Thread: Tool for Thicknessing Scales

Originally Posted by BingoBango

Even with a light touch? You're right that the fan motors probably have a release to prevent injuries when used normally, like if a finger gets caught in the blade. I wouldn't think there's that much resistance from the friction, but I could be wrong.

HUGE resistance. Sanding is a very heavy application... for example, our 36" x 72" wide-belt requires a 30-horse 3-phase that draws god-only-knows how many amps... and it can only take about 1/32 off of a 6" wide oak plank without going over 75% load capacity.

A fan or vacuum motor wouldn't stand a chance. A drill press would have trouble taking off enough material to make this an time-saving device... For sanding, you really need POWER. Take a look at the size of the motor on a belt sander or grinder relative to the 'light' work it does.... pretty much equivalent to what you would find on a rotary saw.

I'm thinking that you could even lay a belt sander on it's side to replace the drum sanding spindle. The rest of the fixture could remain basically the same.

Originally Posted by Alembic

I'm thinking that you could even lay a belt sander on it's side to replace the drum sanding spindle. The rest of the fixture could remain basically the same.

Now that is a good idea! Or if you had a spindle sander, or vertical disk sander.... just make a fence for it.

That is indeed an excellent idea! Just a bit of modification of the original plans and you would be set!

I have used a setup similar to this thickness sander for years on my drill press. It works fine, the bearings have not gone sloppy, torque has never been an issue.

I use a very coarse drum 36 or 60 grit drum, I make many very light passes .005-.010 per pass.

Charlie

Originally Posted by spazola

I have used a setup similar to this thickness sander for years on my drill press. It works fine, the bearings have not gone sloppy, torque has never been an issue.

I use a very coarse drum 36 or 60 grit drum, I make many very light passes .005-.010 per pass.

Charlie

Yeah, I have to do lots of small passes but I can still feel it bog down occasionally (60 grit drum), and I'd like to have a drum that wasn't so flexible.