BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Control Belt Sander Speed

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Many belt sanders have a speed adjustment, but there are a few that just have one speed. Generally, the faster the belt sander goes, the more wood you will take off of the piece you are working on. When you are working those tricky spots, you want a slower speed to take off less wood. There are a few tricks you can use if the belt sander doesn't have a speed adjuster.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Use sandpaper with a higher grit. The higher the grit, the less wood it takes off.

Step2

Try pulse sanding. A great way to control your sanding speed is pulse sanding. This is used where the wood has a dip in. Barely squeeze the trigger and then let go so that the sander pulses. This method takes off a lot of material a little at a time. This method is great for sanding out a dent into a smooth plane.

Step3

Clamp the belt sander onto a table or work bench to make it stationary when you smooth the edges or round corners. Move the rough corner of the wood or metal you are working on back and forth across the stationary sander to get a smoother finish.

Step4

Round off the edges by holding the edge of the wood or metal piece you are working on at an angle to the belt.

Tips & Warnings

When you sand with the sander mounted in a stationary position make certain that the belt part is always be pointing down and away from you for safety.