The belt sander is one of the best woodworking power tools for both large and small sanding jobs. It is a hand-held power tool that is made up of a smooth circle of sandpaper that is attached to a pair of round rollers. There is an electrical motor that turns the rollers so that the sandpaper glides over them, creating a powerful sanding surface. The hand-held model is often used in the first stages of finishing wood, by removing any paint or uneven surfaces with a rough grade of sandpaper.

This type of tool is sometimes mounted to a workbench with the sandpaper facing up. This stationary model is operated by pressing the wood to the surface of the grinder. When the machine is used in this fashion it is often called a bench sander.

The equipment has numerous functions when it comes to smoothing many kinds of materials. They can be found in a variety of sizes from the small hand-held models, to huge assembly plants machines that can smooth down a 4’ x 8’ piece of board with one pass. These woodworking tools can create a great deal of sawdust when they are in use. Most come with cloth filters that are fastened to the side of this device, so that bag collects the sawdust. The stationary belt style is used for the removal of soft metals such as aluminum, although this application can result in clogged grinding wheels, so it is not recommended.

Sanding those big flat areas such as large table tops, wide pieces of plywood and doors is a breeze when using this equipment. Depending on the size of the base, and the grit of the sandpaper, large refinishing jobs can be accomplished with ease. Removing old paint, lacquer, or stains, becomes light work with this equipment. Repairing the surface of old furniture, smoothing the outside of unsightly cabinetry, or refinishing wooden floors, are great jobs for this amazing power tool.

The home repair buff and woodworking professionals love them for their effectiveness when it comes to doing any type of finishing work. It is important to remember to avoid alcohol use when using any machinery, especially power tools. Never wear a tie or any type of hanging chains or jewelry and tie long hair back when operating this machinery; because these items can become tangled in the belt and cause serious injury. Always keep power tools away from young children and constantly provide adult supervision for older children, when training them to use this type of electrical machinery.

Belt sanders can make that wonderful feeling of accomplishment easy to achieve as those big jobs, become more manageable and a home turns into a showplace. Woodworking dreams become a reality, with the right tools.