30" Drum sander

Nice job.

How did it work out. I have never seen a system like this, was the key-way, hard to create?

Sorry for all the questions

Just want to learn

-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot

THIS is different design. Since there are no pinch rollers, are you able to flatten stock on this? This would be a good item for a review, if you get the time. Thanks for the post.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

It works great. I sanded two table tops, though they were only 30” by 24”. Any longer than that and you really need a way to support the top and hold it down against the drum. When doing the smaller ones I used some 16 lbs pavers to hold the wood down with constant pressure.

I am going to be building a hold-down fence of sorts to do the larger pieces. Still trying to decide how to adjust tension and whether I want to use the stockroom supply wheels or just find some old skateboards and use those trucks/wheels. Or better yet mount some old roller-blades on there :)

My buddy has a full-up machine shop so it took him about an hour to mill the keyway. Without the pillow-block, mill, the right bit, measuring tools, etc, who knows how it would turn out. You probably don’t need the keyway but since my pulleys had them and the set screws clamp down on the keys, I decided it would be nicer to have them.

It did a nice job on the tops I have done so far, even sanding and thickness. You really need to make sure the top is even and level to the drum. I used 2 of the threaded table leg things so I could adjust each side independently and get the whole thing where it needed to be. You can see them as the white dots in the front corner in pic 2.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

Very interesting design… 30” is a long way. I’d like to build one that wide, but I’ve always wondered what diameter the drum rod would have to be in order to not flex. What size did you make yours, and does it flex at all?

Nice job overall, this would be a great tool

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Veri nice project.
Is it possible to put a speed control device ? Just curious.
Take care and work safe.

-- Regards, Woodworm

The 30” drum is a 4” diameter and there is no flex that I can see.

I used pulleys to gear down the speed of the motor to drum. You could install a speed control if the motor supports it.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

4”.. wow. What size of a metal core did you use?

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Hey all, I built this same 30” sander last year from a Stockroom Supply kit. The shaft dia. is 1/2” and the pulleys that were supplied had Allen lock screws for locking to the shaft. I was able to get a recommended 1/2 HP 1750 RPM motor by JET from E-Bay. Height adj is critical too, but once it is done right,(It took several tries) I was able to sand some 30×18” oak table tops with out bogging the drum down. I see they have raised the price of the kit considerably since I bought mine. Ah the benefits of the devalued dollar.
As an aside I was thinking that a couple of 12-1/2” Roller and Bracket Set pittsburgh 30026-5VGA
$4.99 rollers from Harbor freight (http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?catPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FUserSearch%253Drollers&currentPage=5&lastPage=12&isNext=false&isPrevious=false&category=&attributeValue=&attributeName=&requestedPage=6&resultsPerPage=10&resultsPerPageBottom=0
could be mounted to act as hold-downs for long boards. You don’t need/want a lot of downward pressure.
Thanks for indulging my long windedness, Noodles

-- Noodles

This is the Stockroom Supply Kit Steve, except this one is a 5/8” shaft, same as the standard motor shaft…

Thanks for the roller link Noodles!

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

Cool Looks like a very useful shop tool. Thanks for sharing

-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison

I think this is a cool design. I checked out the video at stockroomsupply.com and it looks quite simple to build and use. I like the idea of the hook and loop sand paper not getting hot during use (air between paper and roller). Something I have to consider building, since I’ve been seriously looking at drum sanders. I didn’t expect the kits to be as pricy as they are, just the 18” kit is, I think expensive, since the motor is not included. Thanks for the post and sharing.

-- Doug, Cass City, Michigan

I’ve built and used the 24” model for the past couple of years and think it’s great.

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/

Your right guys the shaft is indeed 5/8”. Just having a senior memory moment. I purposely built the table top longer then Rich’s anticipating a more stable platform for longer stock. Then I put a hook as a hold down opposite the piano hinge so the table could not lift and rotate on the hinge as the stock move past hinge center. (Rich’s center Photo above) Also I isolated the motor from the dust bin in an attempt to keep it cleaner.
The kit consisted of the roller, shaft with saddle bearings (roller bearings with U shaped hold-downs), and two same size pulleys (one for shaft and one for motor). I think the cost was around $300. Perhaps they would sell the same parts today if you inquired. Another thing, with the 30” drum when sanding most parts I will split the sand paper half for coarse and half for fine sanding. Saves a little time.
For those of you who were wondering I did use this to sand a 42” table top with equal results.
Nooldes

-- Noodles

Gosh I love L.J.’s. You really got me thinking on this one. I could defenitely use something like this for the items I make! Thanks for the post. Although now you have my head swimming with new ideas and that may become dangerous! LOL!!!
PEACE!!!

-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!

The motor is mounted below the dust bin with a 2” x 6” hole cut in the dust bin for the belt to pass through. This hole is on the opposite side of the 2” thick piece of walnut that I used to mount the drum too. There is only about a 1” gap between the wall of the sander and block of walnut so very little dust creeps its way around the block and then down the hole. Once the vacuum port is installed I would say almost no dust will creep that way, but damnit Jim, I’m an electrical engineer, not an aeronautical or hydraulic engineer.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

I have the 24” in the “prototype mode” not pretty but very functional, I use it all the time. It is nice to see other builds as I am still planning to rebuild mine. FYI- the drum does not flex because your work piece never actually touches the drum, just the sand paper. No vacuum system connected and don’t seem to have a dust problem, virtually all the dust goes in the box.

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say "Binford", someone else made it.