Mounting jig for a belt sander?

[Bill Stock]

I want a belt sander for some freehand work, but I also want to be able to strap it down for some deburring. I like the Bosch, as it comes with the mounting clamp, but it seems impossible to find here at a decent price.

What other models lend themselves to some bondage?

[LinuxRandal]

Both my father and I have your basic Craftsman 3x21 belt sanders. I found online a few years ago, some basic images of someone who had mounted theirs on a board with some raised sections, so it stayed vertical. I sent the link to my father and he made and used it.

[Uncle Cracker]

I have an old B&D 3x17 around here somewhere that came with modified C-clamps that slipped into the wells in the case for the case screws.

[Bill Stock]

I just bought the cheapest POC I could find, since I could not find what I wanted for less than a $100 over the US price. It looks like a big orange Makita knockoff (3 x 24). I'll bungee the **** thing to post before I'll pay a $100 over retail.

[cabinetman]

I haven't seen any universal jigs. You could make one. I use PC 4x24, and mostly a 3x24, and on jobsites use Jorgy handscrews to clamp to a bench on its left side (motor belt cover), to use horizontally.

In the shop I use a belt disk combo for that kind of sanding, its more efficient and safer. Clamping down a belt sander can go haywire fast if it works loose.
.

[dbhost]

I personally prefer my belt sander to be a freehand device, and my stationary sanders designed for the purpose. It's a safety paranoia thing...

The Ridgid EB4424 makes for a nice bench top oscillating belt sander. There are more bench top belt / disk sanders on the market at a variety of price and quality points, I can't even begin to point you to just one...

[herb fellows]

I'd be a little reticent about bungee cords, too much flex with the vibrations.
There are a million ways to do this, just figure out what is the sturdiest. Probably not as much fun as seeing the sander run across the shop floor, or worse, you, but hey, nobody said safety was going to be fun!

[LarryG]

The Ryobi BE321 has a rectangular body that is extremely similar to the Bosch. (Many people assume the Ryobi is a knock-off, but apparently it actually was on the market first.) It can be clamped upside down in a face vise or leg vise; no jig or hold-downs required.

The rub is that this model has been discontinued, but they are readily available on eBay. I paid ~$45 for mine four or five years ago. They may be more now, as this particular sander is one of Ryobi's better tools.

[Bill Stock]

This is my POS here:

http://www.kingcanada.com/Products.htm?CD=285&ID=11537

Bungee was a slight exageration, but not much!

[Nil]

"What other models lend themselves to some bondage?"

Wait, what are you talking about?

[Bill Stock]

"What other models lend themselves to some bondage?"

Wait, what are you talking about?

I see someone was paying attention!

[Jcrawf]

Here are a couple of pics of the fixture I made for my Ryobi 3X21 belt sander.I've used it for several years, and there's never been a problem with the sander coming loose.

I keep the sander switch locked in the "on" position, and turn it on and off with a switched outlet (seen below the clamp)

Off subject, but I also used a switched outlet on my miter saw, both the saw and the shop vac (with its switch in the "on" position) being plugged into the outlets. Flipping the switch on the outlet turns the shop vac on and provides power to the saw.

[Bill Stock]

Here are a couple of pics of the fixture I made for my Ryobi 3X21 belt sander.I've used it for several years, and there's never been a problem with the sander coming loose.

I keep the sander switch locked in the "on" position, and turn it on and off with a switched outlet (seen below the clamp)

Off subject, but I also used a switched outlet on my miter saw, both the saw and the shop vac (with its switch in the "on" position) being plugged into the outlets. Flipping the switch on the outlet turns the shop vac on and provides power to the saw.

Thanks, can you post some closeups of the clamping. I can't quite see what holds it in place. Exactly what I had in mind BTW, especially the fence.

[Jcrawf]

Bill,
Here's the fixture disassembled. The clamp is a piece of 5//8" plywood with holes on the back edge to match the 1/4" bolts epoxied into the back (vertical) piece.
I glued a piece of 1/4"thick felt along the front of the clamp where it meets the sander. I made the back piece about 1/8" more narrow than the width of the sander to insure firm clamping.
The sander is supported by the clamp, the back piece, and the side piece (with openings as necessary to clear protrusions on the sander).
(Note: Clicking on the pictures will enlarge them)
Good luck with it,
Jack

[phi1l]

I'd be a little reticent about bungee cords, too much flex with the vibrations.

I agree, everyone knows you need to use duck tape for that...