General 15-232 User Manual
Double sealed ball bearing construction.
Adjustable aluminium tool rest.
Flexible “gooseneck” style work light.
Quick change belt tension lever facilitates
fast belt changes.
Belt sander operates horizontally and
vertically and can be locked at any
angle in between.
Perfect for knife honing and sharpening or
general shop use.
3450 RPM grinder speed to handle just
about any metal grinding application
and 4900 FPM belt speed for sanding both
hard and soft woods.
1- 60 grit sanding belt & grinding wheel
included.
BELT SIZE
1
3
⁄
4
”x 31
7
⁄
8
” (44 x 810 mm)
WHEEL SIZE
6” x
3
⁄
4
”x
1
⁄
2
” (152 x 19 x 13 mm)
BEL
T SPEED
4900 FPM (1500 M/MIN)
GRINDER SPEED
3450 RPM
MO
TOR
1
⁄
3
HP, 120 V, 3.7 A
WEIGHT
33 LBS (15 kg)
REVISION 2 OCTOBER 17/06
THANK YOU
for choosing this General® International model 15-232 Belt sander
/ grinder. This Belt sander / grinder has been carefully tested and inspected before shipment
and if properly used and maintained, will provide you with years of reliable service. To ensure
optimum performance and trouble-free operation, and to get the most from your investment,
please take the time to read this manual before assembling, installing and operating the unit.
The manual’s purpose is to familiarize you with the safe operation, basic function, and features
of this Belt sander / grinder as well as the set-up,maintenance and identification of its parts and
components. This manual is not intended as a substitute for formal woodworking instruction,
nor to offer the user instruction in the craft of woodworking. If you are not sure about the safety of performing a certain operation or procedure, do not proceed until you can confirm, from
knowledgeable and qualified sources, that it is safe to do so.
Once you’ve read through these instructions, keep this manual handy for future reference.
All component parts of General® International machinery are carefully tested and inspected during all stages of
production, and each machine is thoroughly inspected upon completion of assembly. Because of our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, General® International agrees to repair or replace, within a period of 24
months from date of purchase, any genuine part or parts which, upon examination,prove to be defective in workmanship or material. In order to obtain this warranty, all defective parts must be returned freight pre-paid to
General® International Mfg. Co., Ltd. Repairs attempted without our written authorization will void this warranty.
GENERAL ® INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY
Disclaimer:
The information and specifications in this manual pertain
to the unit as it was supplied from the factory at the time of printing. Because we are committed to making constant improvements,
General® International reserves the right to make changes to components, parts or features of this unit as deemed necessary, without prior
notice and without obligation to install any such changes on previously
delivered units. Reasonable care is taken at the factory to ensure that
the specifications and information in this manual corresponds with that
of the unit with which it was supplied. However, special orders and “after
factory” modifications may render some or all information in this
manual inapplicable to your machine. Further, as several generations of
this belt sander / grinder and several versions of this manual may be in
circulation, if you own an earlier or later version of this unit, this manual
may not depict your machine exactly. If you have any doubts or
questions contact your retailer or our support line with the model and
serial number of your unit for clarification.
GENERAL® INTERNATIONAL
8360 Champ-d’Eau, Montreal (Quebec) Canada H1P 1Y3
Telephone (514) 326-1161 • Fax (514) 326-5555
www.general.ca
1. Make sure that the operator has been properly trained and has read, and understands, the
owners’ manual before operating any machinery.
2. Do not operate this belt sander / bench grinder
when tired, distracted or under the effects of drugs,
alcohol or any medication that impairs reflexes or
alertness.
3. Keep the work area well lit,clean and free of debris
or clutter.
4. Keep children and visitors at a safe distance; do
not permit them to operate the unit.
5. Childproof and tamper proof your shop and
all machinery with locks, master electrical switches
and switch keys, to prevent unauthorized or
unsupervised use.
6. Stay alert! Give your work your undivided attention.
Even a momentary distraction can lead to serious
injury.
7. Do not wear loose clothing, gloves, bracelets, necklaces or other jewelry while operating machinery.
Wear protective hair covering to contain long hair
and wear non-slip footwear.
8. Fine particulate dust is a carcinogen that can
be hazardous to health. Work in a well ventilated
area and wear eye, ear and respiratory protection
devices.
9. Keep hands and other body parts well away from
the sanding belt and grinding wheel and all other
moving parts. Do not clear grinding or sanding dust
away with hands, use a brush.
10. Make sure the sanding belt and grinding wheel are
running at full operating speed before sanding or
grinding.
11. Do not force the sanding belt or grinding wheel or
push too hard.The unit will perform better, safer and
more effectively at the speed or rate for which it
was designed.
12. Never leave the power on or the machine running
while it is unattended.
13. Use recommended speed grinding wheels, accessories, and work piece material.
14. Never stand or lean on the machine. Serious injury
could occur if the unit is tipped or if unintentional
contact is made with its’ moving parts.
15. Before starting the unit, make sure the grinding
wheel is securely installed and tight to the arbor
shaft.
16. Keep all guards and safety devices in place and in
good working order. If a guard must be removed
for maintenance or cleaning make sure it is properly re-installed before using the machine again.
17. Before performing any maintenance,repairs or adjustments including belt or wheel changes, make
sure the power is off and the unit is unplugged.
18. Before plugging in and turning on the power,make
sure that any adjustment tools, keys or wrenches
have been removed and safely stored.
19. Always, make sure that switch is in "OFF" position
before plugging in the power cord.
20. Only use accessories that are made or designed
for this machine.The use of parts or accessories that
are not recommended by General® International
will void any warranty claims and may result in
injury.
21. Make sure the machine is properly grounded. This
unit is supplied with a three-prong electric plug; it
should be plugged into a three-pole electrical
receptacle. Never remove the third prong.
22. Do not use this belt sander / bench grinder for any
purpose other than it’s intended use. If used for
other purposes, General® International disclaims
any real or implied warranty and holds itself
harmless for any injury which may result from such
use.
Rules for Safe Operation
To help ensure safe operation, please take a moment to learn the machine’s applications and limitations, as well as potential hazards. General® International disclaims any real or implied warranty and
hold itself harmless for any injury that may result from the improper use of it’s equipment.
Additional Safety Instructions
for Bench Grinders
Because each shop situation is unique, no list of safety guidelines can ever be complete.
The most important safety feature in any shop is the knowledge and good judgement of the user.
Use common sense and always keep safety considerations, as they apply to your individual shop situation first
and foremost in mind. If you have any doubts about the safety of an operation you are about to
perform: STOP! Do not perform the operation until you have validated from qualified individuals
if the operation is safe to perform and what is the safest method to perform it.
1. LIMIT EXPOSURE TO DUST
Some dust created by power sanding, sawing,
grinding, drilling and similar operations contains
chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Some examples include:
• Lead from lead-based paint.
• Crystalline silica from bricks, cement and
other masonry products.
• Arsenic and chromium from chemically
treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies depending on
how often you do this types of work. To reduce your
exposure to these chemicals, work in a well ventilated area and work with approved safety equipment
such as dust masks that are specially designed to
filter out microscopic particles.
2. ALWAYS USE EYESHIELDS, WHEEL GUARDS AND
SP
ARK GUARDS
The supplied eye shields, wheel guards and spark
guards should be maintained, properly installed on
the unit and used at all times.
3.
REPLACE DAMAGED PARTS OR COMPONENTS
IMMEDIATELY
Damaged parts or components may lead to a hazardous situation that could cause serious injury.
Replace any damaged parts or components before
operating the unit.
4. INSPECT GRINDING WHEELS BEFORE EACH USE
Handle grinding wheels carefully. A damaged or
chipped grinding wheel can discharge debris
towards the operator at high speeds. Before
installing or replacing a grinding wheel as well as
before each use, take a moment to inspect the
grinding wheel(s) for cracks, chips or other visible
signs of damage. Do not use a damaged wheel.
Tighten the spindle nut enough to hold the grinding
wheel firmly but do not over tighten as excessive
clamping force can damage the wheel. Use only
the wheel flanges provided with the grinder and do
not remove the blotter or label on either side of the
grinding wheel. When replacing a grinding wheel
select only wheels that are rated to a higher maximum R.P.M. than the maximum of the Bench Grinder.
5.
ADJUST TOOL RESTS AND SPARK GUARDS AS
NEEDED
The diameter of the grinding wheels will decrease
with use. Adjust the tools rests and sparks guards
accordingly to maintain a distance of 1/16”from the
wheel.
6.
DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE BENCH
GRINDER DURING START-UP
To avoid potential injury caused by debris ejected
from a damaged wheel, stand to one side of the
Bench Grinder when starting the unit. While standing
to the side, turn the unit on, wait one minute until the
unit comes up to full speed before grinding.
7. DO NOT OPERATE IN THE VICINITY OF FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
Bench grinders will produce sparks and debris during grinding. Be sure to keep flammable materials
from the immediate vicinity. Be sure to clean the
grinding dust from the back of the Bench Grinder
frequently.
8.
DO NOT FORCE
THE WORKPIECE AGAINST THE
GRINDING WHEEL
Excessive force especially to a cold grinding wheel
may damage the wheel and create a dangerous
situation. Apply the workpiece against the wheel
slowly and use firm, steady even pressure. Do not
grind against the sides of the grinding wheel and do
not apply coolant direct to the grinding wheel.
9.
KEEP ALL WHEEL GUARDS IN PLACE
Do not use the bench grinder with the wheel guards
removed.
10. KEEP THE TOOL RESTS FIRMLY TIGHTENED
Inspect and re-tighten tools rests before each use.
11. USE THE SUPPLIED WHEEL DRESSER
Always use the supplied wheel dresser to resurface
the face of the grinding wheel.
12. WEAR APPROVED EYE PROTECTION
Any power tool can throw foreign objects into the
eyes of the user or of those nearby. Always wear
safety goggles (not glasses) that comply with ANSI
safety standard Z87.1 Everyday eyeglasses have
only impact resistant lenses, they are not safety
goggles.
NOTES: Glasses or goggles not in compliance
with ANSI Z87.1 could result in serious injury.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
IN THE EVENT OF A MALFUNCTION OR BREAKDOWN,
grounding provides a path of least resistance for electric current and reduces the risk of electric shock. This
tool is equipped with an electric cord that has an
equipment-grounding conductor and a grounding
plug. The plug MUST be plugged into a matching
receptacle that is properly installed and grounded in
accordance with ALL local codes and ordinances.
DO NOT MODIFY THE PLUG PROVIDED.
If it will not fit the receptacle, have the proper receptacle installed by a qualified electrician.
IMPROPER CONNECTION of the equipment-grounding
conductor can result in risk of electric shock. The conductor with green insulation (with or without yellow
stripes) is the equipment-grounding conductor. If
repair or replacement of the electric cord or plug is
necessary, DO NOT connect the equipment-grounding
conductor to a live terminal.
CHECK with a qualified electrician or service person if
you do not completely understand the grounding
instructions, or if you are not sure the tool is properly
grounded.
USE ONLY 3-WIRE EXTENSION CORDS THAT HAVE
3-PRONG GROUNDING PLUGS AND 3-POLE RECEPTACLES
THAT ACCEPT THE TOOL’S PLUG. REPAIR OR REPLACE
DAMAGED OR WORN CORD IMMEDIATELY.
GUIDELINES FOR EXTENSION CORDS
USE PROPER EXTENSION CORD.
Make sure your extension cord is in good condition.
When using an extension cord, be sure to use one
heavy enough to carry the current your product will
draw. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line
voltage, resulting in loss of power and cause overheating. The table below shows the correct size to
use depending on cord length and nameplate
ampere rating. If in doubt,use the next heavier gauge.
The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord.
BE SURE YOUR EXTENSION CORD IS PROPERLY WIRED
and in good condition. Always replace a damaged
extension cord or have it repaired by a qualified person before using it. Protect your extension cords from
sharp objects, excessive heat and damp or wet areas.
Use a separate electrical circuit for your tools. This circuit must not be less than # 12 wire and should be protected with a 15 Amp time delay fuse. Before connecting the motor to the power line, make sure the switch is
in the OFF position and the electric current is rated the
same as the current stamped on the motor nameplate.
Running at a lower voltage will damage the motor.
This tool is intended for use on a circuit that has a
receptacle like the one illustrated in Figure .
Figure shows a 3-prong electrical plug
and receptacle that has a grounding conductor. If a
properly grounded receptacle is not available, an
adapter (Figure ) can be used to temporarily connect this plug to a 2-contact grounded receptacle. The
temporary adapter should be used only until a properly grounded receptacle can be installed by a qualified
technician. The adapter (Figure ) has a rigid lug
extending from it that MUST be connected to a permanent earth ground, such as a properly grounded
receptacle box. The Canadian Electrical Code prohibits the use of the adapters - check your local codes.
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
In all cases, make certain the receptacle is properly grounded. If you are not sure, have a qualified electrician check the receptacle.
This tool is for indoor use only. Do not expose to
rain or use in damp locations.
This tool must be grounded while in use to protect
the operator from electrical shock.
MINIMUM GAUGE FOR EXTENSION CORDS (AWG)
(When using 120 volts only)
AMPERE RATING TOTAL LENGTH OF CORD IN FEET
More than not more than 25’ 50’ 100’ 150’
0 6 18 16 16 14
610 18161412
10 12 16 16 14 12
12 16 14 12
not recommended
5
BELT TENSION LEVER
WORK LIGHT
WHEEL DRESSER
EYE SHIELD
GRINDING WHEEL
TOOL REST FOR GRINDER
SWITCH
QUENCH TRAY
TOOL REST FOR SANDER
SANDING BELT
BELT GUARD
6
BELT SANDER / GRINDER
15-232
IDENTIFICATION OF PARTS & COMPONENTS
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