Final surface treatment of various parts and structures often involves the use of abrasive materials. The construction market today offers a lot of effective grinding tools. Moreover, even high-performance models are becoming more accessible to ordinary home craftsmen. Such tools, in particular, include a belt grinder (LSHM), which uses an emery cloth as a working abrasive surface.
What is LSM?
The device consists of a body, which contains a compact engine. The dimensions of the tool, as a rule, are small, which determines its ergonomics and ease of operation. The functional part is represented by two rollers, which are located at the ends of the structure. An abrasive tape is fixed on them. Atthe tasks of the rollers are divided. One of them acts as a leader (drive), and the second allows you to adjust the transverse positioning of the web. Wood should be considered as the target material - such devices cope with it more efficiently than with metal or plastic. So, a belt grinder for wood, average in terms of characteristics, removes a layer about 1 mm thick from the workpiece in 1 second. You can also use the tool in cleaning surfaces from paint and varnish coatings to renew the coating.
Selection by main characteristics
The roughing or grinding speed will depend on the motor power. Two categories are fundamentally different - models for 500 and 1200 watts. We can say that these are representatives of household and industrial groups, respectively. The power potential of 500 W is suitable as an aid for the occasional refinement of parts. Models with a power of 1000 W or more are used in industries and in the construction industry. High productivity allows high-quality and deep processing of workpiece surfaces for a long time.
The next important parameter is the intensity of the tape movement. It depends on it how the operation will be of high quality and uniform. On average, belt grinders operate at speeds between 500 and 700 m/min. At the same time, it is not even the maximum processing speed that is important, but the ability to adjust for different ranges. In some cases, 200-300 m / min may be sufficient, and exceeding the speed will not allow you to accurately remove verythin layer.
What to consider in the feature set?
From useful design additions, the following can be distinguished:
- Soft start. At the moment of switching on, the current minimization function is activated, which allows you to start processing not with a sharp movement, but with a gradual increase in speed.
- Bounding box. Since the tool involves the provision of manual force on the work area, it is difficult for the operator to maintain the same height of the layer to be removed over the entire area. Therefore, belt grinders are equipped with special stops to precisely control the maximum depth.
- Dust removal system. In the process of work, large volumes of fine chips and wood dust are inevitably released. For timely elimination and prevention of the spread of waste, some models allow the connection of industrial vacuum cleaners to the tool. They suck up the generated dust as soon as it is released.
- Maintain high rpm. This is the ability of a power tool to maintain a stable working rhythm when the rollers are turned on at a high speed.
Tips for choosing a ribbon
Actually, in choosing a tool, it will not be superfluous to initially focus on the optimal dimensions of the abrasive consumable. Two characteristics matter - length and width. As for the first, it expresses the total length of the web, which is wound on spinning rollers. Depending on the model, the length varies from 400 to 600 mm on average. During operation, this parameter will affecton the ability of the machine to effectively handle long workpieces and the durability of the blade in terms of wear. Width directly affects the area of one-time coverage of the target surface. For example, it is advisable to process narrow boards with a tape whose width is 65-75 mm. Sheet large-format material, on the contrary, is more efficiently served by a strip of 100-110 mm. Now you can go to an overview of specific models of belt grinders. The rating below shows the most successful devices from the best manufacturers in the hand power tool market.
1st place - Makita 9404
The Japanese company regularly occupies the first positions in the sales rankings, which can be explained by the high quality of products, their functionality and reliability. These characteristics are appropriate to apply to the grinder modification 9404, the cost of which is about 14 thousand rubles. The tool is equipped with a 1010 W motor, supports speed up to 440 m/min and is equipped with a dust collector. Among competitors, the Makita belt sander of this version may well take first place in terms of build quality, balance of power and functionality. Users, for example, speak positively about the adjustment of speed modes and the maneuverability of the device. Among the small ergonomic advantages, many mention a long cord, comfortable grips on the handle and the presence of several plates in the basic set (cork and graphite).
2nd place - PBS 75 A by Bosch
The German manufacturer competes directly with Makita, offering by and large similar products. In this case, a tool of a lower class is considered. If the aforementioned machine is suitable for semi-professional use, then the PBS 75 A is more likely to have a place in the household. This is also hinted at by the average cost of a model of 8 thousand rubles. For this amount, the owner receives a power potential of 750 W, thanks to which the rollers accelerate to 350 m / min. What operations can belt grinders with these capabilities perform? Operational practice shows that the device copes well with stripping parquet, removing old layers of paint, etc. And, again, workflow stability and endurance are characteristic features of Bosch and Makita tools. Chinese counterparts and with more power are unlikely to be able to guarantee the same high quality of grinding while maintaining their own technical resource for a long time.
3rd place Ryobi EBS800
Solution for simple tasks in the household. Ryobi is not as famous as the manufacturers mentioned above, but its products deserve attention, as they combine decent power with an attractive set of options and low cost. Model EBS800 with 800 W motor and speed up to 300 m/min. available for only 4-4, 5 thousand rubles. Specifications with previous versions are very close, so what's the difference? What alreadyit was noted that budget-class belt grinders initially lose to premium counterparts as an element base. This option is less reliable and durable, although it can also show noticeable advantages in terms of the convenience of physical handling. There should also be limitations in functionality. The EBS800 lacks soft start, peak load support, and speed control.
4th place - model "Interskol LShM-76/900"
Domestic development for domestic use and also with a small price tag - about 4 thousand rubles. A feature of this model can be called an unusual combination of power and maximum speed of rotation of the rollers - 900 W at 250 m / min. This means that the grinder focuses on rough cleaning of metal surfaces - profiled sheet, car body, various inventory surfaces, etc. Users point to the good performance of the Interskol belt sander, its low weight (3.2 kg) and convenient adjustment. The disadvantages include strong vibrations and noise. Vibrations just do not allow fine grinding of small parts.
Which manufacturer should I prefer?
The higher the class of the grinder, the more responsible operations can be assigned to it. Therefore, power tools from companies like Bosch and Makita should be chosen for professional use. Elitech, Hitachi and Metabo brands should also be included in this group. If the task is to perform a simple cleaning of small areas, then you can limit yourself toentry level models. This segment is mainly represented by Russian belt grinders. Reviews, in addition to Interskol devices, also praise the Zubr, Caliber and Enkor models. With an average quality of construction, they give good power indicators and do not cause any problems in physical handling.
Can I make LSM with my own hands?
In manufacturing, you will need an electric motor, two drums (roller substitutes), a bed and mounting hardware. As an engine, you can use the power unit from the washing machine. Its average power is about 3 kW, so it will be possible to count on a high-performance mode of operation. As for the bed, then for it you should choose a frame structure made of thick metal profiles. The main thing in this part is to think over the configuration of interfacing with the engine, drums and carrier platform. Next, you can go to the drums, due to which the belt grinder will process. With your own hands, they can be made from small-format cylinders or wide furniture rollers. Previously, they are turned under the design of the frame and the landing mechanism of the tape itself. The fact is that the diameter in the central region should be several millimeters larger than at the edges. This will ensure stable processing, since the main force will be directed to the canvas in the middle area.
In conclusion
Usually transition from mechanical hand tools to electrical counterpartsaccompanied by a radical change in the principles of processing. In this case, only the working force changes, while the functional consumable retains the characteristics of traditional abrasive materials. Does this mean that such a tool has retained its former processing efficiency? As practice shows, for example, the Makita belt sander, even in semi-professional modifications, gives an effect close to high-tech sandblasting machines. What distinguishes such devices is the softness of the physical impact with the possibility of fine tuning. This is what allows you to clean and even polish the sensitive surfaces of wooden blanks without the risk of deep damage to the abrasive belt.
