New Machine for the Shop! Powermatic 37" Wide Belt Sander - Timesaver - Heavy Machine Moving

[@helicopterjohns]

Many years ago my Uncle had one similar to yours. He built custom kitchens with raised panel doors. This was a REAL TIME SAVER. 2 passes through the machine and the door was ready for paint. Once you get it sorted out you will love it. John

[@turbocobra]

Thanks John, interesting about your Uncle, hoping it makes a big difference for me

[@rindress]

Looks awesome. I hope you get it cranked up and it is a time saver. Time is money 😁

[@JerrysThisandThat]

That should help make that artwork easier to prep for sure. Nice score Gary.

[@SYFGARAGE]

Looks pretty simple...

[@reideichner8597]

Nice machine Gary. I am sure you will get it all cleaned up and running like it should. I will be interested to see how well it works for your intended use.

[@turbocobra]

Thanks Reid!

[@davidwhite9906]

We run everything that comes off our laser and waterjet through one of these. Klingspor makes some good belts for it and we used to have to jog ours by hand cause the track was messed up.

[@bcbloc02]

Start with a teardown clean and inspection of all the rollers. Also air check the system for leaks.

[@turbocobra]

it definitely seems to have an air leak, and yes, the pinch rollers need cleaning, will do that for sure

[@kmcwhq]

Nice score! The pile of belts are a huge bonus!! Have worked on many machines, and machine tools, but never a 'Timesaver' before. Although I have heard of issues with them from woodworker guys that have them. The electrical enclosure is actually made by Hoffman. They just make the boxes. I'll bet the schematics ARE for the machine if the title block has the machine mfgr's name in it, or the machine model or serial number on the drawings. You will figure it out I am sure, there is probably a small air cylinder that tilts the upper belt roller to shift the belt side to side. I think the side limit switches are to shut the motor off, belt should never touch them. Things are just out of adjustment, and looks like (from the ground down bolts) that the limit switches are bypassed. Also, the bottom rubber feed belt is for wood. If used for metal, the heat can go thru the metal and mess up that feed belt if the work piece gets too hot. Actual Timesavers for metal finishing have feed belts made of different material.......I think. Not sure. Also.......you'll want to hook that up to a dust collector.

[@jeremys5904]

Did you ever get this sander running properly?

[@1970chevelle396]

I've never seen a belt sander that big before.

[@turbocobra]

Oh they make them even bigger than this. I think like 6" wide

[@GregsGarage]

That's a monster machine Gary! If the air adjustments don't work out, you could probably fab up a few parts to make it solid... I suspect the air makes it easier to change paper.

[@turbocobra]

I think you are right, and maybe also if boards are put through that are not consistent thickness it may adjust dynamically to keep the board feeding evenly, but really dont know, we will see!

[@billdlv]

Gary Hoffman is an enclosure manufacturer that 's what the sticker is for. At my old job they had a Laguna wide belt sander and the tracking on it was designed to move the belt back and forth by slightly tipping the top roller for the belt. I don't know if the powermatic does the same thing, but from what you showed in the video it looked similar with the limit switches. Not sure really how that thing will hold up to sanding metal though especially the carpet that the part rides on, I'm sure you'll find out about that as you use the machine. I would really make sure you clean it and get all the sawdust out of it otherwise it might make a good bonfire LOL.

[@muddywaters6]

Looks like it is gunna be a great machine

[@turbocobra]

i just got it fired up on a 20 amp breaker, its all i have right now, it starts but trips the breaker within a few seconds, so have to get a 60 amp monday, but the conveyor is working and the sanding belt seems to start fine and run a few seconds

[@muddywaters6]

@@turbocobra They also make other conveyor material, but since you are running smooth side down I bet it will be fine

[@cecil6711]

Nice score. :-)

[@turbocobra]

Thank you sir!

[@johnsont963]

the one we have at work uses two "eyes that control the oscillation of the belt and they get dirty and then the belt gets destroyed. its those eyes that is the problem they are either faulty or dirty or out of adjustment.......as a side not the cylinders that control the tracking may be faulty as well ....

[@AnanasStudio]

i remember this machinist carts :D

[@larryrobinson7492]

Nice, should save some back breaking time. My back was killing me last night buffing a stupid Oklahoma Sooner sign.

[@turbocobra]

yes sir!

[@24jh42]

I do not know the machine at all, so I am just guessing here with a welders experience for belt sanders. Looks like the belt trimmer is likely connected to the top roller. Raising or lowering the roller will walk the belt to either side. The switches might just be automatic breaks. If for instance something is causing the belt to wander, it will switch off automatically. If something gets stuck or puts to much of a strain, it shuts of to reduce the chance of catastrophic collapse. I suggest taking the belt of and look at the bearings for the top roller. If one of those sounds or feels funky it will be cheap and easy to get a new one. When the belt is off look for the belt trimmer function. Is it working like it should? Is the threads damaged or does it not lock into the position. (If it is lose, then it might clamp into position when there is no load on the machine, but when it is taxed it will drop the tension and the belt wander to the side.

[@oldschool6345]

Idk about the pneumatic side of it, I've never dealt with pneumatic tracking.. My experience with belt sanders not tracking well or consistently always resulted in crud, grime, dust removal; bearings, thrust washers or bearings ; shaft bearings ; properly lubricated and operating assemblies. If one bearing or thust bearing is pulling harder than the rest it will walk. A failing but sort of operating, even just worn bearing will either through pressure or alignment change make it walk. Dust can be enough to do it sometimes. If it wants to walk because of a mechanical issue the pneumatics can't possibly compensate for that. When your trying to adjust tracking the pull is a constant variable, more pressure there, more drag, you adjust it back , less pressure-then it takes off the other direction. All your turning assemblies need to be more less equal and consistent. It's a neat idea using it that way. Looks like a machine that will never break a sweat doing it too, should live long for you once you get it there. You said it belonged to a school originally, absolutely anything is possible having been instructional equipment. Thanks for sharing

[@turbocobra]

Excellent insight for sure

[@danstebbins6176]

A 20hp 3ph 208 motor needs to be fed with a #4 from a 100amp breaker. Your 60amp will probably trip on start up due to end rush. The photo eye should be controlling the tracking of the belt and the limit switches should shut the machine down when belt get too far off track. Coincidentally, I recently purchased a similar machine and just picked it up on Friday.

[@turbocobra]

I tried to start it up on a 20 amp breaker, it would start run for 3-4 seconds and trip the breaker.

[@turbocobra]

I have 3PH 240, does that make a difference on the breaker size needed ?

[@captaincaveman00]

1st again Its Cool getting new stuff gary 👍

[@turbocobra]

Dude you are always first in my book no matter when you leave a comment!

[@SteppingStoneGarage]

Nice find. You should clean it up and give it a new paint job.

[@turbocobra]

lol, its funny i paint other people stuff, but have yet to paint any of my own machines... for some reason I kind of like them original and worn looking

[@SteppingStoneGarage]

I was thinking of the refrigerator that you painted. But this thing is going to take a lot more abuse than that anyways.

[@jamessonger3]

You have full 3 phase power? Or u running converters?

[@turbocobra]

I have 240 3PH, no converters

[@dougankrum3328]

Well, A little too late for this purchase...but I've learned that it's often best to ask the seller "what all is wrong with this equipment" rather than them telling you how great it is, or was before they decided to sell it. Unfortunately, in my 45-50- years in industrial field, there are usually 2 reasons they sell equipment, it's worn out, or they're going out of business, a few times, they sell it because they're adding newer bigger stuff... That optical tracking system is the way to go, any switches that touch the belt would last....a few seconds... Hoffman, Yes they were a big name in the 'enclosures'...

[@turbocobra]

On an Ebay purchase you are kind of limited to what you can ask.. its a 33 year old machine, so yea, stuff will be wrong with it. These people are furniture builders that focus 100% on wood, and seemed to have very little mechanical or even electrical knowledge. Its my beleif that there really isnt anything major wrong with it, just some TLC, adjusting, etc. from looking over the machine it doesn't appear to be "worn out" I powered it up today and it seems to run fine, meaning no odd noises, bearing issues, etc.

[@dougankrum3328]

@@turbocobrathanks for the reply...! I've worked on some Powermatic metal cutting bandsaws at my last job as maint. mech. they seemed well built...so if that belt runs ok, the rest is probably minor stuff...good luck.

[@85gregjohnson]

There was one for sale in dallas for 3000 bucks

[@turbocobra]

This one was $1300 and included $500 worth of new belts. I saw a couple around Dallas for like $5K, didnt see any for $3K, but even with that this one was a deal hard to beat

[@85gregjohnson]

@@turbocobra That's a deal... I just purchased a Sharp cnc mill so my funds got tied up in that.l but your purchase was worth the trip and it is cheaper than a time saver.

[@EcoMouseChannel]

Maybe you'll end up bypassing the pneumatics all together and just using good ol' fashioned screw type tensioning.

[@kmcwhq]

Not a good idea. The pneumatic tracking is there for a good reason. If manual tracking would work, the company would never spend the money for the pneumatic system.

[@turbocobra]

my thought on it was that it helps if you have an uneven board, it self levels and keep s the board tracking through, but on metal art, i would think manual tracking would work ?

[@kmcwhq]

Someday you might want to sand wood? Or sell it for max value?

[@andyb7754]

Interesting video! When you swing your camera around slow down brcause the panning is hard on the eyes.

[@turbocobra]

Yes, I am usually better at that, and normally use a tripod for the build videos, but i didnt have alot of time and just wanted to do an update video

[@goldenhazeduster]

Score

[@turbocobra]

Thank you sir, thinking it will be a big time saver for sure