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Here's an idea I haven't heard before. I was taking an online course, and they were talking about cleaning shellac on glassware for French polishing. They used TSP, tri-sodium phosphate (?), which can be found in any hardware or paint store. It's used for cleaning walls prior to painting.

It worked incredibly well for cleaning up old shellac residue, and I thought, hmm, resin? Maybe it'll work for burnt-on oils/resins from cocobolo and the like.

I got a small Home Depot pail, half filled it with water, and added about 4 tablespoons of tsp. Added a couple of buggered up sanding belts and left it for about a week.

Took a wire brush to them this morning, and while not good as new, they're in much better shape than they were. Not sure what kind of shape the grit is in, but the burnt on residue is mostly gone.

Steve

I think oven cleaner does the same. The problem is that the sand/crystals/grit on the belt are already broken. Your belt might be clean, but it's still dull.

Thanks Steve, I think it's worth trying

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I recall that Don Williams also had a thread about cleaning belts a few years ago.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

"The problem is that the sand/crystals/grit on the belt are already broken. Your belt might be clean, but it's still dull."

Ed, some of us gum up the belts with the woods we sand before they are worn out. It's hard to resist taking that bigger bite that ultimately costs us time (and belts) rather than saving it.

I stripped the shellac off an Oak floor built in the 1930's.
Mixed it in a bucket and moppd it right off.
I was shocked it workd so well.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

We use the blue Zirconia abrasive (well worth the extra $) To clean "De-Glue-Goo" works really good especially where there is the burnt glue trail on the drum. Brush on the chemical (heavy) wrap with Saran plastic leave over night. Clean off with a brass wire brush and some water.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

??

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Pat

I soak my glommed up drum sander belts overnight in a strong solution of Simple Green and water. Anything remaining on them comes off with a brass bristle brush.

No puzzlement that I can see.

tri-sodium phosphate was mixed in a bucket and applied to shellac-covered oak floor ... shellac was removed unexpectedly easily.

Unless i am missing something.

Maybe the sanding belts that Dan used to strip the floor went into the bucket.
We may never know!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker