DIY Lam Grinder

[SenterShot]

I'm thinking about running a board through the jointer and then clamping it to my Rigid edge sander for a poor-man's lam grinder. I've noticed a little wobble in the oscillating belt assembly, but it doesn't seem to be present at the drive-shaft end. I'm planning on clamping the fence board more or less 90 degrees from the tool's front edge and feed the material across the stiffer roller end of the belt.

Question is, do you feed with or against the belt direction?

[MoeM]

Always against! Slowly with many runthroughs, the last runs without getting tighter.

[kennym]

Definitely push against the rotation, otherwise it will grab it and jerk it and possibly yer fingers thru.

Try to keep the same feed rate. It will grind a lot more if you stop in the middle.

[Troy D. Breeding]

What Kenny said and rememeber to make atleast two passes thur for each reduction before adjusting. That way you have a chance to correct any dips made on the first run before making them worse on the next reduction.

Troy

[SenterShot]

Thanks for the advice. Should I incorporate some kind of infeed guide/outfeed rollers...in your experience, does the thin stock try to flop around and mess up the process?

[Troy D. Breeding]

Try contacting Trux Turning. He has a homemade version that he says works great.

[M.Kerry Bird]

Also keep your eyes on your local classifieds. Small drum sanders pop up regularly here. I picked up a lightly used performax for $400. It pays for itself quick by making lams especially tapers which I don't think can be made by pulling it through your sander. The nice thing about a drum sander is the ability to run your bow whether a 1 piece or takedown through and get it all a consistent thickness.
I made a lot of lams using the method you described and it will work but takes some practice.

[JamesV]

If you are grinding fiberglass with the Ridgid Sander, always connect some sort of vacuume or the glass dust will sift down into the motor winding and short it out. How do I know this???? My new sander is in transit.

James

[SenterShot]

So I barely got my Redneck Ridgid Lam Grinder tested (sawed a sliver off a 2x4 and thinned it to an almost consistent .027), when my son comes home announcing he's got an opportunity to buy a Performax 16-32. Kerry, which model do you have? has anyone else had experience with these open-ended drum sanders? The online reviews are from cabinet makers who get excited about taking off 1/64"...can this machine be precise enough to grind laminations to within +/- .001"?

[Trux Turning]

I have a Jet 16-32. I think it is the same as the Performax 16-32- I use the heck out of mine. As long as you set it up right they are very precise.

[Troy D. Breeding]

Well, that blows it. I thought Trux was the one that was telling me he had the homemade sander.

BTW, the Jet and the Performax are the same, just different names.

Troy