Sanding belt cleaner

I have a sanding belt cleaner - one of those rubber sticks that you press against the belt as it's running. Had it maybe about 3 or 4 years. Went to use it today and it just melted and clogged up the belt. Belt ruined.

Looking at the cleaner, it has gone very spongy. Has anyone any ideas how/why this could happen? I've ordered a new one and don't want to let the same thing happen to it.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

sounds as though the latex has reverted to it's liquid form ? Noel

We used to get a lot of pallets wrapped with plastic film where I used to work. It was such a shame to throw it all away so I thought “I wonder?” I saved some and rolled it up tight and tried it on a clogged sanding belt. Surprise, surprise it worked just as good as the bought belt cleaners. I’ve got enough rolled up to last me ages.

Has it got hot?

I think mine's about 12 years old and still going strong, but the shed never gets hot.

Vic. If I get enough plastic film, I'll give your idea a try. In the meantime, I have a new official one winging its way here.

Mark. Nothing out of the ordinary for a detached garage workshop, so I'll just make sure to keep it out of sunlight so that it doesn't roast.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

We always used a tightly wound couple of plastic carrier bags on all our woodworking sanders, worked a treat. Of course that was back in the days when bags were free and plentiful! Still, 10p is still more economical than buying a 'proper' cleaner I suppose.

How true this is I do not know but I have heard that the silicone tubes used for bathroom sealing if opened and left to go off make good cleaners not tried it myself yet as I do not have any handy

I found that my Welly boot sole worked well!

Now that's innovation! 10/10.

That's an expensive way of cleaning belts if your wellies are Hunters

As an aside, do you know you can stop silicone sealant going off by keeping it in the freezer?

It will last an indefinite period and can be used immediately when removed from freezer.

I use a scrap of old garden hose, works really well.

martin

I have an outside toilet, being a terrace house of prewar years. The wall was coated in cement by a previous owner, probably to hide cracks in the brickwork. Cracks kept appearing through the cement and ran out of ideas for filler jollops that claim to solve the issue but don't. Last summer, tried the bathroom silicone and so far, cracks not reappeared. Next summer if still OK will cover the lot with masonry paint. BYU. So yet another use for silicone, apparently.

Oh dear

In most cases paint will not take to silicone filler. Very likely to peel off.

Bryan,

Thanks for that, what do you suggest?

John

Difficult one to answer. If wall is unstable, then cracks will re-appear. Perhaps a coat of plaster over whole area. bridging the silicone filler.

The best thing I've found is intumescent sealant, as used at work for firestopping cable holes.
Cleans off with water, floats to a reasonable finish, and stays flexible. It seems to stick to anything slightly porous, if you dampen the surface first.

Bill

It is very unlikely that commercial belt cleaners will contain a UV light inhibitor. Therefore exposure to light, especially direct sunlight will cause them to go soft and dungy in short order. Heat is another factor that will cause degradation.