Need tips and and specs modifying grizzly edge sander

[dbeaver]

Hoping Crooked Stic will pop by because I believe I've seen photos of his setup.  I have a grizzly 1140 and I'd like to convert the drive end into a Pattern sander like some of you have done.  I would like to do a fixed collar on the table. 

I need advice on going about flattening the drum and getting a collar that's the sandpaper thickness larger. Setup and fine tuning of the collar? Any suggested plate thickness or material for the table? I've seen how it gets mounted on the motor.

[Kirkll]

I took my drum to a machine shop and had the drum turned, and a bearing attached to the bottom of the drum and factored in the thickness of fresh 50 grit paper. this works very well with 36 grit belts too, which i typically use.

but.... it was an expensive process, and if i had to do it again i would use a fixed collar like you have in mind rather than the bearing.... I also do not think the drum needs to be turned in all cases. sometimes the motor end of these sanders are pretty straight.   

For a table, i purchased a machined piece of 1/2" Aluminum and it has worked well for many years.  But mine is not a Grizzly. Its an 80" that takes 89" belts made by General Tool.

[chefrvitale]

@dbeaver, what was your solution for your grizzly?
Mine just came in and I'm setting it up this week.

[dbeaver]

Between this post and now ive gotten married, moved and have been busy with a renovation.  So i can be sure to say ive done nothing lol.  I will get a table for the motor end and have a machinist make a collar to be bolted onto that table under the drum.  I will also have that machinist turn the drum flat and the collar will have to be the new diameter of the drum minus 2x the thickness of the sandpaper you will use on the pattern sander.  60grit is what id most likely pattern sand with, for collar size. 

[Buemaker]

If your drum is 6 inches tall and you use a 6 inch wide belt and you have your drum turned, do not turn the outer say one inch on each end. You will end up with a 4 inch section in the midle that it flat and that will make the tracking much easier. That is why the factory made drums are made slightly curved.
Your idea of a fixed collar is good, if a rolling bearing is not rolling freely it may marr your template and work piece.

[dbeaver]

 thats one of the things waayy in the back of my head that i would have forgotten by the time i got around to it. Thanks bue for pointing that out

[Kirkll]

Before you go to the time and expense of having your drum turned, you might want to set up your table first and check it for square to the drum. Depending on your pattern thickness, you will only be using the bottom 2 inches of that 6”  drum, and it may not need to be turned at all.

I would also recommend using more aggressive sanding belts like 40 grit or even 36 grit. Besides making the shaping of extremely dense hardwoods much easier without burning, it gives the glue joint more tooth.  I use 36 grit on my footed risers.   .02 cents worth.

Kirk

[Bryan Adolphe]

I didn’t need to turn my drum at all  I think I would set it up and try it first mine sanded square to the table.