Listed below are some of the frequently asked questions for sanding solid wood and composite wood products.

Q: How do I eliminate the bottleneck that hand sanding causes?

A: Adding a brush sander is an affordable way to automate the sanding process. It cuts down on the amount of time it takes to sand stock, as well as the number of employees required to do it. Where it might have taken five employees to sand stock by hand it could potentially take only two employees feeding the brush sander.

Submitted by SuperMax Tools

Q: How can I avoid abrasive belt tracking problems on my widebelt sander?

A: Simple maintenance, like cleaning the sander and keeping an eye on the volume in your dust collector’s bags and filters will help assure that you are keeping the tracking system on the sander functioning well.

Submitted by Safety Speed Mfg.

Q: How can I minimize the sanding marks often created by belt oscillation and/or belt defects?

A: This often requires the use of sanding heads which can pivot to various angles. Using a pivoted sanding head, the defects on the belt are shifted slightly with each rotation and do not grow and build to form lines.

Submitted by Holz-Her US Inc.

Q: How much stock can I remove in one pass?

A: As a rule, you will need to use the lower grit belts for heavy stock removal (36-80 grit belts can remove approximately 1/8 inch to 1/32 inch respectively) and medium grit belts for lighter stock removal (100- 120 grit belts can remove approximately 1/32 inch to 1/64 inch respectively). Belts in grits from 150 on up should only be used for finishing and are not considered cutting belts.

Submitted by Timesavers

Q: What causes chatter?

A: Chatter marks are often caused by the sanding belt splice. Causes include: belt splice, worn contact drum bearing, vibration in the machine, worn drive motor bearings, worn idler roll bearings, loose or worn drive belts, flat spots on the drum, out of balance drum or idler, and conveyor bed not feeding at a constant rate.

Submitted by Timesavers.