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This is my shop made edge belt sander that I started to make when I was in college about three years ago. I brought it home after I graduated and it sat in the garage up until a few weeks ago, I just never had the time to work on it but I finally got sick of not having a stationary belt sander so I got to finishing it.

I cant remember how I stumbled upon wanting to build this, however I am thinking that Lumberjocks had something to do with it! I downloaded the plans from plans now I changed a few things, thicker sanding platforms made of plywood wrapped in solid rather than all solid, longer springs than the plans called for to achieve the tension I wanted, different a dust collection port as well as using poplar for the roolers instead of layered MDF as suggested in the plans . Other than those changes its all made according to the plans. If I had my time back I probably would have used particle board or plywood instead of MDF for the simple fact that it holds a screw better.

I got most of the materials from school, MDF, birch, maple and the motor I got from my teacher and the rest of the parts came from McMaster Carr. The plans give you a full parts and materials list. It calles for a 3/4 HP motor but I put a 1 HP motor off a King Canada jointer school wasn't using anymore.

As for the logo, maybe I have too much time on my hands. I have been playing around with my old airbrush lately and I figured this would be a good time to break it out and pop a logo on the front, since all my other tools have logos I dont want this fella to feel left out. It stands for shop made tools.

Long story short it works great! just as good as the one we have at work. If I had to buy all the materials I think I would be into this about 400 - 500 bucks, not including the motor, since school paid for most of the materials I have about $200 into it, not bad as far as im concerned. I have a video of it working here it wasnt finished when I made the video and I was having a couple minor tracking issues as you can see but I have those straightned out now… just some fine tuning. Thanks for looking!

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Comments

· Registered
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26 Posts
Very well built congrats im sure you will get many years of use use out of that
 

· In Loving Memory
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8,391 Posts
Super nice work on this. A great tool to have too. Even the logo looks professional.
 

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779 Posts
My hat is always off to anyone who makes a shop built machine. I have never tried anything like that. It must be very satisfying to have it work for you. Looks like a great size. Well done…......................
 

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22 Posts
Great project, buddy. Looks like a professional job to me. Ever consider making a kit with plans to sell. I know there's a market out there. And old washing machines and dryer motors are easy to come by and they last forever.

Just a thought. Thanks for sharing.
 

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368 Posts
Id love to sell a kit with plans and all, but unfortunately its not my design to sell… I already bought it off someone else and tweaked it to suit my needs, I woud imagine there would be a good market for it though.
 

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Yeah, I see your point. As I said above, great project!
 

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368 Posts
thanks!
 

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821 Posts
Sweet! Nicely done!
 

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Super build, great when all works out. I have a grizzly edge sander and it is my go to sander. Decal and all, very nice, thanks for sharing, Bob
 

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24 Posts
Nice build!
 

· In Loving Memory
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10,409 Posts
Well done CS, should last you years
 

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Very sharp looking build, and a great machine to have in the shop. Should get many years of use and service out of that workhorse !
 

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6,953 Posts
Nice Job, Chris!!

I'm sure it will get plenty of use and make your life a lot easier.
 

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hey chris, this is a fantastic tool, you did a great job, i would not mind having one myself, yea i really like the logo also, nice air brush job, and a little extra kick in the motor , good idea…enjoy it…thanks for showing it, hope your doing good, enjoying work…have you gotten any winter there, i know the east coast just got pounded…not sure what winter is like there….have a good week…grizz
 

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Thanks for the comments guys,

Grizz, we are currently getting what the east coast had, can hardly see across the road as im typing this… looks like its stuck in the shop for me this evening, just hope the power stays on!
 

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well your right, its nice to be inside and warm in this kind of weather…i lived in alaska for a long time so i know what its like…i always enjoyed going out with the kids and havin fun, even build a snow cave….well i hopr your power stays on also…im sure your prepared for weathr like this, we still have our coleman three burner stove for when stuff like that hit, might have gotten cold, but we didnt starve,,,lol…hunker in and make something fun…grizz
 

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152 Posts
Just curious on about how much did this cost you to make?
 

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49 Posts
This is one off the coolest tool builds I have ever seen!
Projects like this is what makes this site so popular
 

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2,242 Posts
Awesome machine, love the dust collection
 
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