I recently picked up one of these Craftsmen belt/disk sanders. It appears to be in very good condition although it has been sitting up for a long time and has a lot of surface grime and oxidation.

1) Are sanding belts still available (6" x 23"?) ? And 9" disc
2) What's the best way to clean all the metal? I was thinking WD - 40 and 0000 steel wool.

Many thanks for any help.

Sterling

If this is your machine (http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=3786), it uses standard 6"x48" belts which are readily available. Example: Grizzly (http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2012/Main/426) has belts and 9" discs. The Vintage Machinery site also has the manual (http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2909).

Steel wool will work but I find it messy. I like Evapo-Rust (http://www.evaporust.com/) followed by Scotch-Brite Dremel buffs. For larger surfaces, like machine tables, various size Scotch-Brite discs on a random orbit or right-angle pneumatic sander with WD-40 or other light oil will do the job fast and without hand cramp. Once clean, follow-up with plain paste wax or a sealant product like Bostik Topcote (http://www.bostik-us.com/files/tdsfiles/TopCote.pdf).

Congrats, looks like a great old machine.

Additional Info:
OSHA: Wood Dust Safety (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wooddust/index.html)
Klingspor (http://www.klingspor.com/)
Norton (www.nortonabrasives.com/)
Mirka (http://www.mirka.com/)

Thank you for your help. Can I still buy sanding belts in that size? Are they 6" x 24"?

Sclerous: Thanks for the info. These Scotch Brite products you refer to, are they available at somewhere like Home Depot? I have Dremel Tools and random orbital sanders but I have never had the need to buy these cleaning products you are referring to.



If this is your machine (http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=3786), it uses standard 6"x48" belts which are readily available. Example: Grizzly (http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2012/Main/426) has belts and 9" discs. The Vintage Machinery site also has the manual (http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2909).

Steel wool will work but I find it messy. I like Evapo-Rust (http://www.evaporust.com/) followed by Scotch-Brite Dremel buffs. For larger surfaces, like machine tables, various size Scotch-Brite discs on a random orbit or right-angle pneumatic sander with WD-40 or other light oil will do the job fast and without hand cramp. Once clean, followup with plain paste wax or a sealant product like Bostik Topcote (http://www.bostik-us.com/files/tdsfiles/TopCote.pdf).

Congrats, looks like a great old machine.

Additional Info:
OSHA: Wood Dust Safety (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/wooddust/index.html)
Klingspor (http://www.klingspor.com/)
Norton (www.nortonabrasives.com/)
Mirka (http://www.mirka.com/)

Sterling can you give use the Craftsman model number? 23" sounds much more like a hand held sander and that would not have a disc, just trying to pin down what you have.

Sterling can you give use the Craftsman model number? 23" sounds much more like a hand held sander and that would not have a disc, just trying to pin down what you have.

The model # is 103.0803 I say 23" only because it's hard to get an exact measurement, trying to get a tape measure to measure center to center. Someone replied with 48" which Is what a 24" would be if I were to cut it.

Thanks.

These Scotch Brite products you refer to, are they available at somewhere like Home Depot? I have Dremel Tools...

My local Home Depot has Scotch-Brite Dremel buffs. I'm not sure about Scotch-Brite sander discs, but they should have hand pads in the paint area. When I bought sander discs years ago, I couldn't find 6" discs for my Bosch sander locally so I searched online. I think I got them from Klingspor or Woodworker's Supply. Scotch-Brite is a 3M term. Generically they are called non woven abrasive (http://www.klingspor.com/products/klgprnw.htm). What model random orbit sander do you have?

Belts are measured width x length of loop circumference, not center to center. 6"x48" is a common industrial size.

Please double check that model number http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/103.0803?searchModPar=103.0803+&=Model+%23+search&pathTaken=modelSearch&prst=0&shdMod=103.0803+

Please double check that model number http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/103.0803?searchModPar=103.0803+&=Model+%23+search&pathTaken=modelSearch&prst=0&shdMod=103.0803+


The model # is correct. 103.0803 There is another sticker that says "Craftsman by King Seeley". I have a feeling this thing was made back in the '40's.