Sanding Miters and Bevels

Figure 19-16. To sand miter cuts, adjust the angle of the miter gauge and leave the worktable square to the belt.

Sanding a miter or a bevel is similar to end grain sanding. Once again, lock the miter gauge in the worktable and use both support surfaces to ensure the accuracy of the operation.

To sand a miter cut, adjust the angle of the miter gauge and leave the worktable square to the belt (Figure 19-16). To sand a bevel cut, adjust the tilt of the worktable and leave the miter gauge square to the belt (Figure 19-17). Warning: Do not tilt the worktable in toward the belt. When the worktable is tilted in, there is a danger that the rotation of the belt will wedge the stock--or your hands--under the worktable. You can also set both the miter gauge and the worktable to sand compound angles (Figure 19-18).

Figure 19-17. To sand bevel cuts, just tilt the table to the angle you need. Move the workpiece directly forward into the belt.

To set the angle of the miter gauge or tilt of the worktable at the same angle as the cut, copy the angle of the cut with a sliding T-bevel (Figure 19-19A). Lock the arm of the T-bevel in place.

Figure 19-18. To sand compound angles, set the miter gauge and the table tilt to the same angles used when the workpiece was cut.

Place the base of the T-bevel against the hard side of the belt sander. Rest the arm of the T-bevel against either the face of the miter gauge (if you're sanding a miter cut) or the worktable (if you're sanding a bevel cut). Adjust the angle or the tilt until the arm of the T-bevel rests flush against the working surface (Figure 19-19B).

If either the miter gauge or the worktable is to be left at 90° to the belt, check it with a square and make adjustments if necessary. When you have completed all the angle and tilt adjustments, be sure that the worktable is no more than 1/16" away from the belt.

Figure 19-19. (A) To set the angle of the miter gauge or the tilt of the worktable, first copy the angle of the cut with a sliding T-bevel. (B) Once you have copied the angle with a bevel, transfer that angle to the miter gauge or worktable.

Hold the stock firmly against the worktable and the miter gauge. Don't move the stock back and forth; just press it gently against the moving belt.

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