Make a Bolt-Mounted Rust Stripper From Sanding-Belt Strips
The Problem
Rust, mill scale, and weld cleanup usually mean a wire wheel or flap disc on a grinder — and a grinder's flat face can't get into tight inside corners. A stack of sandpaper flaps on a bolt does the same aggressive stripping in a form narrow enough to reach where the grinder can't.
The Technique
- Cut a cloth-backed sanding belt into strips about 4 inches long.
- Punch or drill a hole in the middle of each strip.
- Thread the strips onto a bolt that has about 2 inches of exposed shank, alternating them so the grit faces both directions. With the hole centered, both halves of each strip flap outward as it spins.
- Cap the stack with a washer and run a nut down tight against it, jammed hard enough that spinning the tool can't unscrew it.
- Chuck the bolt in a drill and run the spinning strips against the rust or weld you want gone.
Pro tip: The same build works with Scotch-Brite pads on the bolt instead of sandpaper — that version polishes rather than strips. Keep one of each made up.
Safety note: Wear gloves and eye protection — small pieces of grit and backing fly off the whole time it runs. The strips also round over as they wear; this is a consumable, so plan on cutting fresh strips rather than pushing worn ones.
What You'll Need
A cloth-backed sanding belt, a bolt with roughly 2 inches of straight shank, a couple of nuts, and a couple of washers. Belt-sander belts are the right stock because the cloth backing survives being spun and slapped against steel — a belt with some wear left in it works fine.