I have an AmTac power wrapper/dryer and went through a few belts and still have none now. Due to dry weather in AZ, the rubber belt (cheap quality anyway) cracks and splits. Tired of using the same product. Is there any better quality belt from another application that fits the wrapper ?

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try buying a rubber belt off of a vacuum cleaner i have done this a few times and the belts are much better quality and are just as cheap. Ive also gone in hardware stores and gotten o rings to fit.

I'm alson in Az, and have never had any issues with belts on my wrapper, although mine is inside in the rod room and climate controlled.. If your in the Phx area go to Bearing Belt and Chain and they can probably set you up with something.

Ron Weber

Danny,
Go to your local Ace hardware store and go to the plumbing department.
They carry a large variety of O rings that work very well as a belt for a power wrapper.
When you find a belt that works, buy a dozen or so, and keep the spares in the freezer so that the heat does not cause the rubber to go bad.


Good luck
REW

Singer sewing machine belt # 00029 (comes with two smaller o- rings that fit the rollers on pacbay/amtak wrappers)

Danny,
By the way, you can do an on line search and find a large variety of O ring suppliers. You can buy O rings of various materials. If you buy your O ring with some of the specialized rubbers that are on the market, you will find that you will have next to 0 issues with heat.

Materials like Silicone, and Viatone all work toward this goal.

Take care
REW

I have used elastic material in a pinch. That might work. You can get it from anyplace that sells clothing material. Just cut the length needed and sew the ends together.

[www.amazon.com]

[www.oringsusa.com]

[www.google.com]

[www.grainger.com]

[www.allorings.com]

You might also want to check your wrapper assembly for screws that may be in the vicinity of your belt. Some are made in such a way that a screw will nick the belt a tiny bit when relocating the belt between jobs. When that happens, soon enough ... POW ... broken belt.

My first Am Tac belt broke after a month. I'm on the second one but you can see that one getting slack in it. A vacuum cleaner belt will do just fine. I think the belt size is 4.5 inches.

Danny,
Another option is to change out the pulleys and belt for either
1. Gears, so that you use a gear to gear contact on your wrapper.
2. A toothed gear and toothed belt, as in timing belt.
The poly toothed belts have a virtual infinite belt life when it comes to rod building.

[www.sdp-si.com]

An advantage of using the toothed belts is that you can run the belts rather loose, because the teeth do not let the pulleys slip. As a result of the looser belts, no power is absorbed from the motor on bearing or pulley friction.

This is an example of one of my power wrappers power units which use DC gear motors - with all integrated gears. Then, there are timing belts and pulleys on the ends of the motor and head stock. Very compact and non slip.

[www.rodbuilding.org]




Roger



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2011 07:35PM by roger wilson.

I'm with the guys who've found an industrial local solution. If you have a shop in town that fabricates gaskets, you should be in business. Walked into the local shop in Fayetteville, and the fella at the counter went in the back and came out with a handful, just gave them to me. Said the cost of a dozen wasn't worth his time to do the paperwork.

if i can't find the O rings or for a quick fix, I've used rubber from a bicycle inner tube. may be too thin for a permanent fix, but I've done it for a quick temp fix

Milt, is that Fay, NC? I am going to head out to the gasket making shop out on 301 shortly and get a few for myself. I am not trying to reproduce your free situation, but just knowing they have what I need is enough. :)

Thanks to all you guys for input. Will check today the O rings at a few places. The sewing belts did not work, too small for confort. I swapp the belt from wrapper to dryer and need elasticity. No screws in the way to knick the belt, have checked that a long time ago. Also have replaced the original black plastic pulley (if somebody wnts it, it can have it) on the motor shaft with an aluminum pulley that is true center and does not wobble. I do my work in the garage where I have all the tools set-up, sometimes the wrapper stays untouched for months, only to be used for 1-2 weeks when I build a rod. The belt is removed from the wrapper and placed in a sealed bag, but still oes not last long. The rubber type is made from is "sandy" and cracks from lack of oils in it. Have tried rubber bands but the fix is only for short time since is too flexy. I can not use the belt with teeth since as mentioned before the belt has to be swapped from one pulley to the other and do not want to involve tools in the operation.

Please keep the internet green!
Recycle electrons.

Danny,
Actually you could easily go with a cogged belt if you wanted to add a 2nd motor.

But I am sure you will find the O ring you need for your solution.

Roger

Guys,
I have found a great source for belt & O ring replacements for your Power wrapper.
McMaster Carr - [www.mcmaster.com]
For my American Tackle Wrapper the drive belt size was.
ID 4.225"
OD 4.645"
Use a micrometer & tape to get the exact dimensions of belt thickness & size.
I purchased a package of 5 belts for $5.10. W/shipping it was just about $10 for the package of 5 belts.

This link may help [www.mcmaster.com]

Hope it helps,
Walleye John