[tvman44]

Talking about belt sanders, you guys that have one "do you leave the tension on the belt sander when not using or do you do like me and release tension and then have to set up again every time you want to use it?" Some times I think I may be wasting a lot of time, tensioning and releasing.

 

[Dave Paine]

I have a bench style belt + disc and a hand held belt sander.

I have a drive belt on the Performax drum sander.

I do not release the belt tension on any of these tools.

 

[bigcouger]

I release the tension on the hand held belt sander I have but I don't use it much tho an it helps to keep the belt from stretching, I use it maybe 1 time a year

 

[cabinetman]

I don't de-tension (is that a word?) any of my belt sanders.

.

 

[ctwiggs1]

Seems like it would do more harm than good.

Parts that small are usually rated for cycle-counts. Meaning how many times will that tensioning lever work before snapping.

Curtis

 

[sawdustfactory]

I never release tension on my belt sander. Never had an issue with the belt stretching.

 

[Bill White 2]

I keep my Ryobi BS tight hoping it will break so I can buy a new one. Problem is, the darned thing won't quit. Imagine that. I must have just been lucky. :laughing:
Bill

 

[BZawat]

I use a belt sander almost every day & the only the time the tension is released is when I change the belt. Consequently, I very rarely have to adjust the tracking of the belt since the tension stays relatively constant.

 

[Itchytoe]

About 6 months ago I borrowed one of my dad's belt sanders. It hadn't been used in at least a decade and was under tension the whole time. The belt didn't last long, but it worked fine right up until it broke. I doubt you'll have any trouble with leaving a belt sander under tension if it's a tool you actually use.

 

[jharris2]

I don't de-tension (is that a word?) any of my belt sanders.
.

I think the word is detensionate and I don't either.

Great question though.

 

[GeorgeC]

Have portable and bench. Do not loosen either.

G

 

[Steve Neul]

I don't take the tension off the belt. There is a greater chance that there will be damage to the thin metal steel shoe and cork pad if the belt was loosened. I do take the tension off my stroke sander if I don't foresee using it.

 

[cabinetman]

There is a greater chance that there will be damage to the thin metal steel shoe and cork pad if the belt was loosened.

Can you explain that?

.

 

[Steve Neul]

Can you explain that?

.

If the belt is just sitting loose it will slide in or out or come completely off in normal handling exposing the shoe hanging loose where it may hang on something bending it.

 

[del schisler]

Talking about belt sanders, you guys that have one "do you leave the tension on the belt sander when not using or do you do like me and release tension and then have to set up again every time you want to use it?" Some times I think I may be wasting a lot of time, tensioning and releasing.

i have to porter cable sander's a 3x21 and 4x24 and a lever for the tension , i just move the lever the tension is off , no time lost here , easey on the belts, what kind of sander do you have that need adjustment every time ?

 

[cabinetman]

If the belt is just sitting loose it will slide in or out or come completely off in normal handling exposing the shoe hanging loose where it may hang on something bending it.

Oh, I get it now. Assuming there will be "normal handling" with a disabled belt sander causing this or that to catch the exposed parts as you described. I guess that's possible if the sander has to be moved around instead of put in a place until needed. A great tip.

.

 

[tvman44]

My stationary sander is a Craftsman 9" disc / 6" x 48" belt sander and there is no lever to just release tension. I have to loosen the tracking adjustments on each side to relieve tension. My hand held belt sander is a PC 4" x 24" and it has a lever to release tension without touching the tracking.

i have to porter cable sander's a 3x21 and 4x24 and a lever for the tension , i just move the lever the tension is off , no time lost here , easey on the belts, what kind of sander do you have that need adjustment every time ?