Drum Sander #8: One Year On

Thanks for the update, Martyn. I would like to see one of these in action if you get a chance to make and post a video.

I would think a table of melamine would provide a slick enough surface with a reasonably good wear factor. I can occasionally come up with a good piece of scrap melamine from the local Home Depot.

-- Best regards, Jack -- I may not be good, but I'm slow -- www.TinyWoodworks.com

looks good martyn

and the things you have made with it
attest to the quality of it’s design and construction

of course sanding boxes of the size you are making now
should give it endless life yet

do you have a screen in the vacuum
so you can find them quickly lol

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

This is slick, Martyn. I hadn’t seen it before. It looks perfect for doing smaller things.

Sheila

-- Designer/Artist/Teacher. Owner of Sheila Landry Designs (http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com) Scroll saw, wood working and painting patterns and surfaces. "Knowledge is Power"

Looks good Martyn, This is just more motivation for me to get going on my own, I NEED ONE BAD, sanding is WEARING ME DOWN, great to see You enjoying the benefits of a drum sander, thanks for sharing

-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing

Martyn,
This seems like a nice solution. These days I would find it unimaginable to make boxes without a drum sander. Just too many places where it does the job very well, with no obvious alternatives. I wouldn’t want to give up my planer either, but it’s my little 10” Jet drum sander, and not the planer, that gets used on every project. So many places where precise thicknessing and cleanup are required. You’ve created another very effective solution.

I’m curious how thin you can go with this unit?
Roger

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

Roger, I’ve had it down to 1.5mm (maximum is about 48mm). The limiting factor seems to be due to the thickness of the tape on the edges of the drum, which secure the ends of the abrasive.

-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.

Martyn, thanks a bunch for giving an update on how it’s held up to use. I’ve thought about making one of these a lot lately.

I do have one question about this and drum sanders in general. Is this just for thickness sanding, or can you use it for finishing as well?

-- Kansas City, KS "Nothing is as permanent as a temporary solution"

very nice, I’m glad it’s standing the test of time and useage.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://[email protected]

Bovine, I generally use 150 grit for thickness sanding and 240 grit abrasive for a pre-finish sand. I say that because even at 240 grit there is some striation (visible lines) in the finish. If your workpiece wanders across the drum these lines are more apparent as they become wavy. A little hand sanding with 400 grit normally sorts this out though.

I haven’t tried using the drum with finer grit (say 400) but this may work better. Having said all that for uniform thicknessing, even on tricky cross grained wood (see part 7 of this blog) a Drum Sander is excellent. Go on go for it you won’t be disappointed.

Sheila, I find one of these is indispensable, even on small pieces, for uniform thicknessing. It fills me with dread when I consider sending one of my patterned boards through a planer.

-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.

Roger, update. By clamping a piece of chipboard to the table I have just, successfully, sanded a 7mm wide strip of Pau Amarello down to 0.35mm (0.014”) or half commercial veneer thickness between the chipboard and the drum, using 240 grit abrasive. The only reason I didn’t go further was that it was bowing upwards as I fed it into the drum. I would think that by double sided taping it to something thicker you could go down further. The only problem then is not tearing the wood when you remove the tape. So in answer to your original question. As thin as you dare!

-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.

Martyn,
Thanks for the update. I’m sure my Jet would do no better… if as well. With the power feed on the Jet, it’s easy to get a little “lift” when the thin piece passes under the little pressure roller which holds the piece (and carrier board) against the feed belt. In fact, I suspect you can go thinner on yours. Thanks again.
Roger

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

Great work martin I seriously want one of these they must be fantastic for many cabinetmaking projects.Seriously impressed as usual with your stuff. Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

your sander is so slick, Martyn. I applaud you for giving it some time to mature. It makes me gravitate toward your plan, steeped in a year’s use, after all :)

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

Very cool nicely done. Great machine you have made. Thx for the update.

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

Hey Martyn, I’m on a computer that won’t allow me to access your homepage to PM you, so pardon the public address, could you find it in your heart to unblock a few people? They desperately want to give you well deserved compliments on your work and are rendered impotent to do so. I issue this plea for them, as I am a huge fan of yours and can’t resist commenting on your mathematical genius.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog