Thread: The Sander Mill

Actually the sanding mill is made to true the ends of the blank before assembly. Not made to clean out glue inside the tube. Most kits require a spacer to be made to fit the gap between the pen mill & the inside of the tube. Use that same spacer on this sanding mill to re-true the ends after all the finish is put on. For instance, you mill the blank true before turning. It there's glue in the tube you have to clean it out before installing the bushings. Then after the finish stage, especially CA & some finishes, the end is no longer true. Thats where this sanding mill is important. Re-truing the end. Will make the end perfectly square to the tube & smooth.

And that is exactly what I am using it for

There was some discussion on IAP about using the sander mill as a replacement for the standard pen mill.

Personally I don't use a pen mill any more, use the mitre gauge on my disk sander instead, quicker and neater.

As for glue inside the tubes, can't remember the last time I had that problem. I use childrens' play dough in one end of the tube, just roll some out about 5mm thick and push the tube in it. The other end is sealed by the tapered tool I use that fits inside the tubes and allows me to roll it in the CA glue and insert in in to the blank.

What about turning the cutter head around on your stock standard pen mill
and putting the sandpaper on the usual rear end of the cutter head?
seems possible

Hi folks,
I read a suggestion somewhere that I use, and that is stick the brass tube into a potatoe and break out a plug. The plug stops the glue from entering the tube as it is pushed into the blank. The plug is easy to remove by pushing with a screw driver from the other end. Hope Im on the right page with this tip.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

What about turning the cutter head around on your stock standard pen mill
and putting the sandpaper on the usual rear end of the cutter head?
seems possible

DOH! Why is it always so hard to see the most obvious answers?? Good pickup. It'd need a complete extra set though, as I wouldn't like to be swapping around all the time, especially after my grub screw problems.

As for potatoes etc, I've been using potato's, but sometimes it just doesn't seal very well - too wet I guess. I should make up some playdough as it'd stick better. That end isn't my problem end, it's the other one, which is open after I remove the dowel holder I use to put the tubes in, and because I use Polyurethane glue, which foams, it can get inside if I've got a bit too much on. But there's hardly any these days, I guess practice makes perfect.

Russell.

Actually, the pen mill can be used with sandpaper without turning it end for end. Just slide it up, use, slide it off. And it won't dull the mill.

Originally Posted by Mobil Man

Actually, the pen mill can be used with sandpaper without turning it end for end. Just slide it up, use, slide it off. And it won't dull the mill.

I don't think I'd be willing to try that, too risky if you push too hard & the cutter heads eat into the sandpaper and/or the blank. Plus, the hard/soft surface of the sandpaper as it goes over the cutter heads may not give the best result?

Russell.

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

I don't think I'd be willing to try that, too risky if you push too hard & the cutter heads eat into the sandpaper and/or the blank. Plus, the hard/soft surface of the sandpaper as it goes over the cutter heads may not give the best result?

Russell.

Couldn't agree more

Good idea SDM simple and should work. I have a few spare mills may give it ago. I also use my mitre gauge on the sander like Fred does.

Made some more bits and pieces for the sander mill

1 Made some pins to store the sleeves on so they don't get lost and knocked about

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2 Also made some sleeves for some of the kits I have/had, would have made more but ran out of 7mm slimline tubes and couldn't get any more yesterday

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3 There were 2 kits where the sleeves would have left very little "meat" on the tube, so made a sander mill to size (7.1mm) for those 2 - Perfect Fit lower tube and Elegant American from memory) also made a centre gauge for punching the centre hole in the sandpaper disk after cutting it with the 3/4" wad punch.

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4 The 2 different size sander mills with their centre gauges and wad punches to fit same (6 and 7 mm)

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5 After all that trouble I thought I may as well make a little stand to organise all this and have some room for expansion!

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6 A place for everything and everything in its' place...........

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Just have to make 9 more storage pins and more sleeves as tubes come to hand.

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Nice work, very impressive. I'd set up something similar if I did more pens.

I hope I didn't rain on your parade with my reverse trimmer idea.
Sorry if I did. Just had this (once in a lifetime) flash of an idea. I was about to say I'll order one from you when the thought occurred.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

What about turning the cutter head around on your stock standard pen mill
and putting the sandpaper on the usual rear end of the cutter head?
seems possible

Sounds good, only problem being the fact that the cutter head on my mill isn't square to the shaft