Replies

1. 
   AndyE | Mar 24, 2005 01:22am | #1

   I put one on my PC 3x24. It seems to work ok. I put it on when the sander was brand new so I can't say if it makes the belt run any smoother or not. The surface of the graphite did get a polish to it and has a fairly slick surface. The belts don't seem to get very warm unless I really bear down on them.

   On the minus side, when I have been sanding for a while I do notice it sheds little bits of graphite which do mark the surface. They do brush off if I don't rub them in, but it means I have to look out for them as I am sanding. Overall I can't say if it was worth the money at this point but I will keep using it since it is on the sander.

   Andy

   "It seemed like a good idea at the time"

1. 
   kenwerner | Mar 24, 2005 02:26am | #2

   AndyE -
   did you take off the metal platen, or just attach the graphite over it?Ken Werner

   Hamilton, NY

1. 
   cicero | Mar 24, 2005 06:47am | #3

   I am sure like me he left the platten on,bit soggy otherwise.

1. 
   kenwerner | Mar 24, 2005 02:33pm | #4

   I left the metal platen on also. Just wondering if that's right or knot.
   Ken Werner

   Hamilton, NY

2. 
   AndyE | Mar 25, 2005 02:01am | #7

   Well actually, ... (starting to go red in the face) I took the metal platen off. I never even considered leaving it on. Since the graphite one didn't come with any specific directions and I just figured I was swapping one for the other... I guess I could put it back underneath but really, why bother? The belt tension still seems fine. Anyone have any thought on the subject? I am not going to be back in the shop for a fortnight or so. Taking the kids to Disney next week.Hmmm.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

1. 
   kenwerner | Mar 25, 2005 05:26am | #8

   The graphite pad I received from P-C via Amazon had no directions. I just took a guess and left the platen on. I too would like to hear what others have done and the results.Ken Werner

   Hamilton, NY

2. 
   KeithNewton | Mar 24, 2005 04:49pm | #5

   I use it on the platen of my stroke sander, and have only had one problem when a small chip got behind the cloth causing a little bump which cut a little flute in the wood.

   The best thing I have found for it is on the end of the edge sander. Instead of having a idler wheel, I made an elliptical wood, graphite covered end that is SOOOOOOOO sweet for sanding the inside of curves. This is far superior to the bumping along on an idler wheel.

3. 
   patternmaker | Mar 24, 2005 05:14pm | #6

   Since we are talking about belt sanders!

   I ordered a quantity of sanding belts from The Sanding Catalog.I intended to take advantage of the full box pricing.But The lady taking the order said that if belts are not used in a in a reasonable time,that the glued joints tend to come apart.
   Have any of you had this problem? I do not know what a reasonable time is.

   Thank you,Mr.Croney,where ever you may be.
   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/24/2005 10:22 am ET by Pat

1. 
   notDusty | Mar 25, 2005 06:50am | #10

            Pat ,

                  I bought a used Rodgers profile / edge sander years ago , and it came with 30 or 40 extra belts 2 -1/4" X 80 " . Some were a "J" weight  paper for conforming to different profiles , as I started using these belts they mostly came apart at the seams . They were 3-M brand and they would not replace them nor did they offer any help . I am not sure if moisture contributes to this problem or what . They did elude to the fact that they do have a shelf life .I'm thinking 10 years may be too long . And to the original post , I use graphite cloth over the existing platen of my edge sander and have never had any problems . It does seem to create  less friction and cooler longer lasting belts .

                                   dusty

1. 
   patternmaker | Mar 25, 2005 04:06pm | #11

   Thanks for the feed back. I too use the graphite over the metal platen. When the belts break,I use the abrasive for other purposes. The finer grades are excellent for finishing detailed turnings. You can tear off the strips to any width needed.Thank you,Mr.Croney,where ever you may be.

   Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

1. 
   Sphere | Mar 25, 2005 09:08pm | #12

   I have found you can also use a  hunk of a worn out belt sander belt instead of the graphite in lieu of the thin metal platen as long as the contact surfaces are what I would call BACK TO BACK.

   My graphite pad wore out and I had long since tossed the original thin metal doo-dad..so I flipped an old belt and installed a chunk..works just fine. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Mar 25, 2005 06:29am | #9

   I have been using graphite platens on my belt sander for years.  Since swithing to them, I have not had a belt failure.  I removed the metal platen or it tended to make to big a hump which made the sander less stable.

   I would recommend taking off the existing platen.

   Howie.........