Attempting a template sander in a different way.

[bdsmith1]

All right guys, I'm trying this with a 4-in disc belt sander combo that I found off Facebook marketplace. I have it mounted to its base flipped 90°. I've got it running and trued up the drive drum, and shortened it just a bit. Now I've got to figure out how to put the guide spacer underneath. Shouldn't be too hard right?. With all the thickness I took to true up the drum, I had to add spacers on the spring for the guide drum to put enough pressure on the belt.  I'll keep this post updated with my progress. If this turns out to be a good way to do it, I'll only have about 75 bucks in the whole venture.  Excuse the shop. It gets to be a disaster real quick when I start working on something.

[Smguinnip]

I have been searching marketplace recently for this same exact idea, please keep us posted on the progress as any tools made for this process seem to be nonexistent, at least not without some kind of modification.

[bdsmith1]

This was the model i started with.

[bdsmith1]

I have been searching marketplace recently for this same exact idea, please keep us posted on the progress as any tools made for this process seem to be nonexistent, at least not without some kind of modification.

Yeah it's been a huge source of frustration for me. I bought an edge sander from grizzly but it rotates 90° and so there's no steady place to mount a spacer and table, so I didn't even bother trying.

[Mad Max]

All the pattern sander I see were made by modifying some kind of sander or shaper.
I don't think there is any such thing out there.

A belt sander works much better than a spindle sander, the spindle sleeve will clog up very fast.

[bdsmith1]

Right. I briefly considered the robosander, but I heard bad things about it. This was the cheapest belt sander with a metal drum I could find, so I figured I don't have much to lose in trying it. It's going better than expected to be honest.

[derekdiruz]

I have a couple of those little 1/2 hp or so 4" belt combo sanders. I like them, and they work well for what they are. When I was looking at how to do a template sander, this was a consideration I had. Pros to this include belt price, general machine cost. Cons are the HP side of things.

Ironically, my big 80" edge sander recently started having motor issues the very second I finished my template sander for it. So now, I still have no edge sander, and this sort of thing is back on my radar. I'll be following this!

One consideration I had for the bearing portion was a simple pin in the table, as you may have heard of, rather than a true bearing or bushing guide. Now having to disassemble my set up & take the motor to a repair shop, this looks a lot nicer than before because it would be ridiculously simple to set up & alter if needed. Have you thought of a pin?

[bdsmith1]

I'm printing a slip on space that I can easily modify as we speak.

[bdsmith1]

I have a couple of those little 1/2 hp or so 4" belt combo sanders. I like them, and they work well for what they are. When I was looking at how to do a template sander, this was a consideration I had. Pros to this include belt price, general machine cost. Cons are the HP side of things.

I actually had a nice old drill press motor laying around that was quite the step up in power for this thing. Its hard to bog down.

[derekdiruz]

I love that printed bushing /plate. I have a Cnc that I tried to do something similar but a machinist friend wanted to trade a bow for work 

[bdsmith1]

Okay, so I got the spacer on and ran a blank on a jig and I think it turned out pretty good.

[Mad Max]

Here is mine I have posted many times.
1976 drill press, 12 speed, no bogging down at all.
Ridged oscillating belt sander, roller assembly.

[derekdiruz]

Okay, so I got the spacer on and ran a blank on a jig and I think it turned out pretty good.

Looks great. Can you take the belt off quickly, and take some photos of the plate, how you attached it, etc? I'm sure this conversion caters to quite a few. Love it!

[bdsmith1]

Basically attached to the three bearing retainer screws

[Kirkll]

That's pretty innovative using a belt sander like that.   

[bdsmith1]

Thanks Kirk! I'm going to upgrade the motor and have the spacer cut in aluminum, but the bones of it are fantastic.