Mod to cheap 4"x36" belt sander

[Toolmaker51]

I am surprised that you needed that. I have no problems with mine wandering.

A distinct, unadvertised option of these; actual balancing or impressions of same. Sometimes the molded resin wheels aren't consistently dense, or spring post not proper tight sliding fit.
Mine is a Craftsman branded import, plank mounted with soft rubber feet. Iffy at first, using good 2x42 belts biggest improvement. I don't care for the disk, available grits at 6" diameter are unsatisfactory. I'm no Tuomas, but right angle grinder works fine.

[Jon]

It's been a little while since I plugged my HF tool modification post: Homemade tools made with Harbor Freight tools

[TomBuildsStuff]

I have the same sander with the same shortcomings. I also found that when trying to plumb my shop vac into the dust collection port on the back, that when the vac was turned on, the belt would not turn... there was not enough clearance between the belt and the port to get adequate airflow, and not enough torque in the stock motor to overcome the suction. Ultimately, I just wound up scrapping the back of the unit and the flimsy plastic disc sander portion, swapped out the motor with an old craftsman, and bent up a slightly better 'table' that will ultimately have to be replaced with something like the one you built here.

Nice build ��

[tonyfoale]

.... I also found that when trying to plumb my shop vac into the dust collection port on the back, that when the vac was turned on, the belt would not turn... there was not enough clearance between the belt and the port to get adequate airflow, and not enough torque in the stock motor to overcome the suction. .....��

i added a dust collector as shown in these pix. As the dust is carried downward by the belt it just falls captive to the air being sucked in. There is no tendency to suck the belt onto the platten. It is made from some scrap plastic drain pipe, the lid off a coffee jar and some scraps of wood. It works really well. The black knob on the front is the only bolt holding it on, elsewhere it just rests on a shaped support.

[PMmill]

Thanks, I may have to buy one now, just to do your up grade

[Boris99]

Thanks for the tips!
Woodworking (and plain old tinkering is just a hobby for me so I can seldom justify the purchase of "top shelf" equipment.
HF stuff fits my budget and my learning curve. I have no family to pass on any "heirloom tools" (But I do own two
Kirby Vacuums...one is used for the "front end" of my dust collection system) so I buy HF and look for mods like these.

[69G T O]

I've owned this cheap Harbor Freight belt sander for 10 years, and it has always been under powered and slow. So, I replaced the 1/2 h.p. 1725 rpm motor with a 3/4 h.p. Craftsman 3450 rpm unit, and while I was working on it, decided to make a better fence (or table?)

Simple, adjustable and easy to make from stock laying around my shop. This thing now has plenty of power and is quick to remove material.

Dan Linscheid

I have one like this i need to rebuild to use 4 x 72 belts.I can get all the used belts i could ever want.My ex boss would give them to me for the asking.They would take longer to use but cant beat the price.