Belt Sander from a Treadmill?? YEP

Well I never… what will people come up with next… really big sander.

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...

And my wife said I was stupid when I tried to take her treadmill from her.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Damn, we just sold our treadmill to a friend since we both prefer to run outdoors.

-- - Eric Indianapolis, IN

double damn we just gave ours away…......That is one slick idea

-- To realize our true destiny, we must be guided not by a myth from our past, but by a vision of our future

Time to keep an eye out on yardsales….etc…LOL. I’ve seen a ton of used workout equipment for sale…cheap!....mostly as folks get tired of the unused equipment sitting around in their homes or garages…without being used. That would make a sizeable belt sander…

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Incredible! Just one question: I wonder if this was built to use a standard belt that exists for use in some other machine, or if the builder had to get a custom size? Cuz if it has a 14 1/2” X 48 platen, it would require a belt in the neighborhood of 14 1/2 X 105 inches? Does this size exist? EDIT: Whoa…I just found a belt… Now I want one!! http://www.aaabrasives.com/products/coated_abrasives/sanding_belts_ao_resin_bond_premium_grade_ziroconia_alumina__zirconia_alumina_plus/wide_belts_14_width_-_52_width/1913

-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!

Hey poopiekat. I’m pretty sure you can custom order pretty much any size sanding belt from companies that make such products. If you can get a cheap treadmill and order a custom belt – you can have a pretty bad ass belt sander for pretty cheap!!

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!

There was an interesting article in one of the home machinist magazines last year on using the motor from a tread mill on a lathe. The motors are DC variable speed. I would love to have a motor I could slow down on my drill press so I’m watching garage sales for one.

-- The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

I picked up a couple used treadmills this past weekend. The permanent magnet motors are popular for building wind powered generators. That was my plan anyway. Think I’ll go to plan B and build one of these beauties.

-- Jeff, Look with hope to the horizon of today, for today is all we truly have.

TheFonz – make sure you post your project! I’d like see other versions of this! I think its a really amazing idea

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!

Will do.

I wonder…..If a fella could build a drum sander using some of these parts? Now my mind is really working.. LOL

-- Jeff, Look with hope to the horizon of today, for today is all we truly have.

I’m sure you could. You could set it up verticle, horizontal, flat (like in video). I’m sure you could figure out a way to raise it (like a drum sander). I wish I didnt live in an apartment, with no money, and too much studying to do, and no woodworking shop…..UGH!!!!!!! haha. I can’t wait to do this kind of stuff!

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!

Think I’m gonna head up to the shop and tear one of these things apart. Maybe do some measuring and what not.

-- Jeff, Look with hope to the horizon of today, for today is all we truly have.

Amazing, I am in the process of doing this right now. I picked up a treadmill for $35 and disassebled it. I didnt want the transport to be as long as the treadmill was, and wider (25”). But I am using the motor for the transport and the bed is HDPE, so that glued on top of mdf will be the transport bed. If you wanted a 16” sander the rollers would work perfectly also.

-- George, Parker Colorado

No way! I was just thinking about this the other day in the car…but I don’t have a tread mill.

-- I came, I was conquered, I was born again. ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν