A Pneumatic Belt Sander is a sander used in shaping and finishing wood and other materials Belt sanders may be handheld and moved over the material or stationary fixed where the material is moved to the sanding belt Stationary belt sanders are sometimes mounted on a work bench in which case they are called bench sanders Stationary belt sanders are often combined with a disc sander Belt sanders can have a very aggressive action on wood and are normally used only for the beginning stages of the sanding process or used to rapidly remove material Sometimes they are also used for removing paints or finishes from wood Fitted with fine grit sand paper a belt sander can be used to achieve a completely smooth surface