Patent ID: 7611401

Claim:
A sanding apparatus for finishing an exterior surface of an elongated work piece comprising: a belt-sander having an abrasive surface to contact an exterior surface of an elongated work piece; a support structure comprising: a first guide rail positioned above the belt-sander; and a second guide rail positioned behind the belt-sander; and a mounting bracket fixedly mounted to the belt-sander and configured to movably connect the belt-sander to the first and second guide rails such that the belt-sander moves along a longitudinal axis of the elongated work piece, the mounting bracket comprising: a first guide mechanism having a first guide wheel configured to move along a horizontal surface of the first guide rail; a second guide mechanism having a second guide wheel configured to move along a vertical surface of the second guide rail; and a hinge configured to allow the belt-sander to pivot between a first position where the abrasive surface is not in contact with the exterior surface of the elongated work piece, and a second position where the abrasive surface contacts the exterior surface of the elongated work piece in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated work piece.