Stationary Sander Introduction

This page is INCOMPLETE and still missing some important information before it can be used as a resource. Please use the "Discussion" feature above or talk to one of the tutors if you would like to help improve it. Thanks!

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This is the content required for an introduction to our stationary sanders (currently only the belt and disc sander) - reading this does NOT replace the mandatory session with a tutor! It will make it a lot quicker though ;-)

Also make sure to read the machines's manual (belt & disc sander: located in the wooden box below the sander).

Safety

Personal protection:

A dust mask is also necessary for most materials - see our page on dust for some harmful examples!

Dangers	Precautions
Exposed & rapidly spinning sanding disc and sanding belt Will keep spinning for a few seconds after the machine is turned off Both disc and belt always spin at the same time	Wear suitable work clothes. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelery, as they might be caught. Tuck away long hair as it might get caught Never leave the machine running unattended Always unplug the machine prior to any servicing
Flying splinters and dust	Wear goggles, a dust mask could also be necessary depending on your material Hook up the shop vac for sanding wood and wood-like materials DO NOT use a shop vac when sanding metal
Risk of kick-back	Always support the workpiece against the direction of the force applied by the sander: Disc Sander: Sand on left side (sanding disc pushing the wood down towards the table) Belt Sander: Keep the workpiece in contact with the sanding table
the workpiece might get hot can potentially set sawdust on fire remains hot for a while after using	As specified by the manufacturer, the machine is not designed to grind metal. If you use it for light metal grinding/ deburring keep a bucket of water nearby to cool the workpiece, work in short intervals and stay careful not to overheat the machine and the workpiece. DO NOT use it for longer metal grinding (no knife making, etc).

Demonstration

The tutor will show you these steps in detail:

• Attaching the shop vac
• Adjusting the sanding belt
  • When putting on a new belt, make sure you use it in the correct orientation
  • Quickly turn the power ON and OFF again. Observe if the belt slides off its track. If it is sliding towards the disc side, turn the tracking knob clockwise, otherwise counter clockwise.
  • Make sure the belt is not sliding to either side before operating the machine every time, even if you are only using the sanding disc
• Adjusting the sanding tables
• Using the disc sander
  • Always position your workpiece on the left (downward pushing) side of the disc. The sanding action will then force the wood down, safely towards the table where it can be controlled.
• Using the belt sander
  • Check tension
  • Keep contact with the table
  • Do not force the work piece into the sanding belt. Only apply light pressure
  • Move workpiece from left to right, don't stay in one spot of the belt
• Always clean the machine and its work area with a shop vac after use