Jet Belt Sander Maintenance Surprise

Here's an important but little known maintenance tip for Jet belt sanders. It does not appear in the manual. I discovered it by accident after almost ruining my project, and thought it would be helpful to get the word out.

[@jroberthall]

WOW! Thank you. Our JET sander, same as one pictured, is only a year in use. I've noticed our sanding out of square. We make about 2,000 Cedar boxes a year about 2 x 3 x 8. To give them a nice square finish, we sand all surfaces. Your video is EXACTLY what we needed. Especially the part about being patient in removing the old adhesive. This is 2021, you mentioned making a fixture to reposition your work. Wondering if that has been made into a video. THANK YOU again!!!

[@aaronbagley2201]

That was some very useful info. I don't understand why people have to be negative....if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your comments to yourself. How the video is produced, how the info is given, or anything about the video for that matter, as long as the info helps you, then its beneficial, period. As a woodworker for about 20 years, I myself never knew this about this machine, which I have used numerous times. So thank you Scrollergirl. Keep doing what you do, and i look forward to checking back to see some other videos.

[@crazy-eyewoodguy4489]

3M adhesive remover! I did the same job and it removed it no problem. I think I got mine at a local auto parts store. Thanks for taking the time to help us all...Clear and to the point well done!

[@chesterpertchik5539]

I make signs using computer cut, adhesive backed letters. When removing the letters sometimes the adhesive remains behind. Contact any sign supply company and buy a jar of the commercial solvent we use. Squirt it on and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. The adhesive will turn into a jelly. Scrape and reapply the liquid a couple of times. Finish with 90% isopropyl alcohol. This will make the job much easier. Thanks for you excellent video tutorials. :)

[@suzanneweitzel8969]

Thanks for posting this! I have the same machine. I never thought of the pad behind the sand paper being replaceable. With my sander, it doesn't hold a 90 degree vertical table to the sand paper on the belt side very long. The table seems to slip downward quickly no matter how tight I make the lever attachments, and then gobbles up my thin stock. I enjoy your videos! You are very skilled! ~Suzanne

[@scrollergirl]

+Suzanne Jordan The table does tend to lose its position if pressure is put on it, but it still should hold. Might help to call Jet tech support--that's how I found out about the graphite pads.

[@CFAinNoVA]

Excellent find and description of the problem.

[@jayhoover4580]

Thanks for this video! We just did this at our shop with some changes to your procedure. Preheated the old pad with a Stienel 600 degree heat gun, careful to avoid rubber and plastic parts, then used a steel putty spatula to pry up the first 2". Worked the pad off by applying heat and slowly peeling back the old pad. Left some, about 25%, of the adhesive behind. Used the heat gun to soften remaining adhesive and scrapped off with a putty knife. What was left easily cleaned with Goo Gone and a plastic scraper. 1/2 hour start to finish.

[@jwar2163]

Thank you. I purchased some used Jet and Powermatic Sanders through a government auction form a School district and both were having issues with the Graphite pads and that is why they were taken out of service and for the life of me I did not know where to get a replacement pad for the Jet JSG-96 and the Powermatic Model 13 Edge Sander as they are older units but still working.

[@kickpublishing]

Excellent info, you've highlighted an interesting problem here which is never covered in the manuals. In my experience if you have the belt distance from the belt back support plate too great, then what happens is the belt must curve slightly before it reaches its back stop - and then it transfers that profile to your work sanding face. I had a similar issue once and it drove me nuts before I worked out what it was.

[@tomray2068]

Thanks much for the very useful information. I've recently had similar experience with Jet's 10" table saw. The fan blades on the totally enclosed fan cooled motor separated from the fan hub. Calling Jet's tech support to get a replacement fan for the motor, I was tolled that there was nothing to replace the fan. The only way to correct this was to purchase a complete motor assembly. The other option was to take the motor to a local motor repair shop. I did. Cost: $20.00 plus change.

[@scrollergirl]

Glad it worked out for you. Sometimes company support just isn't so supportive!

[@karpenterken1]

You don't need to use the graphite pad on stationary or portable belt sanders. The purpose of it is to reduce heat and friction on the backside of the rotating belt, which obviously adds to the life of the belt. I've found the graphite pads to be more of a PIA, because when they wear, you no longer have the belt tensioned on a flat surface, which translates to whatever you're sanding.

[@cindybeckwith1533]

Great tip, scrollergirl! Good to know. Looking for a used one, will inspect that when I purchase. Thank you!

[@billytuttle3857]

Thank you very much for info...Try a scraper that uses single edge razor blades...

[@ginoasci2876]

good job replacing the pad. but you could have extended the life by simply clamping or gluing a 2" thick block of wood on the table, so it would bring your work piece up over the wore area. what you did is the right, and best way to go, but the block raising the work piece would have worked, even thou a temporary fix. anyway, good job. what is it you make with this sanding machine?

[@cindybeckwith1533]

Auxiliary table, to use more of the pad, very smart.

[@bongomakers]

Excellent video.

[@NcWraith]

If you are doing small box lids primarily, did you need this big of a machine?

[@MrSlapdash243]

You could try a bit of WD40 to help remove the glue residue, I've found it useful for getting light glue residue off glass and car paintwork.

[@scrollergirl]

Thanks!

[@cr6925]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing :-)

[@foodparadise5792]

Jet should compensate you 1% profit they made from this sander for fixing their problem.

[@SkunkTreeCarvings]

great info...thanks... :-)

[@2longg]

where can I get the replacement pad?

[@scrollergirl]

Best source is Klingspor's Woodworking. They sell graphite pads in a 6" width that is long enough for 2 uses. Use Aileen's temporary bond spray adhesive. It holds fast and cleans up quickly with mineral spirits. The Jet product is more expensive, and the self-stick adhesive is much harder to remove.

[@НатальяОрейро-ы9я]

too mach tolking