Not sure exactly what happened here, guessing I ran some boards through before the glue fully dried or its just part of sanding hard maple.
The question is, can sanding belts be cleaned? Thinking this is way past gum eraser cleaning stick. I thought about tossing it in a bucket with some cleaner, but believe it best to ask here first.
Thanks.
I've seen folks say that soaking them in Simple Green overnight will get that off, but it's never worked for me. My solution is to toss them when they look like that. As an aside, that appears to be a drum sander belt (?). Long ago I give up on anything finer than 150 grit, and more often than anything else, use 120 grit. The finer grits are just too easy to clog; as least for me.
Sanding belts are consumable. It is just not worth the time and effort that might go into cleaning them beyond the gum eraser. I guess you could try a wire brush, I have never done that though.
Long ago I give up on anything finer than 150 grit, and more often than anything else, use 120 grit. The finer grits are just too easy to clog; as least for me.
I agree that using the 180 for what I was sanding was a BIG part of the problem. I failed to check sanding grit before running the boards through it. Normally I have 80 or 120 on it.
I can easily get glue an sap fouled belts back to "new" with an overnight soak in a strong ammonia solution followed by laying the belt out on the patio and giving it a good hosedown with a nozzle . I use the "janitorial strength" stuff from the local ACE hardware (10%, about $6/gallon). Titebond III fouling sometimes takes another soak.
I have done this on 36 grit belts up to 220 grit which foul easily. Many of the 220's have been soaked over 5 times and still cut great, but I have found a few that the grit has simply been worn out from use. These are drum sander strips and 6"x48" sander belts. I've never noticed any damage to the belt from the cleaning except a few where the identification writing on the back has faded.
Simple green works quite well, but I've found the ammonia is the magic bullet for the worst. I keep in in a large plastic pretzel tub with a screw-on cap to keep it sealed. The strips are loosely rolled up to fit and fully submerged.
I have had that happen more than once. I found that using paint remover worked well. lather it on, work it briefly with a fine bristle brass brush, let it sit for a little while, rinse, and hang to dry.
The cheapest way to go around this is to buy an abrasive cleaner and use it for the cleaning purpose. It works fine with almost all types of wood sanders.
Thanks for the feedback. Considering I have nothing to lose but a few ounces of cleaning solution, I'll give it a go.
Don't have Simple Green, so poured a few ounces of Purple Power in a bucket with enough water to cover the belt. Will let it soak. Have my soft brass bristle brush ready to go.
Will let you all know how it turns out.
Thanks again!
In the old days water bed plants would take overhead sanding belts to the car wash.
The reason I ask what size bet. 3×21, 3×24,4×24, other?
The small belts aren't worth it unless there on a edge sander…
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