Belt & Disc Sander (Metal Shop Machinery)

Summary

This instructional video provides a comprehensive guide on the safe and effective use of a belt and disc metal sander in a workshop setting. It covers essential safety procedures, including the use of protective gear and the importance of housekeeping. The script also offers detailed operational instructions, such as adjusting the tool for the size of the job and maintaining proper belt tracking. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity of documenting hot work with a logbook to prevent fire hazards in a shared wood and metal shop environment.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ The video introduces a belt and disc metal sander, emphasizing its appropriate size for small metal projects and its use for cleaning up cuts and edges before welding.
• 👨‍🏫 Safety operating procedures are crucial and must be followed while using the tool, including wearing safety glasses, hearing protection, and a dust mask.
• 🚫 Long or loose hair, neckties, and baggy clothing should be secured to prevent entanglement with the machine.
• 💍 Rings, watches, and loose jewelry are prohibited when operating the sander to avoid accidental contact with moving parts.
• 🧤 Leather or work gloves are recommended to protect fingers from accidental contact with the abrasive surfaces.
• 🔍 Pre-operational checks are essential, including familiarization with machine operations and ensuring the sandpaper is in good condition.
• 🛑 The importance of maintaining a safe workspace is highlighted, including keeping the area clear of tools and metal cutoffs, and ensuring walkways are free of hazards.
• 🔄 Belt tracking adjustments are necessary for optimal performance and should be checked before use.
• 🔧 Changing belts and discs on the sander is a straightforward process that requires unplugging the tool and following proper guidelines.
• ⚠️ The script outlines the potential hazards of operating the tool, such as skin abrasion, eye injuries, and inhalation hazards, and the importance of protective equipment.
• 🗒️ A hot work log book is used for documenting metal work to ensure safety, especially in a wood shop environment where there is a risk of fire from sparks.

Q & A

What is the primary use of the belt and disc metal sander mentioned in the script?

The belt and disc metal sander is used for small metal projects, typically for cleaning up cuts and edges on small stock before welding, and is suitable for working with materials like one-inch square tube or one and a quarter inch square tube.

What are the safety glasses and goggles recommended for when using the metal sander?

Safety glasses are required at all times while using the tool due to the potential for airborne sawdust or metal particulates. Safety goggles are additionally recommended to protect against these particulates.

Why is hearing protection necessary when using the metal sander?

Hearing protection is required for extended use of the metal sander due to the noise levels that can rise above 100 decibels, and it is recommended for short periods of usage as well.

What should be done with long hair, neckties, and loose clothing when operating the metal sander?

Long hair should be tied back or tied up, neckties should be contained, and loose or baggy clothing must be secured to prevent them from getting caught in the moving parts of the machine.

Why are rings, watches, and loose jewelry not allowed while operating the metal sander?

Rings, watches, and loose jewelry should not be worn to prevent them from getting caught in the machine, which could lead to injury.

What is the purpose of the pre-operational safety checks mentioned in the script?

Pre-operational safety checks are performed to ensure familiarity with machine operations and controls, to use the correct sandpaper, and to adjust the belt tracking as needed, among other safety measures.

How should the workpiece be handled during sanding to avoid heat buildup and premature wear of the abrasive paper?

The workpiece should be kept moving across the sanding surface using light pressure, and the tool rest should always be used to support the workpiece to avoid heat buildup and premature wear.

What is the significance of the hot work log book in the context of the script?

The hot work log book is used to document all metal work and welding activities, including the time started, personnel involved, and work performed. It is crucial for safety, especially in a wood shop environment where there is a risk of fire from sparks.

Why is it important to collect hot trash separately from regular trash after metalworking?

Hot trash, such as metal shavings and grindings, needs to be collected separately to allow it to cool down and prevent smoldering or combustion when mixed with combustible materials in regular trash.

What are the potential hazards associated with operating the metal sander, and how can they be mitigated?

Potential hazards include skin and eye contact with sparks or particles, skin abrasion from contact with abrasive belts, discs, or pads, loss of control of the workpiece, and inhalation of dust. These can be mitigated by wearing protective gear, using tool rests, and following proper housekeeping practices.

How should the metal sander be maintained and stored after use?

After use, the metal sander should be turned off and the belt or disc allowed to come to a complete stop. Debris should be blown out of the tool with clean, dry air, and the tool should be wiped down. The hot trash container should be returned to the clean tabletop, and the work area should be swept and kept tidy.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Metal Sander and Grinder Introduction

The script introduces a belt and disc metal sander, highlighting its suitability for small metal projects. It emphasizes the importance of safety procedures, such as wearing safety glasses, goggles, hearing protection, and a dust mask. The need for pre-operational checks, proper handling of the tool, and adherence to college and departmental safety guidelines is also stressed. The script outlines the correct use of the sander, including the adjustment of the belt tracking and the importance of maintaining a safe workspace, free from hazards and with adequate space for material movement. It also details the operation of the sander's on/off switch and the use of a spark guard.

05:01

🔧 Operational Safety and Sanding Techniques

This paragraph focuses on the operational safety checks required when using the metal sander, including keeping hands away from the sanding surface, using light pressure, and supporting the work piece with a tool rest. It also discusses the correct technique for disc sanding, such as keeping the work piece on the downward spinning side for best results and sanding parallel to the wood grain. The paragraph provides instructions for changing sanding belts and discs, ensuring they are properly aligned with arrows indicating the direction of rotation. It also mentions the importance of documenting hot work in a logbook to prevent potential fire hazards in a shared wood and metal shop environment.

10:03

🔥 Hot Work Documentation and Metal Waste Disposal

The script explains the necessity of documenting hot work in a logbook, detailing the process, personnel involved, and the duration of the work. It describes the procedure for handling hot waste, including the use of a hot trash bucket for cooling down metal shavings and scraps before disposal. The importance of segregating metal scraps for recycling and using designated bins to prevent the risk of fire from combustible materials is also highlighted. The paragraph concludes with instructions for storing short pieces of scrap steel and the proper disposal of hot trash.

15:05

⚠️ Hazards and Equipment Maintenance

This paragraph outlines the potential hazards associated with operating the metal sander, such as skin and eye contact with sparks, metal and wood chips, dust, and the risk of losing control of the workpiece. It advises the use of protective eyewear, dust masks, and hearing protection due to the high noise levels generated by the tool. The script also stresses the importance of not using faulty equipment and the proper housekeeping practices, such as turning off the machine, cleaning it, and disposing of hot trash correctly. It provides guidance on the use of a dust collection system and the proper storage of small cut-offs and scraps.

20:06

🧹 Tool Maintenance and Cleanliness

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of maintaining tool cleanliness and the surrounding work area. It provides instructions for removing and cleaning the tool rest, blowing debris out of the machine, and ensuring that the tool rests are correctly positioned relative to the sandpaper. The script also mentions the need to adjust and secure the spark shield on the grinder and to keep essential items like cutting oil and the hot work logbook accessible. It concludes with advice on sweeping the work area and disposing of hot trash properly to maintain a clean and safe working environment.

Keywords

💡Belt and Disc Metal Sander

A belt and disc metal sander is a power tool used for smoothing and finishing metal surfaces. It typically consists of an abrasive belt and a disc, both of which can be used to grind or sand metal. In the video, the belt and disc metal sander is described as appropriate for small metal projects, such as cleaning up cuts and edges on small stock before welding. The tool is used for tasks like removing burrs and smoothing out small metal pieces, which is essential for achieving a clean and professional finish on metalwork projects.

💡Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are protective eyewear designed to shield the eyes from flying debris, dust, and other hazards. In the context of the video, safety glasses are required at all times when operating the belt and disc metal sander to protect the user's eyes from airborne sawdust or metal particulates generated during the sanding process. The script emphasizes the importance of wearing safety glasses as part of the safety procedures to prevent eye injuries, which is a common risk in metalworking environments.

💡Hearing Protection

Hearing protection refers to devices such as earplugs or earmuffs that are worn to reduce the risk of hearing damage from loud noises. The video mentions that hearing protection is required for extended use of the metal sander and recommended for short periods. This is because the operation of such tools can produce noise levels that exceed safe limits, potentially causing damage to the user's hearing over time. The script highlights the importance of hearing protection as part of the overall safety measures when working with power tools.

💡Dust Mask

A dust mask is a type of respiratory protective equipment that covers the nose and mouth to prevent inhalation of fine airborne particulates. In the video, a dust mask is required due to the fine airborne particulates generated during the sanding process. The script explains that these particulates can be harmful if inhaled, so wearing a dust mask is crucial for protecting the respiratory system and maintaining good health while working in a metal shop.

💡Pre-operational Safety Checks

Pre-operational safety checks are inspections and preparations made before using a tool or machine to ensure it is safe to operate. The video script outlines several pre-operational safety checks for the belt and disc metal sander, such as familiarizing oneself with machine operations, checking for flaws in sandpaper, and adjusting belt tracking. These checks are essential to prevent accidents and ensure the tool functions correctly, highlighting the importance of due diligence before starting any metalworking task.

💡Tool Rest

A tool rest is a support structure used in woodworking and metalworking to hold the workpiece steady while it is being shaped or finished by a tool. In the video, the tool rest is mentioned as an essential component of the belt and disc sander setup. It is used to support the workpiece and keep it steady during the sanding process, which helps to ensure accuracy and prevent accidents. The script emphasizes the importance of always using the tool rest and not performing freehand sanding, which could lead to loss of control and injury.

💡Belt Tracking

Belt tracking refers to the alignment of the abrasive belt on a sander or grinder. Proper tracking ensures that the belt runs smoothly and efficiently without slipping off the pulleys. The video script mentions the need to check and adjust belt tracking as needed to ensure the belt sander operates correctly. Adjusting the tracking is part of the pre-operational safety checks and is important for maintaining the tool's performance and preventing damage to the belt or the workpiece.

💡Hot Work Log Book

A hot work log book is a document used to record details of activities involving fire or heat, such as welding or metal grinding, which can pose a fire risk. The video script explains the need to log all hot work in the log book, including details like date, location, personnel, and the nature of the work. This documentation is crucial for safety, as it helps to monitor and manage the risks associated with hot work, ensuring that appropriate precautions are taken and that any potential fire hazards are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

💡Hot Trash

Hot trash refers to waste material that is still hot or could potentially ignite other materials due to residual heat. In the video, hot trash is generated from metalworking activities and must be handled carefully to prevent fires. The script instructs users to place hot trash in a designated metal bucket to cool down before disposal, emphasizing the importance of proper waste management in a metalworking environment to reduce the risk of fire and ensure workplace safety.

💡Housekeeping

Housekeeping in a workshop or factory setting refers to the maintenance of a clean and organized work environment. The video script includes several housekeeping practices, such as sweeping up metal shavings, using a dust collection system, and properly storing tools and materials. These practices are essential for preventing accidents caused by tripping hazards or slips, and they also contribute to the overall efficiency and safety of the workplace by reducing the risk of fire and ensuring that tools are ready for use when needed.

Highlights

Introduction to the belt and disc metal sander and its appropriate size for small metal projects.

Comparison between the metal sander and bench grinders for different metalworking tasks.

Safety operating procedures and their importance when using metalworking tools.

Comprehensive safety instructions available in tool and equipment user manuals.

Mandatory use of safety glasses and recommended safety goggles for protection against airborne particles.

Requirement of hearing protection for extended use of the metal sander.

Necessity of a dust mask due to fine airborne particulates.

Guidelines for containing long hair, neckties, and avoiding loose clothing while operating the machine.

Prohibition of wearing rings, watches, and loose jewelry during machine operation.

Use of leather or work gloves to protect fingers from accidental contact with moving parts.

Pre-operational safety checks including familiarization with machine operations and controls.

Instructions on using the appropriate sander for the job size and adjusting the table or tool support.

Explanation of how to use the on/off switch and the quick stop feature of the sander.

Importance of maintaining a safe distance and avoiding contact with sharp objects during sanding.

Demonstration of how to properly sand a one-inch square tube without causing metal to curve.

Operational safety checks to be performed every time the tool is used.

Procedure for changing belts and discs on the sander, including unplugging the tool.

Use of the hot work log book for documenting metalworking activities to prevent fire hazards.

Proper disposal of hot trash and metal scraps to prevent fire risks.

Awareness of potential hazards such as skin and eye contact with sparks, metal chips, and dust.

Emphasis on the importance of housekeeping and maintaining a clean work environment.

Instructions for storing scrap metal and ensuring only clean metal scrap is kept for future use.

Final emphasis on the importance of safety, cleanliness, and proper documentation in metalworking.

Transcripts

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do

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this is our belt and disc metal sander

most of our metal projects are small and

this is the appropriate size either this

or the grinder

the bench grinders behind me one there

and one here

are the best things for metal usually

you're just cleaning up some cuts and

some edges on

some small stock before you're welding

it usually it's one

one inch square tube or one and a

quarter inch square two or one and a

half inch square tube

we don't normally do a lot of stuff

that's much much bigger than that

and if it is bigger than that you can

get a hand grinder or some other

grinding and clean

metal cleaning tool to do that safety

operating procedures are posted on the

tool or next to the tool

these procedures represent the most

important safety operations and

considerations while using this tool or

equipment

but are not intended to be comprehensive

coverage of

every possible use for more complete

safety instructions

please refer to the tool and equipment

user manuals

do not use this machine unless you have

been instructed in its safe use and

operations

and you are complying with college and

departmental shop

safety guidelines and procedures

safety glasses are required at all times

while using this tool

safety goggles are recommended due to

airborne sawdust or metal particulates

hearing protection is required for

extended use

for short periods of usage hearing

protection is recommended

a dust mask is required due to fine

airborne particulates

long or loose hair neckties and loose or

baggy clothing must be contained

tuck in your shirt tie back or tie up

your hair

roll up your long sleeves or remove your

jacket or hoodie

all together rings watches and loose

jewelry should not be worn while

operating this machine you may wear

leather or work gloves to protect your

fingers from accidentally coming into

contact with moving belts

and discs pre-operational safety checks

locate and ensure you are familiar with

all machine operations and controls

controls and adjustments may vary from

tool to tool

particularly among different

manufacturers of the same type of tool

use assigned metal sanders for metal

sanding only

use assigned wood sanders for wood

sanding only

check your sandpaper for flaws

imperfections wear

or damage replace as needed

adjust belt tracking as needed

hold small pieces with the pliers or

vice grips in order to keep your fingers

away from abrasive surfaces

use the appropriate sander for the size

of the job

adjust the table or tool support to be

no more than 1

16 of an inch from the belt or the disc

check your work spaces and walkways to

ensure that no slip or trip hazards are

present

pick up any cut off scraps pick up

sawdust regularly

your work area should be three to four

feet larger than the length of your

stock on all working sides of the tool

this allows you to move and adjust your

material freely

as needed keep the table and work

area clear of all tools metal cutoffs

and hot

trash the on off switch is located over

here

the red button is a quick push it and it

stops

you have to pull that red knob back and

then you have access to

a green button and a go and a stop

button the green button is completely

covered up with stuff

can't even see that it's green but it's

the bottom one here and the stop one is

the top one

so you have to flip that back you push

the go button

and then you can stop it

like that belt sander

disc sander not a work rest

so don't use that as a work rest this is

a spark guard this is

there to keep the sparks and keep them

from flying in your face

the tables are adjustable you can loosen

up the

the knob here the handle there or the

one over here

and you can adjust them to different

angles they're at 90 degrees square i'm

going to leave them right now because i

don't want to mess them up

so again this is coming down this way

spinning down like this

so that means from this half to this

half is where we can

use our sandpaper we can't go over here

because if we go over there it's going

to

pull up and we don't want it to pull up

we also want to be aware

of little sharp objects and not poke too

aggressively into sharp objects

i've seen these discs get really

thrashed and this one's held on by

velcro and the velcro will get thrashed

underneath

and then it's a whole lot more work to

change and repair

so this is one inch square tube and this

sander is pretty much the right size for

just cleaning off those burrs

and all that extra garbage on the end

not much to it that's pretty much it if

i try to use the round part of the belt

here to clean this

up i'm actually going to start to curve

my metal

because that this is curving so this is

really designed for

contact pretty much down here some flat

stock or quarter inch stock

or something like that something that's

not going to get caught in there and

again these gaps

should be as small as possible

about 16 16 of an inch and this one's a

little too far away

so i'm gonna move a little bit closer

without touching

so when i'm doing it like this i'm

actually

grinding out that bottom part right

there i'm not grinding this side or top

or the other side

just grinding here right in there

grinding there if this

if i'm doing this i'm doing this surface

so i'm doing that one

that surface that surface

just like that

operational safety checks these are

safety checks you must be aware of

at all times while using the tool and

you must check them and perform them

every time you use the tool on every

single operation

or cut keep your hands away from the

sanding surface at all times

use light pressure only you should not

have to apply excessive pressure in

order to get the tool to work

always use the tool rest to support the

work piece

never do free hand sanding which is

floating the piece away from the tool

rest

keep the work piece moving across the

sanding surface

to avoid heat buildup which can

prematurely wear out the abrasive paper

and also burn the work piece

for disc sanding keep the work piece on

the downward

spinning side of the disc for best

results when sanding wood

sand parallel with the grain

keep hands especially the tips of the

fingers away from belts and discs

and any moving parts watch belt tracking

during use adjust

as needed

if i need to change the belts on this or

the discs

we need to unplug it and it's plugged in

down below

unplugged it doesn't work

so first thing we got to do is take this

off and this just comes off with

this one knob and this lifts up and out

just like that

this is velcroed on so they just velcro

off and the velcro on

this is our box of sanding discs for the

bailey sander and this is a

bailey brand

and i've got hundreds of them so don't

be afraid to

replace them as needed they are in the

tool room

on top of the sanding paper and i've got

it labeled for bailey disc

belt sander only

i have a supply of belts as well

these do have arrows and you need to

make sure the arrows are pointing in the

way

that the belt is running so the arrows

are pointing this way

so i need to put it on this way this

belt is not

in bad shape so i don't really need to

replace it

but there is a lever in the back

that loosens up and then this slides off

just like that and slides back on

the tracking is fairly well set so i

wouldn't adjust the tracking if you need

to get the tracking adjusted

come and find someone this one is real

easy to

get finicky and

right back into where i wanted it

belt and disc chandra changing easy

this just slides back into place

and ideally unless i have a lot of

wiggle room here so i'm going to

put it exactly where the table should be

not touching the discs or the

and tighten it down

so depending on how this is tightened

and how where this is positioned that's

going to affect the

accuracy of these two tables it does

have some wiggle room but it does

lock down really nicely

plug this back in

whenever you're doing metal work you

need to

use the hot work log book and log all of

your

work in the logbook document it

the log book has a date

location of where you're doing the work

time started

names or personnel doing the work tools

and work performed that's where you

describe what you're doing

time ended hot watch begin

hot watch end and then you initial it

we're working in a wood shop here and

whenever we're doing

welding or metal work or work with

sparks we have the potential for sparks

to fly

into sawdust and combustibles

so because of that we need to have

documentation on the hot work that we do

and this log book is one step of

documenting the hot work

and it tells us who did what when and

it's all all documented

and the the key thing here are these

last two columns

hot watch begin and hot watch end

because we are in a space where there

are combustibles

we're not in an exclusive metal working

shop we have lumber we have sawdust we

have

all these things that are potentially

combustibles with fire

we need to have a hot watch at the end

of every day

when we're doing hot work and usually

that hot watch

is two hours before the end of your work

day

the theory is that within two hours you

would be able to

notice that something was smoldering in

the trash can or in

under some pile of sawdust or something

so

if your end of your work day is planned

to be five o'clock

you need to stop your metal work at

three o'clock

we've got to follow these guidelines so

that we don't burn the place down we

don't start fires and we

can continue to do these things safely

so

your hot watch begin and your hot watch

end you have to document it you have to

actually have someone

who looks in on the space and is present

and checks and makes sure that there's

no fire

or smoldering related to the hot work

that was performed

that hot work log book

is going to be here on the grinding

table

likewise when you collect your hot trash

you don't want to throw your hot trash

into a trash can with combustibles

so we collect all of our grindings and

shavings and metal parts and we put it

into the hot trash bucket this is a

metal bucket it allows it to smolder and

burn and cool down and then once it's

cooled down we can throw it away

but we always let it sit overnight or

for some period of time before we do

that

it's got some metal shavings and all

that sort of stuff so don't throw metal

shavings

and don't throw metal scrap into the

general trash can with combustibles

this is also sitting here on the table

for collecting hot trash

there were some scraps of metal in here

we do have a bin for collecting

metal scraps and there is a trash can

here that says metal recycling only

[Applause]

and that's where we want to put all of

our metal scraps

empty the shop metal collection bin into

this larger bin

in the basement we collect metal for

recycling and send it to facility

services when the basement container is

full

these are potential hazards to be aware

of while operating this tool

skin and eyes can come into contact with

sparks or

metal and wood chips and dust

contact with abrasive belts discs or

pads can cause skin abrasion

and more serious injuries losing control

of the workpiece is also likely which

can lead to injury

and damage to the work or to the tool

flying

chips sawdust and metal particulates

could cause eye

injuries always wear protective eyewear

while using this tool

sanding tools create inhalation hazards

from sawdust and fine particles

always wear a dust mask or respirator

protection

noise levels can rise above 100 decibels

protect your ears by wearing hearing

protection while using this tool

do not use faulty equipment if something

is not working properly

or you suspect that something is wrong

with the tool or machine please report

this to your instructor and to the anl

technical director

do not force the sander never freehand

sand always use the tool rest to support

the work piece

housekeeping stay with the machine

until the belt or disc comes to a

complete stop

blow dirt and dust out of the belt disc

and motor housing with clean

dry air sweep up all metal shavings and

fine dust

and place it in the hot trash bin leave

hot trash

in this bin for at least 24 hours before

disposing of it in the regular trash

use a dust collection system when

available we do not have dust collection

designed for metal working tools

sanders and grinders do not hook up a

wood dust collector to the metal working

tools

put away all small cut-offs

small scraps can go in the bins under

the grinder table

scraps that are too small to save should

be collected in the metal recycling bin

[Music]

another scrap of metal that belongs

under the table

short pieces of scrap steel are stored

under the table

scraps that are stored here are in the

12 inch to 30 inch length

if they are shorter than 12 inches toss

them in the metal recycling bin

if they stick out too far from the table

either cut them down to fit

or take them to the basement metal

storage racks everything under this

table is miscellaneous small scrap

and is available for props projects for

welding practice

or for other uses be sure to only put

clean metal scrap here

if you have finished welding practice

toss your metal scrap

in the recycling bin dust off your

countertops

and the shelves below

you are collecting hot trash so dispose

of this in the hot trash container

the best way to sweep off the table is

to remove everything from the top

blow dust and debris out of the tools

regularly

always wear dust protection while doing

this you don't want to breathe that

stuff

into your lungs

remove the tool rest on the belt disc

sander

blow debris out of there to keep it

clean

remember when returning the tool rest to

position make sure that both

tool rests are no more than 1 16 inch

from the sandpaper don't forget to blow

dust out of the lower counter and the

scrap storage

do the same for the other side of the

table

the spark shield on the grinder was

loose and out of place

so i adjusted it and tightened it

again don't forget the dust down below

these two oil cans contain cutting oil

and store in the middle of the grinding

table for easy access while

using the drill press or other cutting

tools

keep the hot work log book on the table

and available for the next person to use

it

return the hot trash container to the

clean table top

sweep up around the work table

this is also hot trash so it should go

into the hot trash container

not in the general trash cans

[Music]

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