| Strip
Sanding
Right
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The strip sander
is designed to do intricate detail sanding. It will sand the straight,
angled, curved, convex or concave edges and ends of workpieces quickly
and accurately. A unique feature of the strip sander is its ability
to sand the internal edges of round and oval picture frames, decorative
shelf supports and other projects that have been cut out using the
piercing cut method on a scroll saw or jigsaw. You can also use
the strip sander to polish metal and grind tools.
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Strip
Sander - Setup and Features
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Figure
20-1.
The Strip Sander mounts on the Shopsmith MARK V.
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To set up your
strip sander, follow the instructions in the Owners Manual that
came with your strip sander.
As you work
with the strip sander, you'll find that it has several special features:
- The strip
sander mounts on the Shopsmith MarkV (Figure
20-1).
- The dust
chute in the bottom of the cover will allow you to connect the
hose from your dust collection system during wood sanding operations.
- The strip
sander can accommodate stock of any size and shape within these
limits: 6" in front of the platen (contact with the table), 3-1/4"
thick between the table and the upper part of the housing, and
6-1/4" wide in the throat (back of the platen housing).
- There are
three platens - 1 " flat, 1/2" flat and 1/2" radius curved - that
back up the belt.
- The table
can be tilted from "0" to 45-degrees forward. Its surface is 11"
x 11". A table stop automatically positions the table at 90-degrees.
- A tensioning
spring automatically keeps the belt at the proper tension.
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Strip
Sander Safety
Warning:
Before using the strip sander, read and understand these important
safety instructions:
- Wear proper
eye and ear protection, and a dust mask.
- Keep your
hands and fingers out of the danger zone. The danger zone is 3"
out in all directions from the belt.
- Keep the
belt tracking properly during all operations.
- Never
reach close to the belt or underneath the table while the machine
is running.
- Always
use the table to support the stock. The only exception to this
is when you are sanding against the tracking wheel. Then hold
the stock securely in your hands and keep your hands and fingers
3" away from the moving belt.
- Sand on
the downward motion side of the belt only. The downward motion
keeps the belt tracking properly and helps hold the stock down
against the table.
- Never
attempt to sand an internal area smaller than the belt will allow.
This will pull the belt off the tracking wheel causing the belt
to cut into the frame or cover, and can cause the belt to break.
- Support
long stock with a roller stand.
- Use pilers
to hold small pieces of stock against the moving belt. Never use
your hands.
- If the
belt breaks, turn off the machine and stand away until the machine
comes to a complete stop.
- Secure
the Mark V accessory mount lock and power plant lock, and the
strip sander eccentric mounting tubes.
- Never
exceed speed setting K (2050 RPM) on the Mark V speed dial.
- Never
turn on the machine with anything laying on the table or stock
held against the belt.
- If you
hear a ticking sound or other unusual noise, stop the strip sander
immediately. A ticking sound often indicates a damaged belt.
- Never
leave the cover open while the strip sander is in operation.
- Never
attach a dust collection system to the strip sander during grinding
operations. Sparks and/or hot pieces of metal could ignite the
sawdust or debris in the collection bag.
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Strip
Sander Speeds
Before you begin
any strip sander operation, turn on the Mark V, set the speed dial
to the proper speed and let the machine get up to speed.
The speed setting
is determined by the material being sanded, the type of abrasive
belt and the size of the platen. Use Table
20-1 to determine the proper setting.
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Table
20-1.
Belts, Platens and Speeds. Click to see larger view.
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Strip
Sander Belts and Platens
The strip sander
uses aluminum oxide, garnet and silicon-carbide belts of various
grits in 1/2" x 42" and 1" x 42" sizes. Use aluminum oxide
belts for sanding wood, metal and plastic; garnet for wood and plastic;
and silicon-carbide for metal. A felt polishing belt and buffing
compounds are also available for polishing metal and plastic.
The platens
provide a firm backup for the belts and keep them tracking properly
during sanding operations. There are three sizes of platens: 1"
flat, 1/2" flat, and 1/2" radius curved.
Table
20-1 contains information about the belts and platens that are
available for the strip sander.
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Table
20-1.
Belts, Platens and Speeds. Click to see larger view.
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Strip
Sander Operation
To perform sanding
operations, turn on the Mark V, set the speed dial to the proper
speed and let the machine get up to speed.
Work with the
stock against the downward motion side of the belt only. The downward
motion keeps the belt tracking properly and helps hold the stock
down against the table. Work slowly and use light pressure against
the belt. Whenever possible, sand with a platen installed. You can
sand without a platen when sanding concave curves and internal edges.
However, use a slower speed and very light pressure so the belt
tracks properly and is not pulled off the tracking wheel. Caution:
If the belt is pulled off the tracking wheel, parts of the strip
sander could be damaged.
End Sanding
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Figure
20-2.
You can do surface sanding by passing the stock between the
drum and the table. Keep the stock moving and don't try to
remove too much material in a single pass.
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Hold the edge
of the stock down against the table and the end you want to sand
against the belt and platen (Figure
20-2). Apply enough pressure to sand without gouging the stock.
Sanding Angles
Loosen the table lock knob, tilt the table to the desired angle
and tighten the knob. Hold the edge of the stock down against the
table and the sawn angle against the belt and platen (Figure
20-3). Apply light, even pressure.
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Figure
20-3.
Tilt the table to the desired angle and then sand the sawn
angle.
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Sanding Convex
Curves
Hold the stock firmly against the table and follow the line of the
curve in a slow, steady motion. Apply light pressure against the
belt and platen (Figure
20-4).
Sanding Concave
Curves
To sand concave curves, use the curved platen or sand without a
platen.
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Figure
20-4.
Apply light pressure against the belt and plaen, and follow
the line of the convex curve.
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Follow the cut
in a slow, steady motion while keeping the stock flat against the
table. Apply light, even pressure against the belt (Figure
20-5). Be careful not to hook the stock on the belt. You could
pull the belt off the tracking wheel.
When sanding
without a platen apply less pressure, use a slower speed and watch
belt tracking constantly. Be careful not to pull the belt off the
tracking wheel.
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Figure
20-5.
Sand concave curves by working with or without a platen.
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Internal
Sanding
To perform internal sanding operations, you must change the location
of the left idler wheel assembly and install the belt up through
the table. Refer to the Strip Sander Owners Manual for instructions
on relocating the left idler wheel assembly and installing the belt.
Internal sanding
is done basically like sanding concave and convex curves. Sanding
the internal edges of a shelf support is shown
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Figure
20-6.
Internal sanding is done with the left idler wheel relocated,
with the belt installed up through the table, and with or
without a platen.
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in Figure
20-6.
Warning:
Sand on the downward motion side of the belt. The downward motion
keeps the belt tracking properly and helps hold the stock down against
the table.
You can internal
sand with or without a platen installed. When sanding without a
platen, work at a slow speed and be careful not to pull the belt
off the tracking wheel.
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Figure
20-7.
Sand odd-shaped or concave workpieces on the tracking wheel.
Work in the center of the wheel.
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Sanding Against
the Tracking Wheel
Sand odd-shaped or concave workpieces against the tracking wheel
(Figure 20-7).
Hold the workpiece securely in your hands and sand the workpiece
in the center of the wheel. Work carefully so you don't pull the
belt off the tracking wheel.
Sanding Other
Materials
You can sand plastics and metals, and perform buffing operations
with the strip sander. Refer to Table
20-1 to determine which belts, platens and speeds to use for
these materials.
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