Official Luthiers Forum!

Chris I have a 22-44 that gets very little use since I bought the Grizzly wide belt sander.
I have sanded a lot of maple on that 22-44. Light passes, full speed and new paper at least 80 grit but 60 is better. I always run mine at full speed for any wood. I haven't read where you mention what grit you are using.

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As has been said faster, light cuts. Remember that these little drum sanders are really finishing sanders not thicknessers, so should be treated as such. I have has both the 10-20 and 16-32, in fact I went back to the 10-20 as I preferred it to the 16-32, giving me a more consistent result.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Chris, How did you make the 4" dust collection port on your shroud? I need to make that upgrade on mine.

James, when you say you roll it outside, do you still use a vacuum system?

Mike

The mower analogy doesn't really work, as the mower balde heating up isn't an issue, and neither is the grass surface heating up. Yes, faster feed rates will increase fritction - all else being equal - but will also increase the potential for heat dissipation: the belt is in contact with the wood for shorter time (faster feed = less time in contact), and each section of the wood is in contact with the belt for a shorter period as well.

Slow down the feed rate, and the drum (paper) is in contact with the wood for more revolutions per unit area of wood: more contact, prolonged, more chance of heat buildup because both surfaces contact each other for a longer period.

I still find lighter cuts (smaller contact area, each bit of sandpaper touches the wood for a shorter time) and high feed rates give me consistent, solid results. I can't hog a lot off at a high feed rate, but I can get consistent, burn-free, non-overheated results. And that's important. If you want to do it fast, you'll probably be wanting an industrial wide belt sander...

The viscous friction is constant (friction does not increase or the roller would stop!)

But heat does build up with longer contact time at at a single point.

Mike