A belt sander looks--and acts--like the bulldozer of the toolbox. Applied to
a piece of wood, the tool's continuous band of sandpaper tears effortlessly
through layers of old paint or patches of rough wood to reveal a fresh surface
underneath. Used carefully, belt sanders can
make quick work of stock that would otherwise have to be laboriously sanded by
hand. But like a grinder, the belt sander has a relentless fury. If held in one
place even an instant too long, it will make irreparable gouges in the very
surface you're trying to smooth. How It Works
Regardless of size, all belt sanders
operate on the same principle: a loop of sandpaper
wraps around a rear roller and a front roller, creating tension between the two.
When the sander is switched on, the rear drive roller (which is usually
connected to the motor) spins, causing the sanding belt to move forward like the
tread of a bulldozer. This is far more aggressive than an orbital sander, in
which the sanding pad rotates in a very small circle. But belt sanders can
take on far bigger jobs: old layers of paint can disappear with one swipe of the
tool, and a wide piece of wood can be leveled smooth with just a few passes. More...
Check out our other Tool Buying Guides
Sandblasting uses a process where a surge of sand is forced by a flow of compacted air or by water against a
facade. This contrives an impressive erosive action that can leave untarnished and erode any surface placed
under the jet of these rough fragments. More...
The ToolBox has a fine selection of guides, books and magazines available in our library. They make excellent gifts for the handyman in your life.
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