Lathe Powered Drum Sander

Rickski · #1 12-27-2007, 07:16 PM

I'm making some bottle plugs and was trying to come up with a neat way to form the lip. A drum sander gives the radius, but making one to work in the lathe and using the dust collector is what I really needed. So I made one.

Start with a blank with the diameter you need. True it up in the lathe.
Attachment 4269
I used the cloth backed belt sander paper.
Attachment 4265
Cut the belt at the seam.
Attachment 4258
And cut it down the middle. I got 4, 12" long strips from this.
Attachment 4266
I took one strip and figured out the wrap angle. Taped one end with electrical tape.
Attachment 4259
Made the wrap and taped the other end.
Attachment 4268
Took my blank.
Attachment 4270
Turned on the lathe and dust collector and started to form my lip.
Attachment 4261
Rounded off the edges.
Attachment 4262
It works for smoothing out other edges as well.

zimno1 · #2 12-27-2007, 07:32 PM

hey mcguyver you got a safety pin?
that is why they all come here, and thay is why we love this place we call
247, necessity really is the mother of invention/

all about fishing · #3 12-27-2007, 07:58 PM

cool idea good job...

Ed White · #4 12-28-2007, 09:42 AM

Nice solution to your problem......lots more surface area than any drum sander too, should last longer.

all about fishing · #5 12-28-2007, 06:53 PM

i used your idea today and it works great.
i used sheet sand paper and cut it in to a strip and tape as you did .
i did 16 plugs in about 2 hrs that would have taken me a easy 4 hrs to do and some sore hands.
so a big thumbs up for your idea.

Rickski · #6 12-28-2007, 11:16 PM

I'm glad it worked out.

VTBasser · #7 01-02-2008, 01:29 PM

Great Idea! I was just looking to buy some drum sanders and now I'll get some belts instead!

BTW - great old Dunlap lathe. I use a very similar one.

Roccus · #8 01-02-2008, 02:16 PM

Very nice solution to your problem..... I made a simular devise a awhile back, but slotted it in the middle, thus I could stick the sand paper in the slot and as it spun it held itself in place... no tape or glue.

Have you swam those bottles???? just asking because it is my experience, that to acheive a good wiggle and straight swimming plug, the deepest part of the cut needs to be above the center line....if it's too low, they dive but dont swim....

I've got a bunch of bottles ready for paint, Maybe i can post some pictures before the weekend.

Coalman · #9 01-02-2008, 04:02 PM

Very nice Rick.

smulax · #10 01-02-2008, 09:31 PM

first of all nice work zeema i will put a pic of my lathe up soon. same one I think it was my grandfathers so it is probably 60 yrs old. once I figure out how to do something on my own without looking at all you guys pics and ideas I will post an original idea someday.
I do have a home made disc sander for the lathe I might post soon.

Rickski · #11 01-02-2008, 09:41 PM

I think the lathe is a 1942. I just rebuilt the head stock with 2 new oil impregnated bronze bushings from McMasterCarr and a 5/8 diameter shaft from a buddy. The total rebuild set me back about 5 bucks, and a beer for the buddy with the steel 5/8" shaft..

I had to run a 5/8 inch reamer through the bushings after I pressed them in, but I had one laying around so it was easy. I'm impressed with how smooth it runs even cranked at the highest speed. The tail stock is a dead center, that I wish I could convert to a live center, but I think I'm stuck with it. I use a wax base bike chain lube on the end of the wood to keep it spinning freely. Seems to work good.