How to Shape Wood With Belt Sanders

Using a belt sander you can shape wood smoothly. You can securely mount the belt sander for tasks in the workshop or dismount it for remote jobs. Either way, a steady hand and some finish sanding done by hand can make a very beautiful and professional looking piece of shaped wood. You must exercise care when using a belt sander and safety must be a priority.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Mount the belt sander to a work bench securely. Make sure that the sander cannot slip or come loose. Mounted upside down with the abrasive belt exposed, the belt sander will present a serious danger. Take care at all times to keep hands, your body and loose clothing away from the belt when it is on.

2. Setup a brace or stabilizer to use to hold the wood against as you begin to shape the piece. Having a firm surface that you can stabilize both your hands and the piece as you sand is invaluable.

3. Draw a rough pencil line on the wood to use as a guide for shaping. Use this line to guide you as you sand the wood. Take the excess wood off the item being sanded to just shy of the pencil marks. You will need finer sand paper to do the final sanding either by hand or with an orbital sander.

Tips & Warnings

• Compound curves and intricate designs are possible with the use of the different sanding surfaces available on a belt sander. Gentle narrowing or thinning can also be done if extreme care is taken, due to the danger of touching your hands to the belt.

[thebestintown]

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