Indispensable tool!

[Justin Urbantas]

This is something I picked up years ago that has come in handy so many times in the gun shop. It's a 1" x 30" belt sander. From  rounding bolts, cleaning up castings, octagon to round barrels, sharpening hawks, grinding punches etc.. Makes cleaning up triggerguards a snap. I think I paid $45 from the cheap Chinese tool store most of us know about.  I've had this one for 5 years I think, and it's still going. I reccomend one. Many different grit belts you can get, and I keep the used up ones for polishing.


upload image online

[t.caster]

I find my belt/disc sander indispensable too, along with my grinding wheels and 14 floor model bandsaw.

[Jeff Durnell]

I have one of those. There's also a 1x30" leather belt available for them that can be used for stropping. I got the leather belt on ebay. Just release the tension each time you're done using it so it doesn't stretch.

I've since gotten a Sorby Pro Edge which is more money, but much more accurate and versatile, and so... more useful. There are a lot of attachments available for maintaining precise repeatable angles on a large variety of tools, including turning and carving tools.

[elkhorne]

Justin,
What are some of the grits you would recommend for various tasks such as polishing trigger guards? I have used mine for removing casting lugs but do not want to cut too much too fast to ruin a good piece of hardware. Look forward to hearing your recommendations. Thanks.
elkhorne

[snapper]

I have a 1 x 42 that I love.   Actually on my second one.  I have some German belts that are really flexible and make cleaning up trigger guards etc much easier.

I also use it to sharpen things with various fine grits and leather belt.

Fleenerr

[Justin Urbantas]

I have 80,120 and 220 grit belts. Like I said though, save your old belts and they are a nice fine grit.
I use 120 for most things. 

Justin,
What are some of the grits you would recommend for various tasks such as polishing trigger guards? I have used mine for removing casting lugs but do not want to cut too much too fast to ruin a good piece of hardware. Look forward to hearing your recommendations. Thanks.
elkhorne

[T*O*F]

Like I said though, save your old belts and they are a nice fine grit.

You won't think your tool is so indispensable when the glue joint breaks on your old belts and it waps you in the face.
I had to relegate six 1" belts and two 4" belts to hand use.  They were all unused, just several years old.  They all broke as soon as the machine was turned on.  Not all the same brand either.

[snapper]

When they bust, it does get your attention.  No doubt about it.

Fleener

[msellers]

Like I said though, save your old belts and they are a nice fine grit.

You won't think your tool is so indispensable when the glue joint breaks on your old belts and it waps you in the face.
I had to relegate six 1" belts and two 4" belts to hand use.  They were all unused, just several years old.  They all broke as soon as the machine was turned on.  Not all the same brand either.

Try this next time one comes apart. There are other methids out there, but this is about the simplest I have found.
https://www.woodmagazine.com/sanding-sharpening/easy-fix-for-seam-split-sanding-belts
Mike

[Daryl]

I made up my own belts.  The joint is angled. A drop or two of water on each end, then scraped with a blade will remove the grit. Then a few drops of fabric glue
then hitting the joint on the vice anvil with a hammer, seals/makes the joint. I never had one come apart.

[Majorjoel]

I have a very old Slack Belt Sander that my FIL made way back when. He gave it to me several years before he passed.  It takes a 41" x 1" belt.   When one of the fine sanding belts wears down to next to nothing, I apply jewelers rouge or some very fine polishing paste to the belt and it continues in service as a polisher.

Before our local Sears store went belly up, I bought a lifetime supply of those 1" belts in all grit sizes.  They sold them on sale at a fraction of retail.

[Bob Roller]

An old friend used to say "That's like getting hit in the face with a wet squirrel".
I have been smacked on the hand by a broken abrasive sleeve from the 3"
wheels on my modified grinder.I can see why only the best belts are acceptable
with other types.

Bob Roller

[WKevinD]

I have a 1"x42" (Grizzly) belt sander that I use daily. I use 80 grit for cleaning up iron castings and when they are a bit used for brass. I also use 120 & 240 grit belts for light clean up and for polishing and sharpening when they are wore out.
About two years ago someone posted a great idea here for a sanding, polishing block that I use for worn or torn belts.


Kevin