Wide Belt Sander

Maintenance of a wide belt sander

Maintenance of any tool is a key to fiscal responsibility. You pay a lot for a quality tool like a wide belt sander, and often the dependability of that tool is crucial to you. You keep it dependable by keeping up with maintenance. The first thing to do is read the manual.

State of the art sanders may be computer operated and have serviceable parts that even an experienced carpenter has never heard of. If it is beyond your talents, call a serviceman.
There are simple adjustments and maintenance functions that a handyman can do. If the belt needs changing, change it. I know it is expensive, but you need a quality outcome, right?  There is a checklist that needs to be done before each use. Do it! Things like checking on moisture traps and drains can seem small, but if not checked can be very expensive.
Mechanical parts not near electricity need oiling on a regular basis. That is in handyman 101. Most newer sanders are rife with electronics, so forget this unless your sander is ancient.

Check all the fixed parts of your sander before doing the adjustable or moveable parts. Also check for any looseness in any machine parts as heavy use can vibrate it apart (The heavier the sander, the less vibration you get.). Check the spacing for all the settings and get out that book that came with your machine, the one you hang beside the machine in a plastic protector. Some new models have electronic height adjustment. Make sure the feed  is exactly parallel to the roller that first makes contact with the work piece. The rolls for holding the piece down will be below that. Adjust the platen to just below the contact roll and parallel to it.  The platens on cheap belt sanders are removable rather than adjustable. Put appropriate dressing on the conveyer belt to ensure proper friction. Check the tracking conveyer belt tracking. Replace any damaged part.
Keep the machine and the work area clean.
Know the difference between a problem that is machine based from a problem that is material based (integral to the work piece).
A big belt sander is a man’s machine. Treat it with respect.