Belt slapped !!

[specweldtom]

I've got a couple of dozen never used 2" x 72" sanding belts that come apart at the splice almost as soon as I put them on. They are probably about 10 yrs old and the adhesive that is used on the splice tape is letting go. If I don't get out of the way immediately when they start making a very light tapping noise, they then slap the crap out of me when they come apart. It happens too quick to turn the belt grinder off. Distracting.

Does anyone know if, or how, the splices can be glued back together? The belts themselves and the abrasives are still like brand new. Only the splices fail. I'm going to try super glue, unless someone knows something better. At an average of $7 each, it's hard to give up on them.

Thanks for any help or ideas. My hands and arms are taking a beating. Got slapped in the face once. Started using a face shield (like I should have been) after that.

Tom

 

[ZombieHitman]

Does anyone know if, or how, the splices can be glued back together? The belts themselves and the abrasives are still like brand new. Only the splices fail. I'm going to try super glue, unless someone knows something better. At an average of $7 each, it's hard to give up on them.

Tom, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but once a sanding belt splits like that, it's done.
Having gone through hundreds of them in my custom furniture shop, there's no saving one that's come apart. It's not safe, it's not smart, and you WILL get hurt if it flies apart at speed. Seen it happen. Don't EVER want to see it again.
My rule of thumb is that any sanding belt that's more than a year old gets cut up so it can't be put on any machine, and used for hand sanding.
It's just flat not worth the hassles, headaches, and the pain, as you're starting to find out.
What size belts do you use? I have some that are new that you can have if they're your size, and you PROMISE me that you'll toss those antique belts in the trash.

 

[cowboy]

My rule of thumb is that any sanding belt that's more than a year old gets cut up so it can't be put on any machine, and used for hand sanding.
It's just flat not worth the hassles, headaches, and the pain, as you're starting to find out.
What size belts do you use? I have some that are new that you can have if they're your size, and you PROMISE me that you'll toss those antique belts in the trash.[/QUOTE]

Above is good advise to heed too - This man sounds like he knows what he's talking about and I agree with him 100% - BEEN THERE - DONE THAT

 

[ZombieHitman]

Above is good advise to heed too - This man sounds like he knows what he's talking about and I agree with him 100% - BEEN THERE - DONE THAT

Well, thank you a bunch!
I'd like to think I've earned it the easy way, but the truth is always different.
Having belts break and trash a tabletop, carving, finial, or something that's especially difficult to repair or replace in a timely fashion, I learned that belts are cheap. Think of it this way...
Sanding belt...$7.00 (That's super expensive to begin with, but OK)
Bandaids - $4.00/box
Emergency Room visit - $100-200 deductible
Time spent laid up missing out on the things you love....Way too expensive for my taste.

The adhesives on sanding belts have a short lifespan. About a year at the most.
What's your personal safety worth?
Peace of mind?
Digging into that project you've worked so hard on already, making more work for yourself?
Dude, ditch the junk belts.
Get a new one, or tell me what you need, and I'll mail you one or two.
Just be safe. Please!

 

[specweldtom]

Zombie and Cowboy, Good advice. I didn't mention that I've also had workpieces snatched out of my hand a couple of times. Was lucky, (one was a knife blade I was grinding the bevel on) no harm done, but I know that luck can go both ways.

I called an industrial supply house that I get lathe and mill tooling and supplies from. They have the 2" x 72" belts and 6" x 48", both Norton brand. Based on your replys, I'm going up to Houston tomorrow and get about a years supply, no more.

I superglued 2 of the 72" belt splices earlier today, and will try running them but not doing any work or even getting in front of them. Just curious now.... I'll pull the rest of them apart and have a lifetime supply of sanding straps to use instead of buying the 50 foot rolls.

Zombie, thanks very much for the offer, but I'm convinced. Nothing like experience. I sure would have expected the splices to last longer, but 10 years was obviously unreasonable. Now I'm amazed that they only recently started coming apart!

Thanks for the info and offer. I got it covered.

Tom

 

[specweldtom]

Well, that didn't take long. I just tried one of the 2 that I superglued. It didn't make it around but 2 or 3 times and popped apart. The grinder wasn't even up to speed before it let go.

Thanks again, Tom