Jeff,
That old Wards belt sander is about as OPEN as you can expect...so no way of dust collection, even for a clever handyman. For right now, I'm only planning to use a belt sander for tool sharpening...but I'm sure if I buy the Wards unit and set it up, I'd use it for wood also. The ebay listing expired last week, and the seller relisted it. Right away, I put it on my "watch list", so I could easily find it, and the dang seller upped the price an hour after I clicked "WATCH"
Now, I've moved away from the thoughts of having a large heavy permanently mounted belt sander and will setup and use a hand belt sander bolted to a board, so I can mount it vertical in a bench Vice. That solves a few problem: One, I think I'll prefer a vertical belt sander. Two, I think I want it to run in a reverse direction than is typical with a benchtop belt sander with vertical capabilities (the Wards does not). Three, a hand unit will be spinning slower then a benchtop unit and I think slower will be better. Four, I have a bunch of NOS belts from a hand belt sander that I'd like to use up. Five, I don't want to give up any bench space for a permanently mounted belt sander.
>>>with all that said, I haven't started this belt sander project yet, but some or all of my sharpening thoughts could be stupid? I will likely post about it, when I get there, which won't be too long from now.
Lastly, I just made a offer on a vintage Sears craftsmen set of lathe chisels, and the ebay seller accepted it. While I am happy with the China made tools, for the most part, that I bought a couple weeks ago, I think I need one other small parting tool for fine work. I could modify the china tool to suit that need, but I may need it the way it is for others uses. The Craftsman set has one that looks better than the China set...leaving me with options. Plus they are American made.