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This is a quick and cheap drum sander that I dreamed up to run on my ShopSmith in my Az shop. I have neither the budget nor the space here for the luxuries that my shop at home in B.C. has so I had to be a little creative.

The concept is to use as much of the existing machine as possible and duplicate as little as possible. The machine, in this case a ShopSmith Mark V 510, already has a variable speed motor and bearings and a solid chassis so I didn't duplicate them. I simply made a drum to fit in the existing lathe and an accurately adjustable table to mount under it.

The table mounts rigidly to the lathe chassis or way tubes on a SS and pivots at one end. The other end is raised and lowered by either one central or two side elevators, depending on the accuracy required. To assure that nothing moves due for instance to the piece being fed through off center, There are locks right and left of the body to lock the table when making really critical cuts.

The dust collection is made from PVC pipe fittings and 1/2 of a 24" piece of 4" pipe. I was going to install rare earth magnets to hold it in place but the suction from the DC makes it almost un-removable when it's turned on.
There is no dust escapement at all even when sanding MDF.

The fact that the drum and the body / table assembly are totally separate and independent means that if you have another surplus faceplate to dedicate, you can make a second drum for another grade of sandpaper. Changing grade then is as easy as switching drums.

The photos show:
1) The setup on my SS with the headstock helping support the DC hose.
2) The bare ABS pipe drum fitted with end plugs and mounted for trial spin up.
3) The locking bolt shown from under the reinforced table.
4) An opened up view.The extra drum is shown behind the sander.
5) Some quick marquetry I did to test the accuracy. These are before sanding and are commercial 1/32" veneer.
6) The same pieces after sanding with the 220 grit drum. They were put through five incremental cuts to completely level and clean them and they are not sanded through or even close anywhere.
(Please don't critique the marquetry, It is just some quick pieces that I made up to test the sander and to practice my sand shading. I know they are rough.)

This is a very easy sander to build and it costs only about $100, give or take, depending on what usable bits and pieces you have around the shop.

The building blog is here: http://lumberjocks.com/shipwright/blog/26701

Grizzly Hook and Loop Conversion Kit: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Hook-Loop-Conversion-Kit-for-Model-G1066/H5037
Thanks for looking. Questions, comments and critiques are always welcome.

Gallery

Comments

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30 Posts
Do you have plans for this? I woule like to see how it gets put together and works.
 

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1,083 Posts
Amazing idea.
Thanks for sharing.
 

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4,516 Posts
That is a very professional looking sander. I could have used one today where I could not use a planer for fear of chip out. I like the dust pickup- and no stray dust from MDF- that is the ultimate test!!!!!
I've seen a few of these now and I should be planning one for next year. thanks for the inspiriation!!...Jim
 

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9,309 Posts
very nice paul

the work shows how amazing it works

you need a

MADE IN AMERICA

sticker on it
 

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1,163 Posts
Brilliant!
 

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Paul, that turned out really nice. Very professional looking! The marquetry is not too shabby either. Nice job on the sand shading, you got it right. It looks 3d with the petals twisting around like that. I need to practice too. I must get busy!
 

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162 Posts
This is a great looking project and a very clever design.

I am curious to know if the drum assembly is rigid enough to avoid chatter and/or deflection? Does the plastic get soft from the heat generated by use?

The reason that I ask is that I have seen people proposing to use ABS pipe as a sanding drum in the past and others builders commented that pipe would not hold up. I trust your actual experience more than supposition on the internet.

Thank you,

Shawn
 

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66 Posts
Paul, you are a creative genius. You're ideas and projects have helped a lot of us LJ,ers with our own projects. Thanks for posting.
 

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1,398 Posts
Very well done Paul!

It blends with the shopsmith nicely.
You have shown that one need not buy expensive tools to achieve good results.
 

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387 Posts
I'm late to the party here, but just wanted to add my two cents on a really slick drum sander solution. My admiration for your work is unbounded. Can't wait to see the next post.
Roger
 

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5,279 Posts
Thanks again to all.

Shawn, ABS may not be for everyone. This particular sander was designed and built for very delicate work. It doesn't stress the drum at all. If you wanted to sand boards, probably a more robust drum would be in order.
What you make the drum out of is irrelevant to the design. I may make a solid one myself …............ at the price of the velcro kits, why not have several?
 

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Brilliant! (And to top it off, it'd pretty as well!)
 

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288 Posts
Very cool, nice idea! Market it to Shopsmith….....
 

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Brilliant! Very creative.
Definitely bookmark this.

Now sorry, I have never worked with such a sander before so the questions may not even apply. How do you control the Feed rate. I would expect the work piece to shoot through.

By the way the markettery looks good me.
 

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SnowFrog, It isn't a problem to hand feed unless you take too big a cut. These tools aren't meant to replace planers. They are more finishing tools.
 

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Well thought out & executed Paul, you a master at your trade my friend :))
 

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Thank you Paul for one more project to build!
(I love it)
 

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Paul, Your praises are well deserved,. This is a clever addition to enhance the usefulness of existing machinery. I love the thought that instead of going out and playing golf or some other equally idiotic way to waste time, you chose to continue your love of working the wood. Well done!!!!
 

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582 Posts
Paul, this is great. I may have run into some luck and will inherit my wifes great grandfaters SS Mark V, so I will definitely try this (not having $$ or room to have a stand alone drum sander)
 
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