Belt sanders

mystry_tour · Post by **mystry_tour** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:11 am

Would like some info on a 24" belts sanders. I would like to have one but don't want to get a monster. Would like it for cabinet faces and such. Some one got any small ones
Reg

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:43 pm

I'm assuming we are talking abut wide belt sanders?

With a 24" machine you are getting into some serious HP. 10-20 range.

I am not sure if I have too much to offer when it comes to one brand over another. I do know that I wish my machine had a veneer platen. Of course maybe this is just a case of the grass being greener on that side of the hill.

Once you have one, you won't know how you lived without it.

Pete

mystry_tour · Post by **mystry_tour** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:50 pm

I think it would be great to be able to put a panel through and be done with it. for panel doors it would save much sanding time. Any price ranges we are talking about I reall have no idea as this is a far thought from my beginning thoughts.
Reg

crzypete · Post by **crzypete** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:52 pm

Ballpark I would say is anywhere from $2500- $5000 for a working machine. The handyman special is, of course, cheaper. I would be careful about buying too crapped up a machine. Repair gets expensive quickly. It is important that the rubber on the rollers is in good shape, as this is costly to replace.

My machine needed a new conveyer. I believe it is a 12 x 54 or somewhere in there real small- It cost in the ballpark of $300. A good part of that cost is the vulcanized rubber joint- essential in this high stress use. I found the best price for my conveyer was actually straight from timesaver inc. ( they now own AEM- my machine)

Pete

mr douglas t · Post by **mr douglas t** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:46 am

Petes price points sound good for used sanders. I think the availablility is the hard part. I would search IRS auctions. They come up there. The problem is alot of sanders are multiple head, wide monsters that are huge. A 24" machine is hard to find. I fixed up a 24" wide timesaver brand machine. There is alot of things going on in a sander. As the belts rotate, they also oscillate. There is air pressure for belt tension and oscillation. Electric controls for both the head and converyor belt along with mistracking shut off controls to activate the emargency disc brake to stop the belt. It took me quite a while to rebuilt the one I have. I now can not live with out it.

New ones cost around $10,000 and are very underbuilt. The cheap ones have small diameter rolls, no platen, poor infeed and outfeed support and can be underpowered. Surface quality is everything. A sander that has snipe because of poor indfeed roll design and leaves ridges or an irregular surface is only going to cause you frustration. $10,000 of frustration is hard to pay for.

mystry_tour · Post by **mystry_tour** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:39 pm

little pricie for me but I would like to have a small on. 15"- 24". Any though on the open sided ones like sunhill sells.
Keep your eyes open for one for me guys. I have heard that from more than a few ppl Mr. Douglas. One you get one you wonder how you lived with out it
Reg