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Author Topic: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?  (Read 1810 times)

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Offline toomanyknots

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Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« on: April 27, 2013, 02:34:37 pm »
Anybody do this? Any tips?
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Pat B

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2013, 03:17:05 pm »
I have used my bench mounted belt sander to flatten and smooth hickory and boo backing strips and core lams. I have a 36grit belt on it.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Badger

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2013, 03:41:56 pm »
Takes a little practice but not a long learning curve. I place the hand on top of the material holding it flat to the belt while I pull it back across the belt sliding under my hand. You can make a jig for your sander that will turn it into a thickness sander but probably not worth the trouble.
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2013, 05:26:31 pm »
Thanks for the replies guys. Is it easy to mess it up? Say, if my backing is 80" long or so, is it easy to have the backing lean over the edge of the belt sander and remove too much material, making the backing an inconsistent thickness, etc? Also, do you use a glove when you sand it?
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Pat B

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2013, 05:35:01 pm »
You can place a table or stand of some sort just past the sander to support the material as it comes off the sander.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2013, 05:51:03 pm »
Quote from: Pat B on April 27, 2013, 05:35:01 pm
You can place a table or stand of some sort just past the sander to support the material as it comes off the sander.

Alrighty, sounds like a plan,  ;D.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline bow101

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2013, 05:52:24 pm »
Done about 14 lams with the disk sander, freehand as well, not easy but it did work, just did the last 12 inches or so to get a taper.  After the glue up the bows had no twist or delamination.
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"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Offline Granite Mtn

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Re: Using a belt sander to flatten backings/cores/laminates?
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2013, 06:33:43 pm »
Did a ton of lambs and boo backing strips when I was building laminate bows don't do many ant mor here are some tips that will help.  On your boo grind the final width profile first then taper,  I would grind the tip thickness first then work from the center to the tips to get the desired taper.  After you grind then slightly dish out the center using a goose neck scraper then grove with thoothing plane or saw blade for no glue lines.  The lams are easy you will get the hang of them really quickly.  I can not emphasize the importance of grinding the side profile in your boo backing first before you taper this allows a nice taper of your backing because it is thicker in the center.
Hope this was helpful!
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