Belt sander behavior

[Richard Evans]

I bought a new Craftsman belt sander yesterday, top of the line model.

When I pulled the trigger, the motor hummed briefly then the belt

*slowly* came up to speed. While running, if I let off on the trigger it wouldn't restart until it had coasted to a complete stop.

I've had several belt sanders and I expect instant response to the trigger. I took it back and swapped it for another one. It does the same thing.

So, did I get two faulty units or is this some new "feechur?"

The Sears clerk didn't comment when I described the symptoms.

Feature or flaw, it's going back, and this time for a refund. I just don't see this behavior being useful in this tool.

[Swingman]

They do advertise a "soft start" feature ... but not something I would want to put up with in that particular tool either.

[Micky]

No good fer racing then?

[Leon]

Like Swingman asked, perhaps a soft start feature or maybe an Electronic Speed Control. I have several tools that act in a similar manner when the Electronic Speed Control is changed.

[Richard Evans]

It has a variable speed feature, but this trigger lag is evident at all speeds.

[Robatoy]

Nope. 36 grit on a Milwaukee...and I'll whoop anybody's ass.

[Robatoy]

=2E..just an aside, Swing... what *is * that sound that Lynyrd Skynyrd's Tuesday's Gone's hook is played in? Keyboard? Sounds a bit like string, almost bell-like... hard to tell.

[Lew Hodgett]

You sure you want to take on my Choo-Choo /w/ 24 grit belts?

Lew

[Jay Pique]

24 grit?! When I put even a 36g on the widebelt I (literally) get tear-out! 24 must be downright nasty.

JP

[Jay Pique]

Disclaimer: This is on end-grain butcher-block slabs.

WRT the soft-start on your belt sander....I don't have it on any of mine, and I'm sure I wouldn't want it.

JP

[Richard Evans]

It's not mentioned on the box or in the manual, so I'm guessing it's not an intentional feechur.

[Robatoy]

That would be a challenge.

[Lew Hodgett]

tear-out! 24 must be downright nasty.

Think fiberglass and CDX you want to laminate with fiberglass.

Lew

[Swingman]

"Richard Evans" wrote

Here is one Craftsman model that does advertise/mention "soft start":

[Robatoy]

expensive...naaa, I'll stick to my Makeeter... or maybe the baby PC.

[Richard Evans]

same. It looks like mine, except mine is red.

Mine is #26819. See it here:

mention of soft start

[Leon]

If the trigger controls the variable speed that might normal if the sander also has ESC, Electronic speed control. Typically these type tools monitor the speed of the tool to the location of the trigger and "cruise control" so to speak. Your are sorta flying by wire.

[Richard Evans]

OK, I took it back and spoke to the manager. It does indeed have the soft start feature, though he admitted it should've been mentioned in the packaging. Apparently, it's common, at least in Craftsman tools. The manager said he has it on a router and really likes it, though I still can't imagine the benefit of it.

I decided to keep it because at $170 it was far and away the cheapest

4" sander I could find.

[Charley]

Soft start is great in routers and other high torque equipment (1/2 inch drill maybe) as it keeps the tool from "jumping" when you pull the trigger, but I don't see a need for it in a belt sander. Probably put there as an enticement to try to snag more sales, but in the process they've created confusion for new users.

Charley

[Mike O.]

According to the liner notes, it's Roosevelt Cook playing a Mellotron. It's about the earliest keyboard instrument that could use sampled sounds. So early that the samples were on tape. A lot of rock bands from the Beatles to the Moody Blues used them back in the day.

Originally they were built in England but there is a Canadian company building them and supplying parts now. They also have CDs with the original Mellotron sounds.

Mike O.