Jet 16-32 Sander Question for Barry Irby

Yes I do...Put $8 in a milk carton down @ river

Barry Irby

Mine is a Performax 16/32 and I bought a belt from Wood Craft and fought with it tooth and nail...finally called Jet (who bought the 16/32 from Performax). The technician said he had spent hours on the phone trying to help people with Brand X belts and would not help unless I bought one from Jet. I Did. It came and I put it on. Had the Tech on speed dial. Ready for battle. It ran as it should. Still does. I was almost disappointed.

So, my answer is to pay the money and buy one from Jet.

It is a little tricky. You must get the belt snug. Tight enough to drive it and carry the wood through without slipping. Then, if the belt moves left, tighten it on the right. And Vice versa. The belt migrates toward the tighter side. Seems counter intuitive. Also, put it one, get it snug and running right and then after a few hours of operation, the belt may relax or stretch and you may have to tighten both sides equally.

I also have a Grizzly dual drum sander. A whole different animal with a whole new set of idiosyncrasies. Has rubber belt that resists the wood going through and the drums drag it through. If you are not careful it will fire a piece out the exit maybe 25 feet. And don't get me started on wrapping the sand paper on the drums.

Hope this helps, IF not I will send my phone number and we can discuss it.

Re: Yes I do...Put $8 in a milk carton down @ rive

Ken Krawford

I had exactly the same experience as Barry. Two aftermarket belts would not track. The Jett belt (I believe it was a 3M brand) worked like a charm right out of the gate.

Re: Yes I do...Put $8 in a milk carton down @ rive

Mike Squire

Thank you. That's the story I remembered. OEM part is on order.

Re: Yes I do...Put $8 in a milk carton down @ rive

Barry Irby

Worked for me, I hated paying close to twice as much for the belt, but the cheaper one was useless. I would sand a board or maybe two and move the belt over. Sand another and move the belt. The final straw was I sanded a board about twenty inches wide and the belt crept over into the guides while hidden by the board and shredded itself. At that point it became a piece of very expensive sandpaper.

I still watch the newer one and may move it after a long use.