6"x48" Belt sander

I have no specific knowledge about that machine, but it looks like a sturdy machine

Does it have ball bearings or babbit?

If its a hanging motor, you have to be sure you match up the right frame.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

Robert, It did have a hanging motor ( I guess that’s what you’d call it ) it was mounted on that board underneath, & that lead weight plus the weight of the motor kept the belt tight. It hasn’t ran in years. And as far as the bearings I’m not sure, I need to take it down to parade rest one of these days. Kinda wanted to run it first to see if the belt was going to track.

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

That looks SOOO much like my 103.22350 that I still use a lot today. My mom bought it new, completely as shown with motor and stand, in about 1952. My motor mount is different, but there could be reasons for that. Those two rails that the motor sits on are slid to adjust belt tension. Belt tracking is adjustable using those doodads on the right end in your picture, but it can be a rpita to get it right. The rubber sleeves that cover the rollers at the ends will be the hardest thing to find. Sears carried them for a long time (I bought mine in about 1990), but they are no longer available from Sears. As for bearings being ball or babbit, neither. Bronze bushings that need regular oiling. The main thing I don’t like about it is that crappy cheap table. The adjustment hardware is so flimsy that you can’t keep it reliably level. And that groove is so shallow and narrow that NOTHING fits in it.

xeddog, nice, thanks for the reply and pic, good to know about bronze bushings and rubber sleeves!

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

Interesting. I have one of these stashed in the garage attic. It was a throw in with an item I purchased. I have the sander which looks to be complete as well as a Craftsman motor for it, no stand. Mine has some surface rust on the table but it looks like it should clean up. I would be interested in options for the rubber sleeves for the rollers as mine are rotted and crumbling. I was wondering if they are absolutely necessary as you do not see them on newer sanders. I am thinking some heat shrink tubing may work if necessary. I have seen this stuff up to ~4” diameter.

From the number you showed it is a King Seely (the mfg.) Solid machine for the belt. The disc table is questionable. You’ll use the belt most often.

-- [email protected]

I’ll have to look into the heat shrink, that would be a great alternative if it works!

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

Mine is a newer vintage, probably mid 70’s and it still has the factory motor, and it’s 3/4 HP. Just saying that because I also have a newer 4×36 HF and it has a 1/3 HP IIRC, and you can easily stop the belt with your hand. I think Tim the Tool Man Taylor has it right on this one. MORE POWER!!!!! AUURRHHH, couple of grunts…...

-- Think safe, be safe

therealSteveN, glad you brought that up, I had read the smaller motors somewhere…not sure if it was in the manual or not.

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

I have one, similar but maybe a little newer model. It was given to me by my son-in-law, someone gave it to him… I took it home,,, simple clean up and it looks brand new… My nephew gave me a 1/3 hp motor for it… Only thing I have invested is the sanding belt and the sanding disk. I put it on a stand I built, hanging motor in the stand… I use it often and the Rigid sitting next to sit sit there, only reason I keep it is for the spindle sanding… I am very happy with this sander… Yours will be worth the effort to get it going..

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Thank you Paulding, that’s what I intend to do!

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

I had an old sears disc belt sander and it took a longer belt. I think it was a 52”but don’t remember. I gave to my son a couple of years ago. I had to order belts to fit. It work good just couldn’t get the table to tighten.

Mine is not the same model…whether older or newer I really don’t know. I’ve had it so long I can’t even recall where it came from, but I know it was a freebie. The top roller design is poor…in that it has two bearings towards the center of the drum as opposed to the outer edges. Subsequently the bearings have worn the the press fit on the aluminum housing so that the roller is sloppy. I’ve managed to shim it, but I have to replace the shims occasionally as they wear. The tables nice, but the support isn’t great and hard to lock down. Still, it does the job, and I like the old guy enough too add dust collection and a separate side table for the nine inch disc sander. Since the pic, I’ve added an auxiliary table to the main table so as to clear the disc. It’s an ongoing Rube Goldberg style shop project that’s been kind of fun to figure out as I go. ; )

-- Live to putter...putter to live!

RCCinNC, I like your dust collection additions!

-- Two Wrongs don't make a right !

Hah! Glad you do! I really like figuring out ways to make things work…Never saw a tool that couldn’t be improved for the better. Just yesterday had to replace the bearing shims in the top drum…got it down to ten minutes and no hassles. Used it for grinding parts for my ancient Weber Grill rebuild. Kind of an old guy using his old rehabbed tool rehabbing his beloved old grill type thing…
Not much success rehabbing the old guy though… ; )

I really love your sander…especially the belt adjustment design with the yoke. They appear to share many of the same parts…but you definitely got the better top drum/bearing set up. Hope you’re having some fun with it.
Take care and stay safe sawdust!

-- Live to putter...putter to live!