Sanding Belt Joint Repairs

[Calliste]

Ahoy All ,,,,, Out here where the Sun sets in the West, Singapore that is ,,,, sanding belts for portable electric belt sanders, have a very short shelf life.

Well it is the diagonal glued joint that deteriorates and older belt joints, just come apart after a minute or two of light use.

The belts that have that reinforced tape over the joint, last a little longer, than the belts that are just glued together.

I need your help to save my slightly used very expensive 3M zircon (green) belts, from the trash can.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to re-connect, D I Y, a delaminated joint on a belt ?

The last straw was when last week I was sanding with a 40 grit Zircon belt , half of the joint gave way , that jamed the belt and that broke the cogged rubber drive belt , on my Bosch 3 X 21 sander.

Not good says I , I do need some Help .

Douglas , S/V Calliste , Singapore

[Jim Ledger]

Try some superglue. Let us know how it turns out.

[David G]

They shouldn't be self-destructing like that. I'm curious. Are they simply wilting in unusually humid conditions? Are you putting them on backwards? Do you have an ideas as to what might be causing the problem? Have you called 3M tech folks?

[Tom Lathrop]

I've had the same problem with lapped and glued belts. The taped belts don't self destruct for me. Th culprit is humidity. Suggest storing your belts in a dry place. If a dry place is not handy in the shop, you could make one with a small box and a small light bulb. The taped belts work better anyway.

[TerryLL]

Yup, humidity is the culprit. I had the same problem when I lived in the coastal Alaskan rain forest. Keeping the abrasives in a heated locker solved the problem. An old refrigerator with a light bulb on works pretty well.

[Calliste]

Hi Guys , yes , you are right,,,, it is humidity and heat , that reduces the shelf-life, but ,,,,, How can a "field repair" , help , in this situation ?

Douglas

[David G]

Well, if that's the issue, then you have two options.

First - as everyone has said, you can store your belts somewhere warm & dry. Rig such a spot, if necessary, but avoid the degradation in the first place.

Second - you can "field repair" every belt you ever buy. Such repairs are not likely to have a good result, and are likely to take a lot of time.

As you may have gathered, I'd be inclined toward the former. I'm betting that you can even salvage your existing stock of belts with such a warm/dry box.

And, again, tech support is your friend. Call them for advice.


"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't" -- Erica Jong

[Calliste]

T Y , David, but 3M says only purchase what you need and discard any leftovers. Out here cruising, we try to stock up on materials for our next onboard boat projects, so that we can work on them in distant ports, but there lies the rub, when shelf life , becomes the concern.

We need out tools and equipment to work, as well as it did , back home, but that is not the case , Drats !

Could I be overlooking a place to store the belts, onboard, that would not contribute to their , degredation ?

My 28' BCC, does not have refrigeration, and I only have air-con while docked .

Do you have other ideas ? I do have a vacuum packer, would that help extend shelf life ?

I am all ears and reading eyes , over here .

Thank You, for your reply !

Douglas

[S B]

Seal the belts in a plasic bag with a material that attracts and holds moisture, calcium chloride, I believe, being one.

[Calliste]

Hi Jim , I haven't tried super glue, but that is a thought ! I do use super glue and super glue gel , in other applications.

What ever the glue, it will have to stand up to v brutle conditions of heat and tention.

I personally don't know of a DIY glue that has those qualities, at least not yet !

So far everyone is correct, that it is humidity and temperature that destroy's the shelflife, but how would you counter - act , or could you counter act , this sanding belt , problem ?

Our ambient shop humidity is 90 - 100 , with an ambient temp of 80 to 90 degrees F . There are cool cloudy days here , that are less than those,,, but also the hot sunny and humid days are here too .


Douglas

[Calliste]

T Y , David G , for your reply ,,,,, I am always v careful to use the direction arrows to put the belts on correctly, and I did not contact my 3M Singapore belt supplier, as yet,,,,, because when I purchased the belts, he was not happy with my small number of belts order , of 20 ea of 40 grit, 20 ea of 80 grit , 20 each of 120 grit, and 20 each of 220 grit.

I need a varity of high quality belts, because sometimes I am sanding SS, and bronze, as well as wood, and high carbon steel,,, but I have never had a belt delaminate at the glue joint, back in my shop in, Big Sur, CA ., USA , where shop humidity was on average 70% and temp average 70 degrees F .

I have about 30 ea belts of green 3M zirconia that need to be re-glued at the joints, and I need a solution, that will work !

A sailor in need ,,,, Douglas

[Calliste]

T Y , Boyles Boats, not sure if I can find "Liquid Nails" , here in Singapore, but I will try , and report back here, with my results , and anything,,,, that might prove , successful .

Again T Y , for your idea and reply .

Douglas