Sanding drum attachment for bench grinder?

**TK1** · 18th January 2006, 02:27 PM

Hi all,

I am needing to build a thickness sander for thicknessing small pieces of wood used in model ship building - wood strips are usually less then 5mm thick and from 5 - 50mm wide. And unfortunately budget does not extend to a $1000 Jet/CarbaTec thickness sander.

I have a spare bench grinder, and as it spins at about 2500 rpm I thought I could make a table under one side to feed wood through (screw adjustment on table would alter thicknessing distance). So, to my question...does anyone know of sanding drum attachments that thread onto bench grinders? I have a Ryobi 150mm grinder, not sure of the thread but it's probably about 1/4" across.

Buying an attachment would be the best option for me - otherwise I could turn a piece of wood and somehow thread it on - but not sure if the weight of the wood would unbalance the grinder? Might need a support at the other end?

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,
Darren

**bennylaird** · 18th January 2006, 02:47 PM

Good luck Darren, can't help out but would like to see some of your shipwork?

**TK1** · 18th January 2006, 02:52 PM

Hi,

Thanks, I'll try to post some pics in the photo section tonight if I can.

Regards,
Darren

**redwood** · 18th January 2006, 02:58 PM

Daz have you seen the Hegner table sanders that look identical to a jointer but instead of a cutterhead and blades they have a drum with sandpaper rolled around them. they are used for small model makers for thicknessing. they would be easy to home make, or even if you purched a tiny cheap 4"bench top jointer and replaced the cutter head with a sanding drum and re geared it to spin the same as the hegner

**TK1** · 18th January 2006, 03:05 PM

Hi Redwood,

I have seen the Hegner sander. Good idea, but I wasn't sure how consistent the thickness would be on a small bit of wood if there's nothing holding it against the drum? For example, I often use pieces 1 metre long but only 5mm wide by 0.8 - 1mm thick. No weight in them really so would have to hold them down over the drum with constant pressure or would end up with a 'wave' effect. Hence sandwhiching the wood between the drum and an adjustable table.

Thanks for the idea anyway.

Regards,
Darren

**arose62** · 18th January 2006, 05:57 PM

You said you could "turn a piece of wood" - that implies you have a lathe.

So, get googling for folks who have made a thicknessing sanding jig for their lathe (or a lathe-based drum sander).

I've seen at least two pretty comprehensive how-to-build web sites on this.

Cheers,
Andrew

**meikj** · 26th January 2006, 04:08 AM

Darren,

This looks like it may be just what you are looking for. You could certainly get some ideas from their design. Have seen a few good reviews in the US.

http://www.luthiersfriend.com/

JohnM

**TK1** · 27th January 2006, 10:34 AM

Thanks John, that looks pretty good. I'll investigate further, and as I have a spindle sander I might even be able to make a fence to go onthat (althought the spindle oscillates so a drill press version might be better.

I'll post a pic of whatever I end up with, and also of some model boats once I work out how to reduce the resolution and size of the pics I took - too big to upload at present.

Regards,
Darren

**echnidna** · 27th January 2006, 04:37 PM

My gmc thicknesser (about $300 odd) can plane 1.2mm veneer strips very reliably. under that it gets a bit tedious but i have thicknessed to .6mm.
Don't know if it would work too well on very wide superthin boards.

I use a false table so it will cut the thin stuff ok

**minimania** · 5th May 2006, 10:34 AM

Dear model shipwright,

I just noticed your posting. I recently bought a pneumatic spindle sander from carba-tec. There are various sizes with sleeves of various grit grades. I too am trying to build a sander thicknesser. This is for dressing wood for miniature furniture. I posted a thread under bandsaws and I received postings with plans for two thickness sanders- very useful if you want to check it out. My only problem now is to find a bench grinder to fit the attachment!
If I can't I may need to resort to a GMC thicknesser with a packer table.(I need to go down to 1/32 timber planks).
Hope this has been helpful.
Minimania.

**Knurl** · 5th May 2006, 07:51 PM

Look at the current edition (in Oz) of Shop Notes magazine. It has a design on the cover that you may be able to adapt.

**Andy Mac** · 6th May 2006, 12:22 PM

I have seen a couple of articles on making "homebrew" lathe based sanders, they used wooden drums turned on the lathe. The abrasive was rolled around the drum and attached with a rebated strip of aluminium and screws. The bed was simply hinged one end and jacked up with a bolt to adjust for thickness. Something similar may be mounted on a grinder, but I'd be concerned about the drum only being attached at one end.

Good luck

**TK1** · 6th May 2006, 09:22 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I will have a look at the attachment at carbatec and also the latest shop notes. My father has just made a lathe-based one but I wanted one I could leave set up all the time. I may end up turning a cylinder and then boring it out (or boring forst) for a rod that I can thread on to the grinder, and support the other end.

Will post pics when I've made it.

Regards,
Darren

**gerome** · 6th May 2006, 11:05 PM

There is a new issue of ShopNotes Vol 15 Issue 86 that has an article and mesured drawing for on that runs off the table saw motor.
I intend to build this one but will ditch the tablesaw idea for a 1 hp motor.
You should be able to find this on your local newstands now.
http://www.phoenixwood.ca/forum/inde...&st=0#entry696
gerome

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