Know these 7 benefits of belt grinder and you’ll likely use it for a wide range of applications. But be sure to always adopt the best practices in safety when using it. Remember that it’s a power tool that can injure skin, tissues and muscles.
1. Versatility Of A Belt Grinder
Belt grinding is an abrasive process used as a finishing process for metals and wood. You run the material over the belt to remove excess material or create the desired finish.
The belt itself is coated with an abrasive material available in several grits. This is, indeed, a versatile process that can be applied to several applications. These include:
- Stock removal like high stock removal, dimensioning, mill and tool mark removal, and cleaning of rust and corrosion.
- Deburring including edge breaking, burr removal, and radiusing.
- Finishing like removal of small burrs, surface roughness, cosmetic finishes, and polishing for better shine
You will find plenty of other applications via experimentation. You can use a belt grinder for both residential and commercial projects, too.
2. Wide Range Of Materials Suitable
A belt grinder’s belt can be changed according to the material’s demands. You can use it for metals like stainless steel, steel, and aluminum. You can also use it for wood like oak, teak and pine.
In fact, most woodworkers have a belt grinder in their workshops. The belt speed can be reduced so that the wood doesn’t burn and the grains don’t glaze over. The power tool is useful in sanding wood pieces for a more polished look.
You can also speed up the belt grinder for heavier work. The belt speed can range from 4,000 to 8,000 feet per minute. Your work in material removal will be quicker for this reason.
Plus, you have the choice between a rubberized contact wheel and a rigid backing platen. The former provides quicker material removal and softer feel. You don’t even have to worry about overheating as the belt keeps cool as it spins.
3. Higher Productivity Level
Belt grinders have sharp abrasive grains on their belts. This feature contributes to higher production efficiency since the belts have a larger cutting output capacity.
The belts are also wider and larger. This means that the materials can be processed faster, too. You will observe an increase in productivity. Your productivity increases by as much as 5 to 20 times in comparison with wheel grinding.
Belt grinding also has excellent processing quality, which adds to productivity levels. This is because belt grinders are less likely to overheat, don’t need trimming, and run at constant speeds.
You can enjoy the guarantee of small surface roughness values and high precision.
4. Low Energy Use
Belt grinders consume lesser energy than other comparable power tools. This can be attributed to the following features:
- Small tensioning and contact wheels
- Small high-speed rotary inertia resulting in low power loss
- Small motor
But don’t dismiss belt grinders for these “small features”. The benefits of their use are certainly bigger!
5. Easy To Use
Belt grinders are designed for easy use, thanks to their simple yet safe and effective design. The light abrasive belts combined with the small grinding force results in low vibration levels.
You can easily control a belt grinder than grinding wheels for these reasons. Even the impact of direct contact can be lower, too, because of greater control.
You will also love it that a belt grinder generates lower noise. You may or may not wear ear muffs for shorter jobs, since the noise levels are lower than 70 decibels. This is lower in sound than a standard hair dryer.
6. Solve Where Others Cannot
Belt grinders are also suitable for applications where other abrasive products aren’t. You can use it for large and complicated surface grinding work, for example.
You may process metal and non-metal materials that other abrasives cannot touch. These include non-ferrous materials like aluminum and copper, as well as wood, leather and plastics.
7. Grind Complex Shape Surfaces
The abrasive belt is softer than other abrasives, too. This means that it can stick better to the surface being processed. You can use a belt grinder for grinding complex shape surfaces.
The bottom line: You have to invest in a belt grinder for your workshop. You can enjoy the best value because of its durability, safety and versatility in use.
Final Words
These 7 benefits are among the reasons for the power tool’s continued popularity. You can invest in other power tools, such as angle grinders and power saws, but it’s a must for your workplace.
When choosing the best belt grinder for your workshop, you have to list down your needs and wants in it. You must consider power output, size, and ease of use and maintenance. You must remember, too, that abrasive belt grinding operates through grinding stress improvement.
Belt grinding is, indeed, useful in various applications. You can use it in strengthening the surfaces of your work pieces. You may also use it to improve their fatigue strength.
The machining process has also been used in commercial and industrial applications. You can find it in several industries including auto, shipbuilding, and tool manufacturing. You will also find a wide range of designs in belt grinders. You even have the opportunity to discuss your needs and wants in it.
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