LumberJocks

24" V-Drum Sander

Project by treeman posted 170 days ago 2717 views 56 times favorited 28 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I just completed my 24” V-Drum sander with the help of a 24” kit from Stockroom Supply. The kit contained the drum, pulleys, link belt, pillow blocks and mounting brackets as well as plans for the box and top. The box was easy to build and went together fast. I took a little more time on the top because I wanted to get it as flat and slick as possible.


I laminated the top from two sheets of 1/2” MDF and 1 piece of 1/8” hardboard. This gave me a total thickness of 1 1/8” which is the recommended thickness. For the 24” sander it seemed that there was a very small amount of flex in the center of the top. Since I wanted dead flat and stable, I reinforced the underside with 1/8” aluminum angle stock.

This picture shows the working end and you can see the motor and drum connection. You can also see the dust rails mounted to the box beside the drum.

is the other end and you can see the hole for the dust collection hookup.


End view of the top and drum.


The sander does a FANTASTIC job. If you take the time to adjust it properly it will sand a panel very flat. It takes pretty small bites but leaves a super smooth finish. After taking multiple passes on a panel, I could detect no taper or thickness difference when I measured using my dial caliper.

Sanding rolls are available from 60 to 2000 grit. This should be more than enough to meet any need. The sandpaper is very easy to remove and install and I can already change grits in less than a minute. The sandpaper can be re-applied multiple times and so far I can’t detect any wear on the paper.

Overall, I think this is a great product and I am very happy with both the kit and my build.


28 comments so far

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5999 posts in 1071 days


posted 170 days ago

I always thought that this type of sander would be a good addition to the shop.

It looks like you did a great job building it.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View kolwdwrkr's profile

kolwdwrkr

2501 posts in 561 days


posted 170 days ago

Cool sander. I could have used this yesterday. Thanks for sharing

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

View Julian's profile

Julian

820 posts in 497 days


posted 170 days ago

I will be building one of these kits myself soon. Thanks for posting.

-- Julian, Park Forest, IL

View Bradford's profile

Bradford

863 posts in 794 days


posted 170 days ago

Sweet setup. I would love to be your neighbor.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

View Ben Kahmann's profile

Ben Kahmann

232 posts in 243 days


posted 170 days ago

That is an amazing tool you built there. How much were the parts (motor ect) I just may have to build one

-- Ben Kahmann Dayton, OH

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

8269 posts in 1190 days


posted 170 days ago

I’d love to make one of these! I was going to ask the same question as Ben…. How much were the parts?

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

4021 posts in 659 days


posted 170 days ago

Great job on yours : ) I’ve seen some of them with a fence attached. Any plans on adding one to yours ? Is there any adjustment table height on yours ?

-- MILK COWS , NOT TAXPAYERS : ) .......Bumper sticker quote.

View treeman's profile

treeman

180 posts in 421 days


posted 170 days ago

Ben & Charlie,

I bought the 24” kit on eBay for $267, the motor from my local repair shop for $20, the aluminum angle from HD for ~$7 and the piano hinge for $6. I had the box materials laying around the shop and I always have some MDF around. If you compare this to the cost of a Sand Flee at $699; this one is a bargain. Mine is also bigger with a 24” drum compared to 18” on the Sand Flee.

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

23684 posts in 548 days


posted 170 days ago

Looks like a great tool super job

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, http://www.heirloomwoodshop.com/

View treeman's profile

treeman

180 posts in 421 days


posted 170 days ago

Dusty,

I am planning to attach 2 fences that will hold feather boards and aid in edge sanding. They will just have brackets that slide back and forth along the table and clamp underneath.

The top is adjusted by a couple of screws in the box side that you turn in or back out to adjust the sander. Once set you shouldn’t have to change them. They are NOT used to alter sanding depth. To change the depth of cut you change sanding grits. The coarser the grit the heavier the cut.

View notottoman's profile

notottoman

831 posts in 202 days


posted 170 days ago

What size motor is it and RPM?

Do you just feed the job over by hand or do you have an overhead feed press?
How do you controll the amount to be taken off without a steady feed and pressure?
Just inquisitive !
Damn fine job… I also want one.

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.

View notottoman's profile

notottoman

831 posts in 202 days


posted 169 days ago

I Should of read your comment properly about depth of cut.
But if your job is wider than the drum, what then?

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

4021 posts in 659 days


posted 169 days ago

thanks for the feedback ! : )

-- MILK COWS , NOT TAXPAYERS : ) .......Bumper sticker quote.

View treeman's profile

treeman

180 posts in 421 days


posted 169 days ago

notottoman,

The motor I used was a 1/2 hp 1725 rpm motor.

I am feeding the stock by hand and the tabletop is absolutely flat. The stock is always in contact with the table. When you set the table, you set it so that the stock “just” brushes the sanding grit but without moving the drum. You do this with your finest grit. When the drum spins the centrifugal force raises the hook and loop paper enough to take a light cut.

Keep in mind that this is NOT a thickness sander but more what I would call a finishing sander. There is no pressure on the drum and the sandpaper lifts just enough to take a smooth even cut. Feeding hasn’t been an issue so far.

Supposedly, you can sand wider than the drum by moving the stock side to side on subsequent passes. I haven’t done this yet so I don’t know.

View akdale's profile

akdale

46 posts in 179 days


posted 169 days ago

Interesting. I have been looking at the Jet and Delta models but cost is more than I want to spend. I have a motor, and extra wood. This is worth a shot. Thanks for posting. This one is going on my winter project list.

-- Phil 4:13------Our family motto

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7903 posts in 1218 days


posted 169 days ago

I think Yorkshire Stewart made one from Shopnotes. It had a top and worked great for him. He even vented it out the top through a dust suction hose.

-- Mike from Michigan - mwurm13@yahoo.com

View John Gray's profile (online now)

John Gray

1998 posts in 857 days


posted 169 days ago

I picked up the kit for an 18” V-Drum sander at a WW Shop in St. Louis area last winter. Mine is very similar BUT not quite as wide as yours, boo hoo. ;-) I picked up my motor for about $4 at a local auction. Mine works great and I’m happy to have it. You’ve done a great job thanks for the post. I’ll get around to posting mine one of theses days.
Oh if anyone else is building one I got my switch form Grizzly it’s surface/internally mounted, G2899 Safety Switch, it comes wired.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/g2899

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View SuperDave0002's profile

SuperDave0002

70 posts in 202 days


posted 169 days ago

$699 ???? Whewwww
Please say you left out the decimal point.
I can see why you built your own

-- David South FLorida

View Wingstress's profile

Wingstress

230 posts in 486 days


posted 169 days ago

Great job, I’ve been thinking about making a sander for a long time. I’m waiting to find a cheap motor. Anyway, I was wondering what the difference between this design and a thickness sander is. Another Lumberjock did a fantastic job, but I don’t know if these two machines are interchangeable. Some advise please…

Click for details

I can see how the “sand flee” design wouldn’t limit you on thickness, but the other type lets you change your depth. Unless there is an obvious reason that I am missing, then it might require a forum question.

treeman, its not my intention to “hijack” your thread. You did a fantastic job and will soon reap the benefits.

-- Tom, Simsbury, CT

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

4021 posts in 659 days


posted 169 days ago

”Keep in mind that this is NOT a thickness sander but more what I would call a finishing sander.”
Thanks for adding this statement to your post , because some people seem to be mistaking this for exactly that. : )

-- MILK COWS , NOT TAXPAYERS : ) .......Bumper sticker quote.

View David65's profile

David65

171 posts in 257 days


posted 169 days ago

Well done looks great.

-- David '65

View Ben Kahmann's profile

Ben Kahmann

232 posts in 243 days


posted 169 days ago

Thanks treeman, I’m gonna start looking for a motor.

-- Ben Kahmann Dayton, OH

View chairman's profile

chairman

2 posts in 168 days


posted 168 days ago

I am also building one of these now. 30 inch model. Where did you find your motor? I’d love to get a used one but looks like I may have to buy a new one.
Thanks

-- Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.

View treeman's profile

treeman

180 posts in 421 days


posted 168 days ago

chairman,

I just got out the phone book and started calling motor repair shops looking for a used or abandoned motor. I got lucky on my third call and found a repaired motor that was never picked up. It had been sitting for a couple of years and he was ready to get rid of it.

View wooddude's profile

wooddude

59 posts in 386 days


posted 166 days ago

that is very cool. great job!

View Timbo's profile (online now)

Timbo

583 posts in 536 days


posted 164 days ago

I built one of these also about 1 1/2 years ago, very handy to have around.

When you set the table, you set it so that the stock “just” brushes the sanding grit but without moving the drum. You do this with your finest grit. When the drum spins the centrifugal force raises the hook and loop paper enough to take a light cut.

This makes the sand paper last and last, because the grit doesn’t dig in, it doesn’t heat up or load up. Almost all of the dust lands (and stays) in the drum box.

-- Tim: The most dangerous tool is the one you use next.

View Cantil3v3r's profile

Cantil3v3r

61 posts in 148 days


posted 140 days ago

nice work on this, the top looks super slick and would definitely be helpful around my shop….if only i had more room. Nice job!

View John Gray's profile (online now)

John Gray

1998 posts in 857 days


posted 140 days ago

TIP – I was sanding out some planer blade marks on a piece of Maple yesterday and couldn’t get them out sanding with the grain. Turned the piece “sideways” and sanded across gain and WA LA the marks disappeared then I sanded with the grain to remove the cross grain scratches and was finished in no time…...we were always taught to sand with the grain. ;>)

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

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