Our team at Farris Belt & Saw Company has extensive experience in using power tools, and we know how to operate them safely. We want to help you get the best results from your saws, belt sanders, and other tools without putting yourself at risk of injury.
In this article, we will focus on sand belts and offer a few key tips to keep yourself safe while using this equipment.
- Sand Away from Your Body – Our first tip for using sand belts safely is to position the sander away from your body. Essentially, you want to use a sand belt the same way you’d use a knife, always cutting away from yourself. Positioning the sander in this way will help reduce the risk of the sander accidentally hitting your skin.
- Wear Safety Glasses – Another key safety tip for using sand belts is to always wear your safety glasses, just as you would when using any other power tool. This will help keep debris out of your eyes and protect you from injury.
- Use Dust Collection and Breathing Protection – Our third tip for using sand belts safely is twofold: always wear a ventilator mask to keep dust out of your lungs and use a dust collection system to remove sawdust from the air in your workshop. Using one form of protection is good, but using both is better.
- Hold the Sander with Two Hands – Lastly, if you are using a hand-held belt sander, always hold it with two hands. One hand goes on the power trigger, and one hand goes on the handle.