Jim Hager
Member
- Messages
- 374
- Location
- N.E. Arkansas
Over on the classified forum I have had posted my general international drum sander and I have been asked and reminded twice by Bruce Page and Joe Mouix that you guys would like to see and hear a little about my new Timesavers "Speedsander" Review of the Timesavers "Speedsander"
« on: January 12, 2008, 05:51:38 PM » Quote Modify
One of the most difficult things that we all have to deal with is sanding, seems like that is all I got to do for days when completing a kitchen or other large project. I have been through all of the drumsanders, we all know about that and I have finally come to the conclusion that I was gonna have to spend some serious $ to get what would work better for me. About 5 years ago Timesavers came out with their "Speedsander" a widebelt machine designed for the small shop. Perfect I thought but probably not in the budget. I contacted Warren at Timesavers and he gave me the speal on the machine and I pondered my situation only to have my LOML to decide she wanted a Timewaster instead (camper) so on to saving $ again until this fall I finally decided on purchasing one of the "Speedsander".
Large commercial shops would chuckle at this little machine weighing in at a light 1500#'s but for me it's the largest and most expensive machine that I have. The first machine arrived damaged and I had to wait more than a week to recieve another machine and fire it up. Since I had never used a widebelt sander I acutally read the manual before firing the machine up for the first time. The machine runs on a 7 1/2 hp single phase belt motor and a 1hp variable feed motor controlled by a simple dial on the front of the machine. It takes a 50 amp service to operate.
The first pic is of the machine open to the belt access. It is an A frame machine so it is a bit tight to get the belts on and off the machine however it is very doable.
The second shot is just a wider perspective of the same side of the machine showing the location of the height adjustment handwheel which is very easy to operate. I expected something like a drum sander but this is one smooth operating handwheel. Each revolution of the wheel will move the table precisely .020
This pic is of the operators side of the machine showing the controls and the wixey scale on the left. The red bar across the width of the sander right above the feed belt is the emergency shutoff and also prevents any possibility of double feeding. It's a sensitive little raskal too, I have set it off accidentally 2-3 times already. When it is activated the machine comes to a halt within 2-3 seconds, it has an electronic brake. The red button on the left serves as the off switch and the reset once the brake has been activated.
This is the backside of the machine. On the left is the air supply valve and another emergency stop button. The motor on the left is the feed belt motor.
Inside the machine the bottom two rollers can be seen, the one on the right is the contact drum that applies the paper to the material when you don't have the platten in place. The platten is right in the middle between the drums and is easily removed by just sliding it out of place. The head lock device is what is seen just to the right of my hand, this has to be removed to take out or replace a belt. It is easily attached and removed.
In this shot my hand is on the air valve that applies the pressure to the tracking mechanism that oscilates the belt side to side during a sanding operation. The belt moves side to side about 1 1/4" or so.
This is what it looks like to slide a belt into the machine. There are a few obstacles to manuver around but the belt can be changed in about a minute.
Here is how I'm storing belts now but I need to get a proper rack soon. Eighty grit used belt on right and 120 on left.
A shot of the wixey ( not a wixey brand but nonetheless it works) device, I haven't gotten to appreciate it much yet but likely will.
The platten used with 120 grit belt. It is the contact surface when in use and provides a bit more "cushion" than the contact drum.
« on: January 12, 2008, 05:51:38 PM » Quote Modify
One of the most difficult things that we all have to deal with is sanding, seems like that is all I got to do for days when completing a kitchen or other large project. I have been through all of the drumsanders, we all know about that and I have finally come to the conclusion that I was gonna have to spend some serious $ to get what would work better for me. About 5 years ago Timesavers came out with their "Speedsander" a widebelt machine designed for the small shop. Perfect I thought but probably not in the budget. I contacted Warren at Timesavers and he gave me the speal on the machine and I pondered my situation only to have my LOML to decide she wanted a Timewaster instead (camper) so on to saving $ again until this fall I finally decided on purchasing one of the "Speedsander".
Large commercial shops would chuckle at this little machine weighing in at a light 1500#'s but for me it's the largest and most expensive machine that I have. The first machine arrived damaged and I had to wait more than a week to recieve another machine and fire it up. Since I had never used a widebelt sander I acutally read the manual before firing the machine up for the first time. The machine runs on a 7 1/2 hp single phase belt motor and a 1hp variable feed motor controlled by a simple dial on the front of the machine. It takes a 50 amp service to operate.
The first pic is of the machine open to the belt access. It is an A frame machine so it is a bit tight to get the belts on and off the machine however it is very doable.
The second shot is just a wider perspective of the same side of the machine showing the location of the height adjustment handwheel which is very easy to operate. I expected something like a drum sander but this is one smooth operating handwheel. Each revolution of the wheel will move the table precisely .020
This pic is of the operators side of the machine showing the controls and the wixey scale on the left. The red bar across the width of the sander right above the feed belt is the emergency shutoff and also prevents any possibility of double feeding. It's a sensitive little raskal too, I have set it off accidentally 2-3 times already. When it is activated the machine comes to a halt within 2-3 seconds, it has an electronic brake. The red button on the left serves as the off switch and the reset once the brake has been activated.
This is the backside of the machine. On the left is the air supply valve and another emergency stop button. The motor on the left is the feed belt motor.
Inside the machine the bottom two rollers can be seen, the one on the right is the contact drum that applies the paper to the material when you don't have the platten in place. The platten is right in the middle between the drums and is easily removed by just sliding it out of place. The head lock device is what is seen just to the right of my hand, this has to be removed to take out or replace a belt. It is easily attached and removed.
In this shot my hand is on the air valve that applies the pressure to the tracking mechanism that oscilates the belt side to side during a sanding operation. The belt moves side to side about 1 1/4" or so.
This is what it looks like to slide a belt into the machine. There are a few obstacles to manuver around but the belt can be changed in about a minute.
Here is how I'm storing belts now but I need to get a proper rack soon. Eighty grit used belt on right and 120 on left.
A shot of the wixey ( not a wixey brand but nonetheless it works) device, I haven't gotten to appreciate it much yet but likely will.
The platten used with 120 grit belt. It is the contact surface when in use and provides a bit more "cushion" than the contact drum.
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