Project by FreddyS | posted 06-13-2011 08:02 PM | 6565 views | 19 times favorited | 12 comments | ![]() |
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Hi everyone, here is an orbital sander base I made from a 1973 Popular Mechanics project, almost as old as me hehee.
The original project had a plywood table, I went farther and added the aluminum plates and adapted the previously useless miter guide from my table saw.
It turned out great for sanding small pieces, and you can detach easily the sander for other works.
Cheers!
-- Learning one thing at a time
12 comments so far
Jim Bertelson
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4275 posts in 4619 days
#1 posted 06-13-2011 08:37 PM
OK, that is pretty, and over engineered, right up my alley…(-:
I always over engineer things, and some times the things I make are pretty, like my super sled. If you do a lot of small stuff, that is probably truly useful. I have a 12 inch disc I bought a few months back, and it serves much the same purpose in my shop, with a nice table that tilts. I also use an old miter guard for it. I have an old half sheet Hitachi that will not get much use, and could be used in a similar arrangement, but it would to some extent duplicate my other sanders. I used to stick my belt sander upsidedown in the wood vise before I got a stationary belt sander.
Nice job, thanks for the posting, got me to thinking.
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
FreddyS
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213 posts in 4228 days
#2 posted 06-13-2011 08:52 PM
Hi Jim, over engineered… I’m guilty!
Having crazy prices on tools over here help a lot with the creativity, and I love the whole jig/tool helper building process, sometimes more than building regular stuff hehee.
-- Learning one thing at a time
Dusty56
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#3 posted 06-13-2011 09:37 PM
Great job on this unit….I’m going to favorite it for the future : )
Thank you !!
-- I'm absolutely positive that I couldn't be more uncertain!
Bertha
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13635 posts in 4147 days
#4 posted 06-13-2011 09:38 PM
It’s fabulous. Favorited.
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
Jim Bertelson
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4275 posts in 4619 days
#5 posted 06-13-2011 09:43 PM
Freddy
I too like doing the shop stuff, although I have just about had my fill, recently. Itching to do something different. But I went into the hobby knowing that I would always enjoy the shop stuff the most.
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
Woodwrecker
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4240 posts in 5030 days
#6 posted 06-14-2011 05:55 AM
Wow, that’s really something, and put’s my arrangement to shame.
I just turn mine upside down and tighten it in my benches’ vice.
EMVarona
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437 posts in 4290 days
#7 posted 06-14-2011 11:07 AM
I’ve been ruminating on a similar idea but never got the chance to do it. I have an orbital sander and a belt sander. Would be nice to have some jig to produce more precise and accurate products. Your ideas are really fascinating. Keep them coming.
-- Ed "Real happiness is one that you share."
Kent Shepherd
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2718 posts in 4740 days
#8 posted 06-14-2011 04:10 PM
Great job—-and there is no such thing as “over-engineering”!
Thanks for sharing
-- http://shepherdtoolandsupply.com/
mafe
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#9 posted 06-16-2011 11:42 AM
Really cool.
I love the idea, and the way you did it.
Brilliant.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
FreddyS
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213 posts in 4228 days
#10 posted 06-16-2011 05:16 PM
Hi everyone!
Woodwrecker: there’s no bench with vise in the tiny shop (yet) so I had to improvise hehee
EMVarona: not my work, but here is an example for a belt sander base:

And the plan where I got the idea to build the base for my orbital sander, if you compare it with my version you’ll find some differences, mainly to adapt it to what I had at hand:

I hope this pics are of some help :)
Kent Shepherd: thanks!
mafe: not my idea, but it came out really good hehee
Thanks for looking!
-- Learning one thing at a time
mafe
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13872 posts in 4543 days
#11 posted 06-16-2011 05:29 PM
;-) You found it and did it! This is the more important.
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
bilbaggins
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101 posts in 3903 days
#12 posted 08-27-2013 12:32 AM
Hey guys these are exactly what I need in my w/shop! Haven’t been able to work out a simple solution till now and these do it for me big time. Thanks heaps!!! Should save me a few hundred on a shop bought system…
-- bilbaggins says: The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now. ~ Chinese proverb
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