From:
Don Dougan <dondougan@xxxxxxxx>
Date:
Fri, 27 Oct 2000 18:35:31 -0400
Subject:
belt sander
Aaron (and John),
Quoted text begins.RE: " I tried using a off the shelf belt sander on alabaster and
limestone only to have the dust clog the components and render the sander
useless."
End of quote.
When working on stone, one thing I always try to do after (or during, if
use is heavy) every use of my belt sander(s) - or ANY ELECTRIC POWER TOOL
- is to use the air nozzle on the line from the air compressor to blow
out the motor housing and mechanical parts of the tool. I do this while
the motor is running, and I use a full-pressure blast from a (non-OSHA
approved)* nozzle.
I realize that if you don't have an air compressor this is not possible.
The alternative is to take the housing apart and use a small brush to
literally wipe away all the dust. The other option is to discontinue use
of power tools. Life is too short for either of these two options to
appeal to me, and I would have to say it is simply another good reason to
invest in an air compressor.
I find that this regular pressure-blast cleaning dramatically cuts down
the time between major service on the tool. However, stone dust does
shorten the life of a power tool even if it is cleaned regularly. I just
have to consider it part of the cost of making stone sculpture (at least
at the rate of speed I prefer).
*O.S.H.A. = a U.S. government agency: Occupational and Safety Health
Administration.
A non-OSHA approved nozzle is one that allows more than a 35 psi jet.
Older types of air nozzles were all direct valves taps on the
full-pressure of the air-line. Newer OSHA approved ones have side vents
and restricted flows that prevent the standard 90 psi pressure from being
in a single jet "which can cause injury if directed at an eye or bodily
orifice."
I guess you could say that I take my life into my own hands. ;-o
When I purchase a new air nozzle, I modify it by removing the side vents,
then drill-out and enlarge the flow-restricting part of the valve.
I also modify and lengthen the nozzle using some copper tubing and
threaded brass plumbing fittings to fit the end of the nozzle. This
lengthening is very handy for blowing out the drilling-dust from deep
holes bored into the stone. It also blows the dust out of my hair &
clothes after a carving session.
When doing this last procedure I carefully avoid blowing directly into my
eyes or a bodily orifice. ;-)
- References
- message 00651: belt sander - aaron johnson (26 Oct 2000)
- Previous by Thread: message 00651: belt sander - aaron johnson (26 Oct 2000)
- Next by Thread: message 00644: belt sander - Janet Roddan & Reto Marti (28 Oct 2000)
- Previous by Date: message 00657: Studying stone carving - kibby family (27 Oct 2000)
- Next by Date: message 00645: Inca masonry work - Janet Roddan & Reto Marti (28 Oct 2000)
