the idea seems odd, buti wondered what would happen if i used my belt sander to level out my lines. Figured id ask before i did it, anybody done it before?
stay stoked- Caleb
Don’t do it. Even with a fine grit belt, that sander will overpower your control and dig too much. Ask me how I know, well, I used a belt sander on the first board I made, a reshape of my classic 9’6" back in 1969 or so. It ended up way too thin. Sadly, the next board was too. Still, they rode nicely, in my memory at least.
If you can see that your shape isn’t “fair” as the naval architects say, then you’re at least halfway there. The high spots you can see, you can reduce with a little careful surform work, and meantime consider your process so you make fewer of them next time.
I do it! but you have to be VERY carefull as belt sanders go right through your job! its do-able but you just have to be careful.
Josh.
Belt Sander = trashed board. Planer + sanding block + foam pads = Nice board. Try it and tell us how it works out. I wouldn’t even try it to sand a glass job let alone sand foam?
-Jay
well im smart enough i think to know the voice of experience here, no offense josh, so i best just go get the right tool. Saw a Chicago 3 1/4" planer for 25 bucks at a Harbor Freight Hardware sale, been usin hand tools. These things worth it?
oh yes,
I now belt sanders can ruin your job very easily, there best for thining out blanks but not really for sanding, Ive tried it on my single fin with a fine (220paper) sandpaper and it worked alright but i do agree belts are not the right thing for the job, unless your doing a wooden board. best sanders are orbitals and buffs.
josh.
Harbor Freight planer is ok. You’ll kill it if you intend to do a bunch of boards with it, but if your going to do just a few a year, it will work fine. The problem is that you have to crank the depth knob 4 times to get a full cut. One of the modified Clark jobs cuts in a 1/4 turn. But it’s not the end of the world with the Harbor freight one.
-Jay
The problem with a belt sander is the lack of cut depth control - ditto for a sanding disc. If you wanna take off lotsa foam quickly, you really do need to use a planer.
With the wood boards I build, I just don’t use a planer…
Instead all of those tasks are taken over with my reliable Ryobi 321 belt sander…
As I see it, the real problem with a belt sander, for use on foam, is the lack of “shoe” that a planer has…
The belt sander produces an even cut, but the depth and control is solely in the hands of the operator…
If a belt sander did have a variable shoe, I thing it could be a viable shaping option…
The availability of various grits and low cost of belts might be a plus…
Do you really need spinning knives to cut foam…???
Any toolmakers interested in a patent idea…
Isn’t the “sanding drum cutter head” replacement for planer blades, basically just a type of sanding / rasp drum…???
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... snip ...Isn’t the “sanding drum cutter head” replacement for planer blades, basically just a type of sanding / rasp drum…???
Yes, a very viable way to go … but still, for most hobbyist shapers, a cheap planer will get the job done quickly and accurately on foam. I’ve used a Bosch planer (with vac attachment) to shape hundreds of softboard Arcel cores, and no problem with EPS planks either.
You bet - an ajdustable depth shoe for a belt sander would be the cat’s meow, IMO.
Caleb, There is one operation in the shaping process where a belt sander works pretty good: Once your plan shape is cut (about 1/8" fat of the line), you can hold the sander vertically and sand up to the line.
But be careful. Move slowly and at a steady pace and be sure you keep the trailing edge of the belt as the cutting part. If you tilt the leading edge toward the foam it can gouge. I hold the sander with both hands and walk backwards.
However, it’s only for getting close. I think fine tuning is still best done by hand. Doug
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With the wood boards I build, I just don’t use a planer…
Instead all of those tasks are taken over with my reliable Ryobi 321 belt sander…
Same here I’m using this on my Recycled wood hollowboard, Its funny how good and old crappy piece of wood turfs out when you give the belt a go’
Josh.
hold it in one place till you see smoke…then …no not really i wouldnt suggest a bely sander in any case for shaping …planer , shureform ,and of course sandpaper…thats about it.