Do I Need To Get A Belt Sander?

[DavidL]

When dealing with leathers like horween has anyone used a belt sander? The leather may be too soft?

Also, How do you get all the edges squared? With multiple pieces its hard to get the piece square and flat. My pieces have a lot of dips and valleys and takes forever to sand by hand even with 80 grit.

[mlapaglia]

Cut the edges a little longer than needed and power sand them to size. Its not needed but will save a LOT of time.

Belt, drum, dremel, some kind of power sander will really help.

[snubbyfan]

From my wood worker days, I've got 3 kinda power sanders. A vertical disc, horizontal belt and a sanding drum chucked into my drill press. For a long straight edge the belt sander works best. On an edge with inside curves, I use the sanding drum.

I also do some hand sanding. For that I use a sanding block with 150 grit.

Belt sanded this one.

Used the sanding drum on this one.

Hand sanded the belt with 150 grit on a sanding block.

[DavidL]

snubby those are great edges. I will check out a sanding drum.

I redid the edges and they came out fine with sanding block this time. For longer items I will pick up a sanding belt

[CustomDoug]

I thought I needed a belt sander so I ran out to Harbour Freight and bought one of their small vertical belt sanders that sits on a table top. It uses like a 3/4 to 1" sanding belt (can't remember which). I do not recommend this version of a sander - it's only useful for the shortest pieces like small card holders, wallets, etc - with straight edges of course. It was cheap so I'll have it when needed but honestly I'm really still wanting a much bigger horizontal belt sander. For long belts and straps my little sander is useless and frustrating. I feel like a bigger horizontal machine with like a 3-4"wide sanding belt would be a heck of a lot better.tion

I also plan on getting drum sanders in some configuration, definitely needed.

Doug C

[DavidL]

I will keep that in mind. A horizontal sander w/ an 90 degree flat guide.

[Dwight]

I own two of the Harbor Freight $49.95 or thereabouts belt sanders, . . . I think it is a 1 inch belt sander.

They are worth their weight in gold for me: holsters, purses, belts, . . . you name it. I don't know what problems others have with it, . . . I can sand down the edge of a 44 inch belt in about 4 minutes, . . . perfectly straight, . . . square, . . . and ready for the edger. Anything wider cuts far too much of the leather, . . . leaves valleys, . . . etc.

Drum sanders for me are only good for inside curves, . . . something I do not do a lot with. I got one from Menard's with a coupon, . . . would probably take it back if I could, . . . it oscillates, . . . which doesn't do well for my leather work.

I also have a big 12 inch disc sander, . . . very rarely use it with leather.

My suggestion is to try the Harbor Freight belt sander, . . . I give it 2 thumbs up.

May God bless,

Dwight

[DavidL]

What grit do you use? 220, 400?

[Dwight]

80 and 120

May God bless,

Dwight

[CustomDoug]

The only problem with the 1" version of HF's sander (for me) is that there is not enough room to work longer pieces. The base plate is in the way. Maybe if the whole sanding belt protruded completely and could be mounted so that the belt stuck out past a table edge it would be a lot better. A horizontal belt sander on the other hand is completely open on both ends (and is longer).

Dwight wrote: "..Anything wider cuts far too much of the leather, . . . leaves valleys, . . . etc..." - Dwight are you saying that a wider sanding belt causes those problems? I'm not sure how that would be the case as the grit is going to be the same between the narrow and wider belt. Do you have experience with a horizontal sander? If that's true I may need to reconsider. Thanks.

Doug C

Edited August 17, 2015 by CustomDoug