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Thread: Belt Sander

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Texas
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    207

    Belt Sander

    I have a Porter Cable belt sander and after a few seconds of using it the belt always breaks (even with a brand new belt). Why? I can't figure it out!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mid Michigan
    Posts
    3,559
    I don't have a belt sander but my first guess would be the belt may be mounted so it is turning the wrong way. It isn't adjusted tight enough or there may be a bent piece of metal that is tearing the belt. I have repaired a few for friends but never used one.
    David B

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    McKean, PA
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    15,635
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    My PC belt sander will break belts if they are put on the wrong direction. Also if the belts are old, the seam will sometimes be weakened by age.

    If the front roller turns free by hand, try backing off on the tension a bit (I don't recall if my is adjustable) or try a different brand of belts.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
    Go Navy!

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    SoCal
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    I'm afraid I'm going with wrong way as well. Some belts have no direction as they use a different type of seam but overlap-seam belt have little arrows printed on the inside to show direction of travel. Let us know what you find out ;-)
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

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