Craftsman 320.39596 User manual

Operator's Manual
®
8.0 Amp 3 in. ×21 in.
BELT SANDER
Model No. 320.39596
°®°,D
L|STED
_WARNING" To reduce the risk of injury,
the user must read and understand the
Operator's Manual before using this product.
* WARRANTY
* SAFETY
* DESCRiPTiON
* ASSEMBLY
*OPERATION
* MAINTENANCE
, ESPANOL
Sears Brands Management Corporation, Hoffman Estates,
IL 60179 U.S.A.
www,craftsman,com

Warranty Page 2
Safety Symbols Pages 4-5
Safety Instructions Pages 6-8
Description Pages 9-11
Assembly Page 11
Operation Pages 12-17
Maintenance Pages 18-19
Troubleshooting Page 19
Parts List Pages 20-23
CRAFTSMAN ONE YEAR LiMiTED WARRANTY
FOR ONE YEAR from the date of purchase, this product is warranted
against any defects in material or workmanship. With proof of purchase,
defective product will be replaced free of charge.
For warranty coverage details to obtain free replacement, visit the web
page: www.craftsman.com/warranty
This warranty does not cover the sanding belt, which is an expendable part
that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period.
This ONE YEAR warranty is void if this product is ever used while providing
commercial services or if rented to another person. For 90 DAY commercial
and rental use terms, see the Craftsman warranty web page.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.
Sears Brands Management Corporation, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS!
This belt sander has many features for making its use more pleasant and
enjoyable. Safety, performance, and dependability have been given top priority
in the design of this product, making it easy to maintain and operate.
2 © Sears Brands, LLC

,_, DANGER: People with electronic devices, such as pacemakers, should
consult their physician(s) before using this product. Operation of electrical
equipment in close proximity to a heart pacemaker could cause interference or
failure of the pacemaker.
_,WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling
and other construction activities contains chemicals known to the state of
California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some
examples of these chemicals are:
• Lead from lead-based paints
Crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and
Arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type
of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicah work in a well ventilated
area, and work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust masks that
are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.

Thepurposeofsafetysymbolsistoattractyourattentiontopossibledangers.
Thesafetysymbolsandtheexplanationswiththemdeserveyourcareful
attentionandunderstanding.Thesymbolwarningsdonot,bythemselves,
eliminateanydanger.Theinstructionsandwarningstheygivearenosubstitutes
forproperaccidentpreventionmeasures.
,_, WARNING: Be sure to read and understand all safety instructions in this
manual, including all safety alert symbols such as "DANGER," "WARNING," and
"CAUTION" before using this tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed in this
manual may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious personal injury.
SYMBOL SIGNAL MEANING
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL: indicates DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION; may
be used in conjunction with other symbols or pictographs.
DANGER: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury.
,_, WARNING: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury.
_, CAUTION: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could
result in minor or moderate injury.
Damage prevention and Information Messages
These inform the user of important information and/or instructions that could
Beadto equipment or other property damage if they are not followed. Each
message is preceded by the word "NOTICE", as in the example below.
NOTICE: Equipment and/or property damage may result if these instructions are
not followed.
_WARNING: To ensure safety and reliability, all repairs should be performed
by a qualified service technician.
WARNING: The operation of any power tools can result in
foreign objects being thrown into your eyes, which can result
in severe eye damage. Before beginning power tool operation,
always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shield
and a full face shield when needed. We recommend a Wide
Vision Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety
glasses with side shields. Always use eye protection which is
marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.

SAVE THESE iNSTRUCTiONS
Some of these following symbols may be used on this tool. Please study them
and Beam their meaning. Proper interpretation of these symbols will allow you to
operate the tool better and more safely.
SYMBOL NAME DESIGNATION/EXPLANATION
V Volts Voltage
A Amperes Current
Hz Hertz Frequency (cycles per second)
W Watt Power
min Minutes Time
Alternating Current Type of current
Direct Current Type or a characteristic of current
n O No-load Speed Rotational speed, at no load
[] Class II Construction Double-insulated construction
.../min Per Minute Revolutions, strokes, surface speed,
orbits, etc., per minute
Wet Conditions Alert Do not expose to rain or use in damp
locations.
To reduce the risk of injury, user must
Read The Operator's Manual read and understand operator's manual
before using this product.
O Always wear safety goggles or safety
Eye Protection glasses with side shields and a fulI face
shield when operating this product.
Alert Precautions that involve
Safety your safety.
No=Hands Symbol Failure to keep your hands away from theblade will result in serious personal injury.
No=Hands Failure to keep your hands away from the
Symbol blade will result in serious personal injury.
No-Hands Failure to keep your hands away from the
Symbol blade will result in serious personal injury.
No-Hands Symbol Failure to keep your hands away from the
blade will result in serious personal injury.
Hot Surface To reduce the risk of injury or damage,
avoid contact with any hot surface.
5

GENERAL POWER TOOL SAFETY WARNINGS
,_ WARNING: Read aft safety warnings and instructions. Failure to follow the
warnings and instructions may result in electric shock, fire and /or serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
The term "power tool" in the warnings refers to your mains=operated (corded)
power tool or battery=operated (cordless) power tool.
WORK AREA SAFETY
• Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the
presence of flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
= Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool.
Distractions can cause you to lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
•Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any
way. Do not use any adaptor plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools.
Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a
power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or
unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or
moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable
for outdoor use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of
electric shock.
if operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a
ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCl} protected supply. Use of a GFCI
reduces the risk of electric shock.

PERSONAL SAFETY
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when
operating a power tool. Do not use tool while tired or under the
influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while
operating power tools may result in serious personal injury.
• Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Protective
equipment such as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing
protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
•Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is in the off-position
before connecting to power source and/or battery pack, picking up or
carrying the tool. Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or
energizing in power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
• Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the power tool
on. A wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool may
result in personal injury.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. This
enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.
•Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your hair,
clothing and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry or
long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and
collection facilities, ensure these are connected and properly used. Use
of these devices can reduce dust-related hazards.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
• Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your
application. The correct power tool will do the job better and more safely at
the rate for which it was designed.
• Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it on and off. Any
power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must
be repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source andlor the battery pack
from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing
accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures
reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow
persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate
the power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
•Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment or binding of moving
parts, breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the
power tool's operation, if damaged, have the power tool repaired
before use. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained power tools.

Keepcuttingtoolssharpandclean.Properlymaintainedcuttingtoolswith
sharpcuttingedgesarelesslikelytobindandareeasiertocontrol.
Usethepower tool, accessories and tool bits etc., in accordance with
these instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the
work to be performed. Use of the power tool for operations different from
those intended could result in a hazardous situation.
SERVICE
Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only
identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power
tool is maintained.
Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of
unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance instructions may create
a risk of shock or injury.
SPECiFiC SAFETY RULES FOR BELT SANDER
*Hold sanders by insulated gripping surfaces, because the belt may
contact its own cord. Cutting a "live" wire may make exposed metal parts
of the power tool "live" and could give the operator an electric shock.
* A suitable breathing respirator must be worn while sanding lead paint,
some woods and metal to avoid breathing the harmful/toxic dust or air.
*Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask when sanding, especially
sanding over-head.
*The machine is not suitable for wet sanding.
*Secure the workpiece. A workpiece clamped with clamping devices or in a
vice is held more secure than by hand.
*Make sure the belt is not contacting the workpiece before the on/off
trigger switch is turned on.
*Do not leave the tool running. Operate the tool only when hand-held.

KNOW YOUR BELT SANDER (Fig. 1)
Fig. 1 Front Handle
Rear Handle
(Vibra Shield Grip)
Front Handle
Locking Arm
Lock Lever
Dust Chute Access
Pressure-(
Belt-Tracking Knob
LED Worklight Dust-Exhaust Port
Belt Cover
;ontrol Indicator
Variable-Speed Dial
OFF Trigger Switch
Lock-On Button
Live-Tool Indicator Light
Dust Box
Belt Cover Locking [_ /)
Button

PRODUCTSPECIFICATIONS
Input 120V,60Hz,AConly,8Amps
No-LoadSpeed 800-1,100SFPM
SandingBeltSize 3in.x21in.
ProtectionClass II
,_ WARNING: The safe use of this product requires an understanding of the
information on the tool and in this operatoCs manual as well as knowledge of the
project you are attempting. Before using this product, familiarize yourself with all
operating features and safety rules.
LOCK-ON BUTTON
Locks the tool ON for continuous work.
DUST BOX
Translucent dust box with micro=fine filter provides efficient dust control and
extraction.
PRESSURE-CONTROL INDICATOR
Your tool is equipped with pressure=control indicator lights. The indicator
lights will let you know if you are applying the proper amount of pressure
during operation.
VARIABLE=SPEED DIAL
The variable=speed dial is located on the rear handle of your tool for selecting
the appropriate speed.
DUST CHUTE ACCESS
The dust chute access provides an opening for clearing the dust chute with
compressed air.
VlBRA SHIELD GRIP
The Vibra Shield grip increases user comfort.
3-POSITION FRONT HANDLE
For easy operation, the handle may be adjusted to three postions: 0°, 45°
and 90°.
10

LED WORKLIGHT
The LED worklight, located below the front handle, illuminates when the trigger
switch is depressed. This feature provides extra light for increased visibility.
2=POSITION BELT COVER
Raise the cover when sanding inthe narrow areas to improve accessibility to
narrow areas.
LIVE=TOOL INDICATOR LIGHT
The live=tool indicator light is located on the rear of the tool, where the power
cord enters. This green light is always illuminated when the sander is plugged
into a power source.
A
J"L WARNING: If any parts are broken or missing, do not attempt to attach the
sander to a power outlet or operate the sander until the broken or missing parts
are replaced. Failure to do so could result in possible serious injury.
,_1_WARNING: Do not attempt to modify this belt sander or create accessories
not recommended for use with this belt sander. Any such alteration or
modification is misuse and could result in a hazardous condition leading to
possible serious injury.
_, WARNING: To prevent accidental starting that could cause serious personal
injury, always disconnect the tool from the power source when assembling
parts, making adjustments, installing or removing belt, cleaning, or when it is not
in use.
UNPACKING
• Carefully remove the tool and any accessories from the carton. Make sure
that all items listed in the packing list are included.
Inspect the tool carefully to make sure that no breakage or damage
occurred during shipping.
Do not discard the packing material until you have carefully inspected and
satisfactorily operated the tool.
If any parts are damaged or missing, please return the tool to the place
of purchase.
PACKING LIST
Belt sander, sanding belt (120 grit), dust box and operator's manual
ii

AWARNING: To prevent accidental starting that could cause serious personal
injury, always disconnect the tool from the power source when assembling
parts, making adjustments, installing or removing sanding belt, cleaning, or
when it is not in use.
TURNING THE BELT
SANDER ON/OFF (Fig. 2)
To turn on the belt sander,
connect the plug to an electrical
outlet, and press the on/off
trigger switch.
To turn it off, release the
trigger switch.
Fig. 2
Variable-speed dial
Lock-on button
LOCK-ON BUTTON (Fig. 2)
The Bock=on button allows the
operator to keep the belt sander
running without continuously depressing the trigger switch. While depressing the
trigger switch, depress the Bock=on button, and then release both.
To release the Bock=on button, depress and release the trigger switch.
VARIABLE=SPEED DIAL (Fig. 2)
The variable=speed dial allows you to select the correct speeds according to the
sanding belt and the surface being sanded for either fast material removal or a
fine, smooth finish. Rotate the dial from 1 to 6, with 1 being the Bowest speed
and 6 the highest speed.
12

3=POSITION FRONT
HANDLE (Fig. 3)
The locking arm on the side of the
handle can be loosened to permit
handle adjustment. To adjust
the handle, pull out the locking
arm and move the handle to the
desired position (Fig° 3). Once
the handle is in position, push the
locking arm in to lock the handle
into position.
NOTICE: The handle can be
adjusted to 0°, 45°and 90°for easy
operation as needed.
2=POSITION BELT COVER
When the handle is in the upper
position, the belt cover can be
raised as shown in Fig. 4 and
locked in place to:
• Improve accessibility to
narrow areas.
• Allow the use of the front
roller for sanding (normally
the cover prevents this when
in the "down" position).
• Expose the top part of the
belt for sanding on the upper
surface (Fig. 4a).
To raise the belt cover:
1.
2.
Locking arm
Fi04
Upper position _ "_ [_-_¢__
Belt cover _ Belt cover
locking button
Fig. 4a
Disconnect the belt sander
from the power source.
With one hand, depress the
belt cover locking button; with
the other hand, grasp the cover and move the cover slightly to the
raised position.
NOTICE: Before raising the belt cover for sanding, be sure that the front handle
is in the uppermost position (90°).
WARNING: The sanding belt is exposed when the belt cover is raised. Use
extra caution to avoid injury when operating in this mode.
13

TO iNSTALL SANDING
BELT (Fig. 5)
1. Disconnect the belt sander
from the power source.
2. Place the sander on its side
and pull the lock lever out
and towards the front of
the tool.
3. Insert the new sanding belt
around both rollers. Make
sure that the arrow on the
inside of the sanding belt
points in the same direction
as the arrow indicated on
the sander.
Fig. 5
Arrow Arrow Sanding belt
Roller
Fig. 6
Base plate
Lock lever
Roller
Runs toward outside
4. Center the sanding belt over
the rollers and the bottom
plate, then push the lock lever
back to its original position to
return tension to the belt.
ADJUSTING THE BELT
TRACKING (Fig. 6}
Belt-tracking
Knob
When a new sanding belt is installed, the sanding belt tracking may need to be
adjusted several times as the belt becomes more pliable with use. The sanding
belt will remain centered on the rollers during use when the belt tracking is
adjusted correctly.
1. Adjust the front handle to the 0° position.
2. Hold the belt sander upside down, and then turn it on.
3. If the sanding belt runs inward toward the belt-tracking knob, rotate the
belt-tracking knob counterclockwise.
4. If the sanding belt runs toward the outside, turn the belt-tracking
knob clockwise.
14

DUST BOX (Fig. 7)
_WARNING =Do not use the
dust box when sanding metal.
Using the dust box when sanding
metal creates a fire hazard, which
could damage the tool and lead to
serious personal injury.
Your belt sander is supplied with
a dust box to help you keep the
working area clean. The dust box
is ideal for smaller jobs.
To install=
1. Disconnect the sander from
the power source.
2. Align the rib on the
dust-exhaust port with the
groove on the dust box.
3. Slide the dust box onto the
port as far as possible.
Fig. 7
Dust Box
Dust-exhaust port
Groove
NOTICE: From time to time, clean the dust=exhaust port with a dry brush.
TO remove:
1. Disconnect the sander from the power source.
2. Grip the dust box firmly, and pull it out from the tool.
NOTICE: For Bonger periods of use, or on Barge pieces of work, it is advisable to
use a suitable vacuum cleaner. Attach a 1=1/4 in. wet/dry=vacuum hose to the
dust=exhaust port. it is advisable to also wear a suitable dust mask, as there
may be residual airborne dust particles in the area.
,_ WARNING: The dust that is produced while sanding can be detrimental
to health, flammable, or explosive. Suitable safety measures are required.
Examples: Some types of dust are known to cause cancer. Always wear a dust
mask and use the proper dust collection method: dust box for small volumes
and vacuum connection for large volume dust collection.
15

THE LIVE=TOOL
iNDiCATOR LIGHT
The belt sander is equipped with a
live=tool indicator light (Fig° 8).
When the tool is plugged into
an electrical supply, the
Bive=tool indicator Bight will
illuminate green to remind you
that the tool is plugged ino
When the tool is unplugged, the
indicator Bight will turn off.
=Fig. 8
Live-tool indicator light
PRESSURE=CONTROL
INDICATOR (Fig. 9)
The pressure=control indicator
Bights let you know if you are
applying the proper amount of
pressure during operation.
if only the green indicator Bight
illuminates, it indicates that you
are applying the correct amount
of pressure.
If the yellow and the green lights
Fig. 9 Pressure-control indicator
both illuminate, they indicate that you are applying a little more pressure
than needed.
If the red, yellow and green indicator lights all illuminate, this indicates that you
are applying too much pressure and you need to lessen the pressure as soon
as possible.
CAUTmON: To prevent possible personal injury or tool or workpiece damage,
always be sure that the pressure control illuminates only green during
tool operation.
SELECTING THE RIGHT SANDING BELT
Different sanding belt grits may be purchased from the store where you
purchased the tool.
Available grits are: Coarse, Medium and Fine.
Use a coarse grit to sand down rough finishes, medium grit to smooth the work
and fine grit to finish off.
It is best to make a trial run on a scrap piece of material to determine the best
grits for a particular job.
16

SANDING
This sander can be used for sanding operations on materials such as wood,
plastic, metal and painted surfaces. Do not use the sander for wet sanding.
_, WARNING: Finish sanding can produce clouds of fine sanding dust that
could ignite in the presence of sparks or an open flame. To avoid injury, always
use your sander in a well-ventilated area, away from sparks and flames.
_, WARNING: Before sanding, make sure that the sanding belt is securely
installed in place.
1. Secure the workpiece with clamps or other means to keep it from moving
while sanding.
2. Do not force the tool. Excessive pressure will overload the motor, causing
possible damage from motor overheating, and can result in inferior work.
NOTICE: Check to make sure that the red pressure control indicator Bight
never illuminates.
3. Do not allow sanding on one spot too long, as the sander's rapid action may
remove too much material and make the surface uneven.
4. Hold the sander with both
hands firmly on the
handles (Fig. 10).
5. Start the sander while it is
off the work surface to avoid
gouging.
6. Gradually lower the sander
onto the workpiece with a
slight forward movement.
Move it slowly, using forward
and backward strokes.
Fig. 10
7. When you stop, lift the sander
from the surface before stopping the tool.
NOTICE: Never start or stop the sander with the sanding belt in contact with the
work surface.
17

AWARNING: Before cleaning or performing any maintenance, make sure that
the belt sander has been disconnected from the power source.
,_ WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields
when using compressed air to clean the tool. If the operation is dusty, also wear
a dust mask.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most plastics are susceptible
to damage from various types of commercial solvents and may be damaged
by their use. Use clean clothes to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, etc. Keep all
ventilation openings clean.
WARNING: Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-based
products, penetrating oils, etc. come in contact with plastic parts. Chemicals
can damage, weaken or destroy plastic which may result in serious
personal injury.
WARNING: When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. Use of any
other parts may create a hazard or cause product damage. To ensure safety and
reliability, all repairs should be performed by a qualified service technician.
CLEANING THE DUST
BOX (Fig. 11}
For more efficient operation,
empty the dust box when it is
no more than half full. This will
permit the air to flow through the
box better. Always empty and
clean the dust box thoroughly
when you've finished sanding and
before you store the sander.
To empty the dust box
Fig. 11
Upper cover
Filter
1. Disconnect the belt sander from the power source.
2. Remove the dust box from the sander and shake out the dust.
3. For a more thorough cleaning of the dust box, open the cover on top of the
dust box and remove the filter.
4. Gently tap the dust box and the cover to empty them.
5. Use a soft brush to clean the filter.
NOTICE: The filter cannot be rinsed with water.
i8

6. Reattach the filter and the upper cover to the box; firmly reinstall the box on
the sander.
_, WARNING: Collected sanding dust from sanding surface coatings such
as polyurethanes, linseed oil, etc., can self-ignite in the sander dust box or
elsewhere and cause fire. To reduce the risk of fire, always empty the dust box
frequently while sanding and never store or leave a sander without
totally emptying its dust box. Also follow the recommendations of the
coating manufacturers.
CLEAN THE DUST
CHUTE ACCESS (Fig. 12)
Clean the dust chute before
storing the sander.
1. Disconnect the belt sander
from the power source.
2. Pull the dust chute access
out to remove it from the tool.
3. Use compressed air to Dust chute access
remove any objects from the
dust chute and interior of
the sander.
4. Insert the dust chute access into the tool again.
,_ WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields
when using compressed air to clean the tool. If the operation is dusty, also wear
a dust mask.
PROBLEM SOLUTION
The sander does
not work
The sanding belt is not
centered on the rollers
during use
CAUSE
Not connected to
power source
The drive belt is broken
The sanding belt is not
adjusted properly
Plug the sander into a
power source
Have the belt replaced by a
qualified service technician
Adjust the sanding belt
tracking (see "ADJUSTING
THE BELT TRACKING")
The sanding belt Replace with a new
is defective sanding belt
19

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