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How To Use Belt Sander – Better Homes & Gardens

How To Use Belt Sander
Written by Ben Myers
Last Update: January 2, 2023

Using a Belt sander is an easy way to do a lot of work in a little time. It is fast, strong, and pretty effective. But, you need to know some basic tips and tricks before you can go on to use belt sander. So, we have accumulated all the necessary information that will help you to get a better grip on the belt sander and make you a pro in no time.

Before starting you need to know about different types of belt sanders available in the market right now. These are designed to meet different purposes so you should review each of these types to make sure that you have the right kind for your purpose.

How To Use Belt Sander – Woodworking Tools

Kinds of Belt Sanders

Kinds of Belt Sanders

There are three types of belt sanders out there right now. Each has its unique feature.

  • Combined Belt Sanders: In this type of sanders, both disc and belt functionality is available. So, you can choose whichever you need from the two given options.
  • Self-Rotating Belt Sander: You can see people use a belt sander that keeps rotating all by itself and the object being held against it, those are the self-rotating belt sanders. They are powerful and are used to work on smaller objects.
  • Palm Style Belt Sanders: These sanders are designed in a compact model. You can use these belt sanders like a palm sander and get good results. These are easy to use and control than the other two.

So, if you have got the right kind of sander for your work then let’s move on to the ways to use a belt sander.

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander

Step 1: Start from the End

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 1 : Start from the End

While using a belt sander it is always a good idea to start from the end. If you start from the end, then you will be able to enjoy more control over the object that you are sanding.

Step 2: Apply Equal Strokes

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 2 : Apply Equal Strokes

You should remember the number of strokes you are putting into the material and apply the same number of strokes throughout the whole body.

Step 3: Try Different Belt Patterns

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 3 : Try Different Belt Patterns

There are different types of belt patterns available in the market right now. Each of them provides you with different kinds of smoothness for different materials. You should try them out.

Step 4: Do Not Use Too Much Force

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 4 : Do Not Use Too Much Force

It is never a good idea to use too much force when you are using a belt sander. You should let the weight of the sander do the trick.

Step 5: Work with Different Speeds

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 5 : Work with Different Speeds

Most of the belt sanders comes with different frequency of speed for different types of woods. So, you should change the speed depending on the finishing that you want.

Step 6: Use till the Edges

You should carry out the sander till the very end of the object. This will allow you to enjoy more comfort while working and leave you enough room at the edges.

Proper Ways to Use a Belt Sander-Step 6 : Use till the Edges

So, if you simply follow these steps, then you will become a pro even before you start realizing. But, that requires you to be able to have one of the best disc sanders in place. Keep these in mind next time you try to use a belt sander. Hopefully, this article was helpful for you. Do not forget to have safety measures while working with electric devices. Until then, take care.

About the author

Ben Myers

A Floor Sanding Expert

Good day! Ben talking to you, guys! I’m a flooring specialist with a masonry certification. Over the past five years, my professional activities have almost been confined to one very particular area, floor sanding. Sanding a floor and preparing it for renovation is fun when you see the floor feels real smooth under feet. I remain busy and overwhelmed with contracts, but that doesn’t spoil my enthusiasm to cooperate with my those among my neighbors who are in the same or similar profession. What I do sometimes makes a good story, and I love to share it all with you. See my posts on this website while you can!

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