Looking for love in all the wrong places.
Sorry guys, I couldn't help it. This thread for some reason caused that song to pop into mind.
Anyways,
It's a secret. Certainly the sanding belt mfg's aren't going to tell you anything except, they don't last forever and there are no repairs that can be made to a belt that has come apart.
And also, be assured, the glue joint will not last forever.
The reasons, well, I just think they want you to think this knowing you will need to buy new belts, and, more belts, and more belts.
Some of them really cost as width and size get up there and you use many. wow,better have a bank roll.
Something I have been using for some time now and it has given me better than average results is a simple book binding strip.
What is it you ask?
I use some tape called "AccubindPro".
It is a tough tight weave material tape with a thermal glue adheasive.
Unlike carpet tape and some of the other things mentioned in this thread by people, this stuff is really tough. It is designed to take a lot of bending punishment and the thermal glue will give the tension pull a good ride.
I get mine from two places if one is out when I need it. An office supply store or a craft store.
Altho, you could probably find it online or if you have a book binding shop near you.
It comes on a roll in several widths. I like the 1-1/2" stock. with this I can cut to width, usually 1" wide for edge butting, and leave it wide,1-1/2" should I need to do a bias tear repair.
This tape is bonded with a thermal heat.
I first invert the sanding belt,grit sides together, then cut the tape to size, fold it in half, place it over the two edges and heat bond them together.
For a bias tear I just place it over the area and once again, heat bond the tape.
Now, you can get silly and buy the book binding machine made by this same supplier at well, a reasonable cost actually if you are really into much use and repair of sanding belts and writing books.
Or,
You can treat your wife(girlfriend)(yourself)to a nice little kitchen machine called the "FoodSaver".
You know, its the machine that plast-i-wraps your food by sucking all the air out and then sealing the bag.
This machine will heat and bond the Accubind.
Tho the heat strip in this machine is narrow it will still give a good weld and you can place the edges twice to insure full width heating.
Remember too, to flip your sanding belt over and reheat to bond the other side.
You see, the sanding belts are a bit thick and the heat generated from the little FoodSaver is not enough to give it a good heat because of the thickness.
Now, for the bias tears.
What I did was to take two pieces of 1/4" steel plate stock about 4.5" long by 4" wide, welded a small hinge to them. On the top I welded a 1" sq. bar that is about a foot long as a lever.
On the bottom of the plate, the one without the lever, I welded another piece of flat stock in "T" fashion so I could put it in my holding vice.
With this complete, It is possible to place your belt with tape, press together, or lay flat as for a tear, and apply heat using your oa rose bud
to one side, or, both sides of the plates thus creating a heated press.
It really takes very little time to do all this.
It works pretty good too.
After doing one or two you will get to know what it will actually take to give a good job.
The temp of heat should be around 250/300 degrees.
They make some other stuff for book binding but I haven't really had to experiment since I started using this little bit.
Perhaps, someone will and then maybe I will know of something new to try.
For now, this works for me.
By the way,
Anyone remember who wrote that song?
Hope this helps,
Patch