Performax 241-0983 User manual

Belt Sander
241-0983
For questions / comments, technical assistance or repair parts –
Please Call Toll Free: 1-866-858-2664. (M-F 8:30am-5:00pm Est.)
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
CAUTION: To Reduce The Risk Of Injury, User Must Read And
Understand Operator’s Manual. Save These Instructions For Future
Reference.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Symbols......................................................... Page 2
Safety Instructions ...................................................... Page 3
Overview/Specifications ................................................. Page 7
Assembly ............................................................. Page 8
Operation ............................................................. Page 8
Maintenance .......................................................... Page 12
Troubleshooting ....................................................... Page 13
Warranty ............................................................. Page 14

Page 2
SAFETY SYMBOLS
Some of these following symbols may be used on this tool. Please study them and learn 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 Watts Power
∿Alternating current Type of current
�Direct current Type or characteristic of current
noNo-load speed Rotational speed at no load
lbs Pounds Weight
Class II construction Double insulated construction
.../min Per minute Revolutions, strokes, surface speed
orbits, etc., per minute
Recycle Symbol
Faulty and/or discarded electrical or
electronic apparatus have to be collected
at the appropriate recycling locations.
Wear safety goggles WARNING: The operation of
any power tool 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 shields 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.
WARNING: To ensure safety and reliability, all repairs should be performed by a
qualified service technician.
Li-ion

Page 3
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
The purpose of safety symbols is to attract your attention to possible dangers. The safety
symbols, and the explanations with them, deserve your careful attention and understanding.
The symbol warnings do not, by themselves, eliminate any danger. The instructions and
warnings they give are no substitutes for proper accident prevention measures.
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 following all instructions listed below may result in
electric shock, fire, and/or serious personal injury.
SYMBOL MEANING
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL: Indicates DANGER, WARNING, OR CAUTION.
May be used in conjunction with other symbols or pictographs.
DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could
result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE: (Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates a situation that may result in property
damage.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

Page 4
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
KNOW THE TOOL
Carefully read this operating manual and
all labels before using this tool. Keep this
manual available for future reference.
IMPORTANT
This tool should only be serviced by a
qualified service technician. For more
information, call the toll free helpline at
1-866-858-2664.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY.
GENERAL SAFETY RULES FOR
POWER TOOLS
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury, the user must read the Owner’s
Manual.
WARNING: Read all 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 AC-powered (corded) power tool or
battery-powered (cordless) power tool.
WORK AREA SAFETY
1. Keep the work area clean and well lit.
Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
2. 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.
3. Keep children and bystanders away
while operating a power tool. Distractions
can cause you to lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1 2 0 V ~ 6 0 H z
1. Power tool plugs must match the
outlet. Never modify the plug in any way.
Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed
(grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs
and matching outlets will reduce risk of
electric shock.
2. 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.
3. Do not expose power tools to rain or
wet conditions. Water entering a power tool
will increase the risk of electric shock.
4. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the
cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the
power tool. Keep the cord away from heat,
oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Damaged
or entangled cords increase the risk of
electric shock.
5. 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.
6. If operating a power tool in a damp
location is unavoidable, use a ground fault
circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected supply.
Use of a GFCI reduces the risk of electric
shock.

Page 5
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
PERSONAL SAFETY
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing
and use common sense when operating a
power tool. Do not use the 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.
2. Use personal protective equipment.
Always wear eye protection. Protective
equipment such as a dust mask, non-skid
safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection,
used for appropriate conditions, will reduce
the risk of personal injuries.
3. Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure
that the switch is in the off-position before
connecting to the power source and/or
battery pack, picking up or carrying the tool.
Carrying power tools with your finger on the
switch or energizing power tools that have
the switch on invites accidents.
4. 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.
5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing
and balance at all times. This enables better
control of the power tool in unexpected
situations.
6. 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.
7. If devices are provided for the
connection of dust extraction and
collection facilities, ensure that these are
connected and properly used. Use of these
devices can reduce dust-related hazards.
USE AND CARE OF THE
POWER TOOLS
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Disconnect the plug from the power
source and/or 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean.
Properly maintained cutting tools with sharp
cutting edges are less likely to bind and are
easier to control.
7. Use the power tool, accessories,
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.

Page 6
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SERVICE
1. 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.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR
BELT SANDER
WARNING: Read all instructions.
Failure to comply with all of the following
instructions may result in electric shock,
fire and/or serious injury.
1. Hold power tool by the insulated
gripping surfaces when performing an
operation where the cutting accessory
may contact hidden wiring or its own cord.
Cutting accessory contacting a “live” wire
may make exposed metal parts of the power
tool “live” and could give the operator an
electric shock.
2. Always use safety glasses or goggles.
Ordinary eye or sun glasses are NOT safety
glasses.
3. Hold the tool firmly with both hands.
4. Make sure the belt is not contacting the
workpiece before the switch is turned on.
5. Use of this tool to sand some products,
paints and wood could expose user to dust
containing hazardous substances. Use
appropriate respiratory protection.
6. Never leave the trigger locked “ON”.
Before plugging the tool in, check that the
trigger lock is “OFF”. Accidental start-ups
could cause injury.
7. Unplug the sander before changing
accessories. Accidental start-ups may
occur if sander is plugged in while changing
an accessory.
8. Properly adjust tracking of belt to avoid
it overhanging the housing. A running belt
overhanging its housing can cause severe
lacerations.
9. Clamp or secure workpiece when
sanding. Clamping the workpiece prevents
it from being ejected from under the sander
and leaves both hands to control the tool.
10. Do not wet sand with this sander.
Liquids entering the motor housing is an
electrical shock hazard.
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
chemicals: 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.
DANGER:

Page 7
OVERVIEW
Trigger switch Variable-speed dial
Sanding belt
Rear handle
Dust-exhaust port
Belt-tracking knob Dust bag
Belt-locking lever
Lock-on button
Front handle
SPECIFICATIONS
Rated Voltage 120 V~ 60 Hz
Rated Power Input 7 A
Belt Speed 400-950 SFPM (120-280 m/min)
Belt Size 3"X 21"(76X533 mm)
Weight 7 lbs. 5 oz.

Page 8
ASSEMBLY
WARNING: If any part is broken
or missing, DO NOT attempt to plug in the
power cord or operate the tool until the
broken or missing part is replaced. Failure to
do so could result in possible serious injury.
WARNING: Do not attempt to
modify this tool or create accessories not
recommended for use with this tool. Any
such alteration or modification is misuse
and could result in a hazardous condition
leading to possible serious injury.
WARNING: Your tool should
never be connected to the power source
when you are assembling parts, making
adjustments, installing or removing
bits, cleaning, or when it is not in use.
Disconnecting the tool will prevent
accidental starting, which could cause
serious personal injury.
CONTENTS
Belt sander, 80 grit belt, dust bag and
instruction manual.
UNPACKING
1. Carefully remove the tool and any
accessories from the carton. Make sure
that all items listed in the packing list are
included.
2. Inspect the tool carefully to make sure
no breakage or damage occurred during
shipping.
3. Do not discard the packing material
until you have carefully inspected and
satisfactorily operated the tool.
OPERATION
SELECTING THE RIGHT GRADE
OF SANDING BELT
Different grades of sanding belt can be
purchased from the store where you
purchased the tool. Available grades 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 the job.
It is best to make a trial run on a scrap piece
of material to determine the optimum grades
of sandpaper for a particular job.
SANDING BELT GRIT CHART
Grit Type Example of use
60 or less Very coarse Material removal, heavy paint removal, shaping wood
80-100 Coarse Paint removal, rough surface preparation (e.g., non-planed
wood)
120-150 Medium Surface preparation, planed wood
180-220 Fine Sanding between finish coats
240 or more Very fine Final finishing

Page 9
OPERATION
INSTALLING/REMOVING THE
SANDING BELT (FIG. 1)
FIG. 1 Sanding Belt
Rollers
Arrow
Belt-Locking
Lever
To install the sanding belt
1. Unplug the belt sander.
2. Place the sander on its side and pull the
belt-locking lever out.
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 on the
sander.
4. Center the sanding belt over the rollers
and the bottom plate, then push the
belt-locking lever back to its original
position to restore belt tension.
To remove the sanding belt
1. Unplug the belt sander.
2. Place the sander on its side, and pull the
belt-locking lever out.
3. Remove the sanding belt from the
rollers.
WARNING: To prevent personal
injury, always disconnect the plug from
the power source before removing or
installing the belt.
ADJUSTING THE BELT
TRACKING (FIG. 2)
FIG. 2 Runs outside
Runs inward
Belt-tracking Knob
After 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. When the sanding
belt tracking is correct, the sanding belt will
remain centered on the rollers during use.
1. Hold the belt sander upside down, and
then squeeze trigger switch to begin
rotation of the belt.
WARNING: This position is for the
purpose of adjustment only. Do not allow
the sanding belt to come into contact with
a workpiece or any other object during
adjustment.
2. Turn the belt-tracking knob
counterclockwise to move the belt
away from the sander motor. Turn the
belt-tracking knob clockwise to move it
towards the sander motor.
3. Release the trigger switch and make
sure that the belt has come to a
complete stop before turning the tool
over and setting it down.

Page 10
OPERATION
INSTALLING/REMOVING THE
DUST BAG (FIG. 3)
FIG. 3
Metal Ring
Your belt sander is supplied with a dust bag.
Use it for removing dust from the sanding
space to help keep the working area clean.
To install the dust bag
1. Unplug the belt sander.
2. Compress the metal ring of the dust bag
and install the dust bag onto the dust-
exhaust port.
3. Release the metal ring.
To remove the dust bag
1. Unplug the belt sander.
2. Compress the metal ring of the dust bag
and remove the dust bag from the dust-
exhaust port.
For longer periods of use, or on large pieces
of work, it is advisable to attach a suitable
vacuum cleaner.
ADJUSTING THE VARIABLE-
SPEED DIAL (FIG. 4)
Variable-speed
Dial
FIG. 4
The variable-speed dial allows the user to
match the sanding belt speed to the belt
grit and the surfaces and materials being
sanded for either fast material removal
or a fine, smooth finish. Rotate the dial
from 1 to 6, with 1 being the lowest speed
and 6 the highest speed.

Page 11
OPERATION
SWITCHING THE BELT SANDER
ON AND OFF (FIG. 5)
Lock-on Button
Trigger Switch
FIG. 5
Switching the belt sander on
Press the trigger switch.
Switching the belt sander off
Release the trigger switch.
Continuous operation
1. To lock the trigger switch on for
continuous operation, squeeze
the trigger switch and hold it while
depressing the lock-on button.
2. Hold the button while you release the
trigger switch; the tool will continue to
run.
3. Squeeze and release the trigger switch
to turn the tool off.
SANDING
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. Hold the sander firmly with both hands
on the handles.
3. Start the sander with the belt away from
the work. Never start or stop the tool
with the belt in contact with the work
surface.
4. Place the heel of the sander on the work
first.
5. Then, with a forward motion, begin
the sanding stroke as the machine is
lowered onto the work surface. This will
prevent gouging.
6. Keep the sander moving so that your
work will be smooth and even. The
stroke is simply a back-and-forth
movement with most of the sanding
done on the pull movement.
7. Do not apply pressure to the sander. The
sander is the weighted properly for the
pressure needed. Too much pressure
will overload the motor and reduce the
belt speed.
8. When you are finished, lift the sander from
the surface before stopping the tool.

Page 12
MAINTENANCE
WARNING: To ensure safety and
reliability, all repairs should be performed
by a qualified service technician.
WARNING: When servicing, use
only identical replacement parts. The use
of any other parts may create a hazard or
cause damage to the product.
WARNING: Unplug the belt sander
from the power source before cleaning or
performing any maintenance.
WARNING: Using compressed
air may be the most effective cleaning
method. Always wear safety goggles
when cleaning tools with compressed air.
WARNING: If the supply cord
is damaged, it must be replaced by a
specially prepared cord available through
the service organization.
BEFORE EACH USE:
1. Inspect the belt sander, the switch, and
the cord for damage.
2. Check for damaged, missing, or worn
parts.
3. Check for loose screws, misalignment
or binding of moving parts, or any other
condition that may affect the operation.
4. If abnormal vibration or noise occurs,
turn the belt sander off immediately,
and have the problem corrected before
further use.
WARNING: Do not allow brake
fluids, gasoline, petroleum-based
products, penetrating oil, etc. to come
into contact with plastic parts. These
substances contain chemicals that can
damage, weaken, or destroy plastic.
BRUSH REPLACEMENT (FIG. 6)
FIG. 6
The belt sander is equipped with externally
accessible brushes. To replace:
1. Unplug the belt sander.
WARNING: Failure to unplug the
tool could result in accidental starting
causing possible serious injury.
2. Remove brush cap with a slotted
screwdriver.
3. Remove the brush assembly.
4. Check for wear. Replace the brush
assembly when it has less than 1/4 in.
length of carbon brush remaining.
NOTICE: Do not replace one brush without
replacing the other.
5. Reassemble using new brush assembies.
6. Make sure that the curvature of brush
matches curvature of motor and that the
brush moves freely in brush tube, being
certain to fit the two metal “ears” into
brush tube.
7. Tighten all brush caps securely. Do not
over tighten.
8. The sander should be allowed to “RUN
IN” (run at no-load without sanding belt)
for 5 minutes before use, to seat the
new brushes properly.

Page 13
MAINTENANCE
EMPTY THE DUST BAG (FIG. 7)
FIG. 7
Unzip
1. Unplug the belt sander.
2. Compress the metal ring of the dust bag
and remove the dust bag from the dust
exhaust port.
3. Unzip the dust bag and gently tap the
dust bag to remove the dust.
4. Zip up the dust bag, compress the metal
ring of the dust bag and install the dust
bag onto the dust exhaust port.
WARNING: Collected sanding
dust from sanding surface coatings
such as polyurethanes, linseed oil, etc.,
can self-ignite in the sander dust bag or
elsewhere and cause fire. To reduce the
risk of fire, empty the dust bag frequently
while sanding and never store or leave a
sander without totally emptying its dust
bag. Also follow the recommendations of
the coatings manufacturers.
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SOLUTION
The belt sander
does not work
The sander is not connected to a
power source
Connect the plug to a power
source
The brushes become worn Replace new carbon brushes

Page 14
SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS
THIS WARRANTY IS VOID WITHOUT THEM
BELT SANDER
WARRANTY
30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE:
This PERFORMAX®brand power tool carries our 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
If you are not completely satisfied with your PERFORMAX®brand power tool
for any reason within thirty (30) days from the date of purchase, return the tool
with your original receipt to any MENARDS®retail store, and we will provide
you a refund – no questions asked.
2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY:
This PERFORMAX®brand power tool carries a 2-Year Limited Warranty to the
original purchaser. If, during normal use, this PERFORMAX®power tool breaks or
fails due to a defect in material or workmanship within two (2) years from the date
of original purchase, simply bring this tool with the original sales receipt back to
your nearest MENARDS®retail store. At its discretion, PERFORMAX®agrees to
have the tool or any defective part(s) repaired or replaced with the same or similar
PERFORMAX®product or part free of charge, within the stated warranty period,
when returned by the original purchaser with original sales receipt. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this limited warranty does not cover any damage that has resulted
from abuse or misuse of the Merchandise. This warranty: (1) excludes expendable
parts including but not limited to blades, brushes, belts, bits, light bulbs, and/or
batteries; (2) shall be void if this tool is used for commercial and/or rental purposes;
and (3) does not cover any losses, injuries to persons/property or costs. This warranty
does give you specific legal rights and you may have other rights, which vary from
state to state. Be careful, tools are dangerous if improperly used or maintained.
Seller’s employees are not qualified to advise you on the use of this Merchandise.
Any oral representation(s) made will not be binding on seller or its employees. The
rights under this limited warranty are to the original purchaser of the Merchandise
and may not be transferred to any subsequent owner. This limited warranty is in lieu
of all warranties, expressed or implied including warranties or merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose. Seller shall not be liable for any special, incidental,
or consequential damages. The sole exclusive remedy against the seller will be for
the replacement of any defects as provided herein, as long as the seller is willing or
able to replace this product or is willing to refund the purchase price as provided
above. For insurance purposes, seller is not allowed to demonstrate any of these
power tools for you.
For questions / comments, technical assistance or repair parts –
Please Call Toll Free at: 1-866-858-2664 (M-F 8:30am-5:00pm Est.)

08/2014
© 2014 Menard, Inc., Eau Claire, WI 54703