How to Belt Sand the Edge of a Board

Belt sanders offer a quick way to whittle down wood to the perfect size. They work great on a board edge to create a smooth soft finish. Remember, belt sanding is the middle step of a woodwork project and hand sanding for finishing is still necessary. Look below for tips on how to belt sand the edge of a wooden board.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Board
• Vice
• Belt sander
• Safety goggles

1. Place the board with the edge face up in a woodworking vice. Be sure the wood is in the correct position and secure it before beginning any work with the belt sander.

2. Plug in the sander near the vice and put goggles over your eyes. Safety is extremely important when using power tools.

3. Hold the sander firmly with both hands on top of the board edge. The right hand cradles the top length of the sander while the left hand holds onto the handle or grip at the side of the sander.

4. Keep the sander flat against the board's edg and turn on the machine. As with all power tools, the belt sander may have a little kick when it first starts and a firm grip using the full body may be necessary for petite wood workers.

5. Move the sander along the edge surface in a straight up and down movement. This will remove sanding scratches from the wood's surface without creating any new ones.

6. Bevel the edge of the board by tilting the sander forward and backward in tiny movements. The sander should be moved quickly and fluidly to prevent any chips or scratches to the edge. It won't take much more than a few passes to round the board's edge so be careful not to over sand.

7. Continue to sand the surface until smooth and clear of scratches before moving on to the hand sanding process.