incomplete. Therefore, even an unbalanced BELT will not slip to the side when sanding.

SMALL DIAMETER FRONT ROLLER.
This type of blade is not common (BLACK & DECKER KA88, BLACK & DECKER XTA80EK). When working close to a wall (sanding floors), the problem of a “dead zone” arises - an inaccessible area of the surface from the front edge of the sole to the obstacle itself. Grinding across is possible, but you should still move the blade along the grain to avoid scratches and burrs. A blade grinder with a small front roller will cope with the problem - the working surface is increased, and the “dead zones” are mostly millimeters and often equal to the radius of the roller.

GRINDING DEPTH LIMITATION FRAME.
It is attached to the body of the BELT GRINDER and serves as a kind of stop. Used for precision work when sanding large-area materials (furniture and carpentry panels, parquet floors). The use of a FRAME prevents the appearance of “furrows” - height differences during work, as well as during uneven passage through the workpiece (BLACK & DECKER KA85, RUOBI EBS1310F, SKIL 1200).

DUST REMOVAL.
Unlike the JIGSAW and CIRCULAR SAW, which “throw out” fairly large sawdust, after operation of the BELT GRINDER, fine-grained dust remains. You can use a DUST COLLECTION BAG (MAKITA 9910, METABO BAE1075, HITACHI SB8V2), but it will have to be cleaned periodically, especially since during operation of the blade, only 30-40% of the total volume of “waste” gets into it. Using a DUST COLLECTION BAG or FILTER is, in principle, ineffective, and when cleaning metal you should not wear it at all - if there is wood dust left in it, the risk of fire increases significantly.
A vacuum cleaner solves the problem of dust removal well. In production, special INDUSTRIAL VACUUM CLEANERS are used, but at home, an ordinary household one will do. Some models

Sanding wooden products or surfaces does not seem very difficult, but in practice it is a very labor-intensive process that requires a lot of endurance and patience from its manufacturer. But all this is a thing of the past, because hand sanding has been replaced by belt sanders. And although these electric tools are represented on the market in a fairly wide range of models, the belt ones are the most productive and convenient to carry out work. But the most interesting thing is that all the most famous and branded manufacturers of electric tools have them in their arsenal. For example, today it is easy to find an Interskol or Titan belt sander from domestic manufacturers or a Makita or Sturm belt sander from foreign companies.

Belt sander design

The working tool of a belt sander, which is a belt with an abrasive substance on the surface, wraps around two rollers, forming a closed surface. One of the rollers is connected to an electric motor through a gearbox, the second is in free floating. Its task is to adjust the abrasive belt in the transverse plane. And all this is enclosed in a housing.

The belt rotates at high speed, while the tool itself moves along the surface being processed. Therefore, in one pass, or rather, in one second, the machine removes up to 1 mm of the thickness of a wooden product. Such a high grinding speed can never be achieved manually. Using a sanding machine, you can level wooden surfaces only in a linear direction.

Attention! It is better if the abrasive belt moves along the wood fibers. You can also use the tool in the transverse direction, however, the surface being processed will remain slightly rough.

Often, a belt sander is used for roughing work, that is, it is used to remove a layer of paint on wooden products. But it is not recommended to use it for processing surfaces with large defects, especially convex ones. Firstly, this way the flaws are not sanded down. Secondly, the service life of the abrasive belt is reduced.

Characteristics of choosing a belt sander

So, a belt sander is selected based on four main indicators.

Unit power.
Tape width.
Its length.
The speed of her movement.

Power mainly affects the performance of the tool and its endurance. The more powerful it is, the more intensely it can work. But everything will depend on how often you have to use it. If the grinder is just an auxiliary tool, then it is better to purchase a low-power model - up to 0.5 kW. If it will be used as the main unit, then it is better to choose a powerful device, for example - 1.2 kW. The second model will last longer and will not heat up during intensive use.

As for the width of the abrasive belt, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the workpieces being processed. For example, if narrow boards will be sanded in a workshop or at the dacha, then a belt sander with a belt width of 65-75 mm will be suitable for the work. For wider boards it is better to choose this figure 100-110 mm.

Typically, the product passport indicates the total length of the tape used, wound on two rollers at once. There is a standard range for this size: 400-600 mm. It is clear that this is not the length that comes into contact with the wooden plane being processed. It will be less than twice as much.

Attention! A belt with a larger length wears out faster.

Like power, the rotation speed of the working body is the main indicator when choosing a belt sander. Essentially, the higher the speed, the more intensively the wood layer is removed. Accordingly, the performance of the device is higher. Most often, machines are used for grinding at a speed of 500-700 m/min. But in order to carry out uniform operations, which is sometimes necessary, low-speed tools are used - 200-300 m/min. When choosing, you must take this indicator into account, and more. It is very important that the tool can operate at different speeds, that is, it must have an adjustable belt rotation speed. Thus, it is possible to select the rotation speed, taking into account the structure and density of the material being processed.

It is necessary to add the weight of the tool to the indicators by which a belt sander is selected. After all, the lighter the device, the more maneuverable it is. But powerful units will not weigh much. Their weight varies in the range of 5-7 kg. Low-power tools usually weigh 2-3 kg.

Additional qualities of belt sanders

Manufacturers today have simply flooded the entire tool market with belt sanders. By choosing according to the above indicators, the main problem is solved. But among the huge variety of models, you need to choose one that has useful additions to its design.

For example, soft start. A convenient bonus with which you can start sanding without damaging the wood. Or precise removal of a certain layer in thickness. After all, the worker makes efforts by pressing on the tool with different forces. In this case, a thicker layer can be removed in one area, and thinner in another. Therefore, many manufacturers today equip belt sanders with special limiting frames. Regardless of the pressure on the device, a layer of a certain thickness will be removed.

Another useful addition is the dust removal system. There must be a connection pipe on the body of the electric tool. You can connect a hose from a vacuum cleaner to it, and some models are equipped with removable dust collectors. It should be noted that all dust is not removed in this way, but the main part can be gotten rid of. And this is a big plus.

Currently, many manufacturers offer models that can be mounted on a plane, mainly horizontal. That is, you can make a compact grinding machine from a hand tool. In this case, the abrasive belt will be on top. Using this machine it is very easy and convenient to sand shaped wood products or small workpieces.

Attention! If such a design bonus is present in the selected model, then you need to pay attention to whether the belt sander comes with a special stand for installing it on a table. If not, you will have to buy it separately.

When encountering unevenness and changes in plane, that is, when the load increases, the machine loses its speed. So, many manufacturers install electronic units in the control unit of the device, which stabilize the rotation speed of the working body when the load on it increases. This ensures stable performance and high quality of the machined surface.

The most difficult process in servicing a belt sander is replacing the abrasive belt. Today, many models have special quick-lock mechanisms. That's what they're called. There is a lever on the side of the tool. You need to pull it, and the tape will loosen due to the displacement of the roller. By the way, this function was appreciated not only by professionals who often change the tape, but also by home craftsmen. After all, ease of use means pleasant work with the tool.

Belt sander manufacturers

As already mentioned, all the world leaders in electric tools offer various models of belt sanders. Here are domestic models, such as the Titan belt sander, Enkor LME or Intrescol, foreign ones from almost all brands, which include the Sturm BS 8511 U belt sander - the newest model, or Makita.

By the way, the brand “Enkor LME 330/457” is a Russian brand that is produced in China. Therefore, many craftsmen confuse the manufacturer. Its tape width is only 13 mm, so this device is most often called an electric file. Model 330/457 has the ability to change the angle of the working part, so that with their help you can easily grind surfaces in hard-to-reach places.

Bottom line

As you can see, to choose a belt sander, you need to understand all its technical characteristics. But don’t forget about useful additions. Of course, you will have to make your choice based on the price-quality ratio; it should be within acceptable limits.