Solid Wood Machining

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

WIDE BELT SANDER INFO

4/7/15       
RICK THRASHER

Website: DANDHCABINETS.COM

WE ARE A SMALL SHOP (12) AND BOUGHT A BUTFERING OPTIMA SWO 313 SANDER FROM STYLES MACHINERY IN 2008 AT THE ATLANTA SHOW. SINCE NEW IT HAS BEEN A PARADE OF STYLES SERVICE MEN, INDIPENDANT SERVICE MEN, AND MY OPERATOR IN A NEVER ENDING BATTLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. IT IS NOT AN EXAGERATION THAT THE NUMBER OF HOURS WE HAVE WORKED ON THIS MACHINE EXCEEDS THE HOURS WE HAVE WORKED WITH IT. IT IS TIME FOR ME TO BITE THE BULLET GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF JUNK AND BUY A NEW SANDER. MY QUESTION I NEED A SANDER ( 3 HEAD 54" WIDE) WE SAND ONLY HARDWOODS,(NO VENEER). CAN ANYONE GIVE ME A RECOMENDATION OF A RELIABLE SANDER. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.

4/7/15       #2: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
David Waldmann  Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

Whether it's an employee or machine, as hard as it is to make the final step, you're only costing yourself more and more until you make that decision.

As a brand, Timesavers seems to have a good reputation. We have a small one that we bought used, and it's been great. We've had two others (both a lot older when purchased) and the Timesavers has been by far the most trouble-free (not any actual trouble) and it does a good job.

4/8/15       #3: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Mark Elliott Member

Rick,

Take a hard look at Biesse.

I just bought a S211 SW 2 head machine from them after looking at 3 other brands.

By far the best machine for the money.

Mark

4/11/15       #4: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Adam West  Member

Website: http://www.surfprepsanding.com

I can't express an opinion on brands on an open forum. Please do yourself a humongous favor and buy a steel drum, 65 shore drum, and combi-head with a 30-40 shore drum before the platen.

I can tell you that this is the best configuration for a three head there is for solid wood sanding.

Run all paper. 80/120/150 or 180 if you are doing doors, framed, and assorted hardwoods. After the 80 grit, the 120 should take off .008", the 180 on the drum in the combi should take .004", and the platen .001".

The capacity of this set up is .036" total so I just call it .030". This is one of my favorite set-ups!

Do not buy a machine lacking air exclusion on each contact surface. This means you can pop each head up or down at will. This is a huge asset.

Do not buy a machine that does not have dead shafts. The drums spin around the shaft instead of journals welded into end plates. This type of head is much more rigid.

If you don't know machines really well you might not realize I just eliminated quite a few brands of machine. Lol!

If the salesman starts talking about machine weight as an important feature of the machine, laugh him down. He is clueless.

Expensive is no indication of quality.

Can I ask what failed on the Butfering? I have a love/hate relationship with them. Steel hold down rollers with stiff springs over a very soft conveyor is just plain stupid. Shoes without hold down rollers altogether is even worse. 78-90 shore drums in a combi head isn't really that smart either.

4/13/15       #5: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Mark Elliott Member

Adam,

I just purchased a new Viet 2 head unit and after much debate I was advised to go with a 90 shore on the first head rather then steel. The argument being that the rubber would dissipate heat better then steel and that in the event something went through that shouldn't a rubber head is much easier to repair then steel.

Seeing as you're never lacking an opinion, which I like, how about weighing in on this?

It does have a 40 shore on the combi head along with all the other whistle and bells you've mentioned as necessary for a good widebelt.

Regards,

Mark

4/16/15       #6: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Adam West  Member

Website: http://www.surfprepsanding.com

I sure am full of it.......opinions that is!

As far as sanding goes, 85 shore rubber might as well be steel. Nothing wrong with that.

I will say that in the hundreds of sanders I worked on with steel drums I've never seen a steel drum damaged enough to need repaired. If it is that hard to damage then I wouldn't worry about it.

Your 85 shore drum should run for decades without damage if simple basic rules are followed. Measure your work before you sand it and know how much you can take off. Never close the machine before confirming the machine really is empty.

4/16/15       #7: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Adam West  Member

Website: http://www.surfprepsanding.com

90 shore I mean. Sorry.

4/17/15       #8: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Mark Elliott Member

Adam,

Save me the time from talking to the abrasives people.

With a 80-120 sequence on a 2 head machine, what is a good rate of removal?

Currently we're taking .013" per face.

Mark

4/25/15       #9: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Chris Noponen  Member

Website: http://sandersunlimited.com

Mark,
Are you using paper or cloth? An 80 grit belt on average is capable of removing .020-.030 of material with a depth of scratch of .015-.018 and a 120 grit belt on average is capable of removing .010-.012 of material with a depth of scratch at .008-.010. Keep in mind the stock removal rates are based on HP of your motors, material being sanded, feed speed and the amount of material being loaded into your machine. But from the .013 you mentioned, I would say you are well within the parameters of your abrasive belts.

9/29/15       #10: WIDE BELT SANDER INFO ...
Chris Noponen  Member

Website: http://sandersunlimited.com

Personally, I would not recommend using a paper belt on a steel drum, especially on the 1st head. First, a paper belt is made for finishing, not stock removal. Second, you will burn a paper belt faster than a cloth belt even if your steel drum is serrated. If you ever wonder what the serrations are for in a drum, they are there for air flow and cooling purposes. A cloth backing can absorb more heat than a paper belt. A cloth belt on the first head can also take more abuse than a paper belt, especially if you have a few parts that are thicker than the others. Not only that but running that cloth belt should improve your belt life on the proceeding heads. In the years I have been working on these machines, I cant honestly tell you I have never seen a customer use an 80 grit paper belt. If you really are looking to save abrasive costs, most of the time you can take a cloth backed abrasive belt to any car wash and pressure wash it if it is loaded up. Try doing that with a paper belt. Unless the grit on the cloth belt has been compromised, (hitting a metal object, pins, ect and knocking the grit off) you may find success in pressure washing that cloth belt.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)