Drum Sander - Trials And Tribulations Using Old Plans For A Shop Built Sander

[RonaldWalters47]

Good question. Hopefully you build it fairly close. I’ve only used it on the highest (or thinnest) setting. Woodworking isn’t an exact science so if you’re within a few thousandths you’re probably close enough. You want the sandpaper just touching the wood… thin cuts. The hook & loop sand paper has a bit of cushion to it (due to centrifugal force) so feed the wood through in one direction, turn the wood 108 degrees and feed it through again to averaged out any difference in thickness.

[leckersuppe123]

Hi! I like your sander a lot, great work!

There is one thing that i dont understand: you have star knobs on both the infeed and outfeed side and i guess the knobs on the outfeed side are to lower the table to be able to push thicker stock through. but if thats correct, how do you do the alignment of the table to the drum to get a a consistent thickness over the width of the stock? Isn't that something you have to do every time you lower the table with te outfeed-sided knobs then?

[icarusfx84]

Awesome video, have you tried removing the rubber bicycle tires from the rollers. I would suspect they are shifting and that is what is causing your track to keep moving. When you straighten the tire the rubber would be thinner on one end more than the other. This added by the fact that the rubber would roll around the wood itself also changing its position. If you haven't already, maybe take them off to see how it goes. Just a though, hope it works.

[bielerf]

Where can I buy such sander I am wiling to pay up to $5000-7000 please give a name

[MaDeuce80]

I've been thinking about making a drum sander for myself. I'm planning on using parts from a treadmill exercise machine. Sometimes if your lucky you get one for free on craigslist. When I get things going I'll be sure to share it with you.

[RonaldWalters47]

I did consider that and tried reversing the belt. I also measured the circumferences both sides. The belt looked good.

[jtjjbannie]

Have you concidered that the belts may not be correct from the factory?

I work in heavy industry, and flaws do get by final inspection.

Ever got a bad light bulb out of the box?

[Synthetic11]

Very nicely done Ron....

[RonaldWalters47]

I’ll probably try another power feed conveyor one day but it certainly won’t be to the original design for this sander. I tried making a temporary trial crown on the rollers using staggered layers of tape, which didn’t seem to help either. I just think Murphy was having his way with this conveyor.Probably flange bearings instead of bushings, crowned rollers with individual adjustments on both ends of one roller and one-piece rigid sides for the conveyor.

Construction article at woodgears.ca

[madwilliamflint]

That's spectacular!

I'm intrigued by the power feed problem. Any other thoughts on that?

It looks like the structure and design would almost allow you to swap the drum out for a planer attachment. I imagine a couple things would have to change.

[boxcarmj]

Thank-you for the link and info, MIKE

[RonaldWalters47]

I don’t know. This is my first drum sander and still new. The Drum pushes the stock down. Finish is a function of slow steady feed. Vary the feed rate, you will see it as an uneven surface. Light cuts, slow steady feed and it seems to work pretty well. End-For-End the stock every pass. On narrow pieces I felt a little chatter but have not seen it in the surface. Maybe the sand paper needs to be rewound - a little stretch on the hooks? Possibly drum sand first, then finish with a random orbital.

[m081779]

What is to keep the material from chattering, or from lifting into the drum and getting an uneven surface? I have seen lots of plans for drum sanders without pressure rollers and have always wondered this.

[Dmhlcmb]

What are you doing now, Ronald?, Oh I'm sanding my sander. Haha.

[Dmhlcmb]

Nice. You and Matthias Wandel use the same colors, haha. Excellent build quality as usual. Thanks Ronald.

[boxcarmj]

Hi! I like your sander alot, where can I get the plans for it? Thank-you, MIKE.

[RonaldWalters47]

The original plans were ShopNotes Vol 15 Issue 86 published May 2006 titled “Build Your Own Thickness Sander” However, I hacked their plans quite a bit and what I ended up with is quite a bit different. Read the construction article on woodgears.ca available 9-26-11