Sander stopped working

Lotus-eater

I have a B&D sander, not an expensive one. I was sanding with it and I noticed some sparks started around the motor area.
Then it stopped working and after leaving it for a day, it still doesn't work and has a slightly burnt smell around the motor area.
Has something burnt out, the rotor? And is it worth doing anything to it to try and fix it?

ormus

http://www.knighton-tools.co.uk/acatalog/Black___Decker_Carbon_Brushes.html
about 5/10 quid per set.
you probably need to change the carbon brushes. but if its a cheapo tool, then is it worth it?

Lotus-eater

Probably not tbh. I haven't used it that much though, so I wouldn't have thought it was the brushes, but I've owned it for a few years.
Just looked at B&D site and it was discontinued in 2002

Oh well, another piece of B&D junk in the bin. Cheers

tony6403

I have encountered a similar problem . The brushes weren't worn out , but one had become stuck in its retaining sleeve and the spring on the end of the brush wasn't pushing it down onto the armature.
Worth a look before throwing the tool away.

avantra

bumm er (just saw your avatar LE )

I had a few cheap sanders and what kills them it the amount of pressure you apply to the device when you do the sanding.

With my dad's big heavy arms and the impatient trying to finish the skirting boards quickly the 2005 Bosch sander did exactly the same as the B&Q junk and started to explode.

If you go light touch (which will make your job longer) the sander will live longer.

Lotus-eater

tony6403 wrote: »

I have encountered a similar problem . The brushes weren't worn out , but one had become stuck in its retaining sleeve and the spring on the end of the brush wasn't pushing it down onto the armature.
Worth a look before throwing the tool away.

It is worth a look, thanks.

avantra wrote: »

bumm er (just saw your avatar LE )

I had a few cheap sanders and what kills them it the amount of pressure you apply to the device when you do the sanding.

With my dad's big heavy arms and the impatient trying to finish the skirting boards quickly the 2005 Bosch sander did exactly the same as the B&Q junk and started to explode.

If you go light touch (which will make your job longer) the sander will live longer.

I think that was exactly what I was doing, I was pressing a bit hard and had been going for a while. What is it that it breaks then?

tony6403

Lotus-eater wrote: »

It is worth a look, thanks.

I think that was exactly what I was doing, I was pressing a bit hard and had been going for a while. What is it that it breaks then?

In my experience sandpaper does not work better/quicker by applying more pressure. It simply clogs up .
Using light pressure works best and sanding sheets last much longer.
I doubt that being heavy handed would have much effect on the brushes and I think that you would have to do this to the extreme to break any components.

Lotus-eater

I had a look, the brushes were fine, something around the armature smelt burnt out.

avantra

LE, I am afraid I will have to add you to the ignore list even tho I like your posts, looking at your comments with this lovley avatar during lunch time at work can land me in hot water

aboard_epsilon

What can and does happen to them ..if it is a DA sander... dual action ..meaning it functions by vibrating and turning.

What goes wrong ...
The bearing inside the oscillating disk can get full of sawdust ..or dry out despite it being sealed .

What happens then, is the machine takes more and more power to turn and vibrate the disk .....untill the field windings begin to burn and the brushes arc more .

If you've not used it too much after the sparks and smoke.......you can save it by. pulling it apart.... getting at this bearing ....pulling off seals ..washing out..re-lubing with good grease ..putting back sealsand rebuilding it .

Ive had a couple of Bosch PEX machines..very good machines ..but ..after about 20 hours use ..this has to be done ..or i would burn the machines out.

watch out for left hand threads .

and learn to recognise by the sound of the motor ..that this is about to happen

all the best.markj

Peartree

How much did it cost? How much is an hour of your time worth? How much time will it take to mess around with it? How much, if available, will any parts costs? How much is a new one? Frankly, is it worth it? Whilst we are at it, given what a sander costs, is it worth a whole pile of discussion and anghst about being heavy handed or light handed on it.

Personally, I'd just buy a new one. I've only ever had a couple of years intensive use from a sander and I don't think it is bad value. And as a girlie, I doubt anyone could accuse me of being heavy handed.

However, if you have time on your hands.....