Thread: Home built Drill Press Thickness Sander.....

Hello all,

Here is a link to a home built thickness sander you can use for wood or steel. This is my first version and the second is already in my head!.
I tried this and succeeded in getting a piece of wood to a thickness of .04" with a variance in thickness of approx .0075 so getting a piece to 1/8" will be no problem.
The sanding drums came from Harbor Freight Tools. I bought them because I can use any sheet of sandpaper or old sanding belt, just cut it to size and insert it into the slot in the sanding drum, then tighten the "key" in the slot. I did not take a pic of the "key", sorry, it comes with the drums (set of 4) for $30.

ChrisL was here today and took the pic's for me so blame him!

Spazola, ( Charlie Lewis), was the inspiration for this so to Spazola a real big THANK YOU! It works just fine!

Here is a link to the set of pics

Thickness_Sander - a set on Flickr



Pics of the thin piece of wood are also in the set.



To adjust the fence closer to the sanding drum simply tighten the bolt you see in this pic. That makes the fence move closer & closer to the sanding drum and the wood gets thinner & thinner. This is not a fast process but it is very controllable.
The bolt is a 1/4"-20. 20 turns per inch or .05" for each full turn. When you turn the screw 1/4 turn the distance is .0125. But since the drum is half way back between the adjustment bolt and the hinge then the change is 1/2 of that or .00625. (approx)


If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Listen here....I'm trying to NOT buy anymore tools!!!


You're not making it any easier!!!!













Awesome. The best ideas and tools are usually the simplest. If you already got the drill press, and the drum, you're going to have the clamp already...so we looking at sub $15.00 for the 2x4, particle board and hardware? I'm scared to ask, but what do those 4"-ish drums cost?

The drums come in a set of 4, each has a different diameter, cost is approx $30 for the 4 drums.

That is bad to the bone Randy !

When we spoke on the phone I had an idea of what it was from the way you described it but the pictures really are worth a thousand words. I hope Chris got to see some of the hones.

Bummer, sorry Randy, I thought I took a picture of the "key"!

Thanks again Randy for your tremendous generosity. After only a half day in Randy's shop I come away with viewing examples of effective ingenuity, a highly effective gas forge, a generous gift of ceramic wool, satinite, an old tank and tube for the forge housing and a great book on loan.

If I wasn't born and raised in Minnesota, I would have frozen stiff in the unheated 10 degree shop, but I'm used to it in my own shop.

You rock, Randy.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

If I wasn't born and raised in Minnesota, I would have frozen stiff in the unheated 10 degree shop, but I'm used to it in my own shop.

I worked in Mountain Iron Minnesota for American Bridge Co back in '77. Lived in Chisholm. You Minnesotans are some tough folks but some of the nicest I've met anywhere and I've been around.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I worked in Mountain Iron Minnesota for American Bridge Co back in '77. Lived in Chisholm. You Minnesotans are some tough folks but some of the nicest I've met anywhere and I've been around.

You worked on "da range" Jimmy? Range people are tough as iron.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

You worked on "da range" Jimmy? Range people are tough as iron.

Chris L

Back then they used to say "If you're from da range, ya got to be strange". I fit right in.

Your thickness sander set up looks great. I like the adjustable fence.

COOL!

Charlie

Dang it! I was having a problem finding a way to get my figured wood slabs that I hand picked for scales down to 1/8th, then just today I figured out that I could build my own thickness sander with my drill press (same type of thing you have). I got so excited to share it with everyone I even took pictures out in the shop and I just got on to post them... Oh well, at least the idea is out! Good job!