A belt sander is very efficient in making rough surfaces smoother. This powerful tool can be used in every area of the wood, including the edges, to get a smooth finish.
Holding one hand on the machine and the other on the wood while you sand is quite challenging. In this case, a belt sander stand is a perfect solution for this problem.
The following article will give you the proper guidelines for building a belt sander stand easily. Let’s check it out.
Table of Contents [show]
Get All the Required Equipment
- Square rule
- ½ inch of plywood
- Table saw
- Spacers
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Glue
- Brad nailer
- Stop block
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
- Wiping cloth
Steps
Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to building a belt sander stand.
Step 1: Assemble All the Equipment
Before you start your DIY project, gather all the gear in the area where you are going to work. If possible, create a checklist containing all of the necessary things mentioned above.
Then, wear safety goggles and a dust mask before you start sanding.
Step 2: Construct the Fixture
Take the square rule and make sure that the sander is perfectly level. For the fixture, build a base plate by cutting the ½ inch plywood with the help of the table saw. The dimensions should be longer than the length of the sander (Length: 6 inches, width: 14 inches). Take your time during the cutting and do it patiently.
Now, put the sander on the top of the base plate. You must put the belt rollers facing upwards from their open side. In the belt sander, the flat surface is placed below the belt’s working part. This section is known as the belt platen.
Gently place it in a parallel direction with the edge of the base. On the base plate, there are both long and short edges; use the long side in this case.
Step 3: Join the Sander with the Base
Connect the sander with the overall base by using the detachable knobs from the machine. If you don’t have those, check for other parts suitable for this part of the process. Now, fasten the belt platen to the base plate using the spacers.
Similarly, check for holes in the sander for attaching any accessories and use them to mount the sander with the base as securely as possible. Use the plywood scraps and make some brackets from it. These will be used to adjust to the position of the mounting holes.
Screw all of it onto the sander with the help of the screwdriver and complete it by gluing it to the base. To be on the safe side, ensure that the sander is fixed and secured both on the front and rear sides. Also, check the base of the fixture and the legs to make sure you properly fixed their places.
Step 4: Secure and Screw All the Necessary Areas
In this step, take the brad nailer (gauges of thin nails) and secure all the required joints. The benefit of using this kind of nail is that you don’t have to apply wood putty to cover any unwanted holes, as these nails come with smaller heads in a thin gauge.
Cut the plywood precisely and make the fixtures work table. The dimensions of this table should be 8 inches wide and around 2 inches shorter than the base.
However, you should construct the table in a way that will be higher in the sander’s rear end so that chattering can be reduced to a minimum. Carefully position the table supports strategically. This will make the table’s top stay lower.
On the other hand, the belt’s bottom edge should be positioned at the low end and an inch below the belt’s top edge at the high end. Glue the supports and then screw it onto the lower side of the table. Finally, screw the supports onto the base from beneath.
Step 5: Finish it off
Take the stop block and screw it onto the end of the sanding table. This will ensure that the sanding wood is not pulled back by the belt sander.
Use a small stop block and screw it onto the table (closer to the belt’s rear end) so that the small parts stay in place despite the heavy force of the sander.
After you are done with all of this, clean your working area with a wiping cloth. Make sure there is no leftover visible or hidden dust.
Conclusion
Take notes from this article and get a good understanding of all the mentioned steps. Turn your vision into reality.
Best of luck!