The Most Common Widebelt Sanding Issues

Widebelt sanding is a critical stage in wood preparation before and during the finishing process. Often poor sanding results do not show up until it is too late and you have finished the material. Knowing what issues to look for and how to remedy them in advance will save you time and money by eliminating costly rework and defects. Below are some of the most common sanding defects which occur when using a widebelt sander.

Snake or oscillation lines

These lines show up in an oscillating pattern and tend to be shiny. Snake lines are often the result of dust buildup on the abrasive belts or on the contact drum itself. Additionally, it could be a buildup of glue, resin, or lacquer on the belt. A thorough inspection of the drum and abrasive belts can identify the problem in advance. A quick and easy solution would be to blow out the machine’s interior routinely. Getting into the habit of inspecting abrasive belts and contact drum before production will help ensure the optimum condition of your widebelt sander. After each use, blowing out the machine’s interior will help mitigate buildup on the contact drum and abrasive belts. Creating these habits in your operator will yield the best sanding results. Some sanders also come with an optional air jet belt cleaner which blows off dust particles in the belt as it crests over the drum and opens up. The dust is then collected in the dust chute. This may be a good option for your machine if you find regular buildup on your abrasives.

Chatter marks

Chatter marks are consistent even lines that appear in a transverse pattern across your material in the opposite direction of the feed. If you notice chatter marks, there are a few machine functions to check to find the source. The spacing between the chatter marks will illustrate if the problem arises from the contact roller or a defective abrasive belt. Some of the causes of chatter marks are:

• Belt joint: Incorrect belt joint for the application, and the belt joint is being transferred to the workpiece.
• Conveyor belt: The conveyor may be worn or uneven.
• Contact roller: The roller may be worn, uneven, or shaped like an oval. It could also be the wrong durometer.
• Abrasive belt tension: Make sure to check the tension pressure on the sanding belts.
• Hold down rollers/shoes: The hold down rollers or pressure shoes may not be adjusted correctly, leaving to vibration.
• Vibration: Vibration can be coming from the machine or bearings.
• Stock removal: You are trying to remove more material than the abrasive can handle.

Blotchy finish

A poorly sanded workpiece can result in a blotchy finish that can’t be seen until after the staining. This can result from the wood fibres being bent over rather than sheared off. The fibres can stand up again after the finishing process, resulting in random discoloration if this happens. Improper selection of the belt type (silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, and ceramic) and incorrect grit selection are significant factors in creating a blotchy finish.

Raised lines

Raised lines are often random, and skip spots can be challenging to spot. They can seemingly occur out of thin air, and determining the pattern can lead you to your answer. If your lines are short and straight in the same direction as the sanding direction, you could be trying to remove excess material or putting too much pressure on the abrasive. If the lines are spread apart and in the direction of the feed, you could also be trying to remove too much material, resulting from poor dust collection. If lines are long and follow the feed, something mechanical is likely causing the issue, like damage to a drum or sanding pad. Regular inspection of the drum and pad is critical to sanding performance. Shine a light across the drum and see if there are any grooves in the drum. Take out the sanding pad and inspect the graphite pad and cloth/rubber underpad.

Grooves

If you notice grooves in your material (the opposite of raised lines), you most certainly have buildup on your drum or sanding pad. Again, shine a light across and inspect the drum; run your hand along it. Inspect the sanding pad as it may have a bump in the underpad or graphite, translating to your workpiece.

Stay vigilant

Careful adherence to inspecting material throughout the production will help spot and identify poor sanding effects. Thoroughly cleaning the sander and regularly inspecting the belts, rollers, contact drums, and conveyor tables will help mitigate poor sanding remedies. Having a qualified service technician perform regular maintenance ensures your sander is in optimal working order and will significantly reduce your stress and time and ultimately save you money. The key to poor sanding effects is to be vigilant, diagnose what problem you may have, and act immediately to resolve any sanding defects. Consult your sanding belt supplier to ensure you are using the correct belt for your material, and they offer a wealth of knowledge in solving many of your sanding challenges.

Robert Philips is the Sanding Product Manager at Akhurst Machinery.