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Can I Stop a Spindle Sander from Oscillating?

7K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  alanealane 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi All,

I'm new to the forum.

Thinking of getting the Rigid Spindle/Belt Sander, but want to be able to use it with patterns. Does anyone know if it can be operated without oscillation and a "bushing" mounted below the sandpaper for a pattern?

Thx, Jeff
 
#3 ·
I doubt you can disable the oscillation, but check my Gamble Side Chair blog to see how I mounted ambushing to my Jet spindle sander for pattern sanding.
 
#6 ·
I suggest you look into an air filled sanding drum that you mount in your drill press. I have a "Sand Boss" and like it much better than an oscillating spindle sander.

The air filled drum does not leave grooves on the sanding surface like a spindle sander can. Also , because the drum is flexible there's almost no loading up or build up of the sanding sleeve. You can get a set of three sizes of these for about $100. A small bicycle pump is needed also.
 
#7 ·
Do you have a drill press? If so, you can just get a sanding drum kit, like this ($9.99 at amazon), and lower the drill press to the needed height.

You can cut a small circle the same size as your sanding drum and hot glue it to the table underneath the drum to act as a guide.
 
#9 ·
LJ Keifer made a drum for pattern sanding on an oscillating spindle sander that might be just what you need:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/308914. He posted more info on his Youtube channel (see link in his project). His previous project was about making one for his drill press.
 
#10 ·
Does anyone know if it can be operated without oscillation and a "bushing" mounted below the sandpaper for a pattern?

I have one and there is no way to disable the oscillating function. A drill press w/ drum would be the easiest to set up if you have a drill press.
 
#11 ·
Hey everyone, thanks for the replies. I have used the spindles with my drill press, however, it's an old/small Craftsman and I'm concerned this use may damage the bearings (though LJ Keifer's idea to put a bearing in the DP table could solve that problem). Think I'm going to give TungOil's method a try.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
If it oscilates like my Ryobi, it uses a 2 belt system to do the oscilatting. Different number of teeth on each belt. Juat remove 1 belt.

- thimmaker
YES YES AND YES!! I found this out on my wilton oss (identical to the ryobi) when it ran out of lubricant between the oscillating pulley and the stationary pulley. One pulley is ever so slightly smaller than the other, causing it to spin at a different speed. Each pulley has an up/down ramped face that causes one pulley to push away from the other, and a strong spring forces them back together again on the other side of the ramp. Spin the sanding drum until it's at it's highest point of oscillation, and then remove the belt from the oscillating pulley. Then you should be able to make or modify a sanding drum with a pattern follower bushing as others have suggested. Let us know how it works out for you!
 
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