pattern sander question/updated pics 3-13

[ChuckC]

If you have an edge sander (vertical belt sander) can't you just use a belt that is maybe 3/4" to 1" narrow so that it exposes the bottom of the spindle ?  Not perfect, but unless you use it all the time, it should work fine.

CHuckC

[Robertfishes]

Chuck, on the Grizzly edge sanders the drive drums are barrel shaped and there is no flat surfaces. I assume all other edge sanders have a barrel shaped drive drum too. The friction and heat from a spinning drum would be rough on the jigs. The jigs I have been using with my robo sander are  plywood..I will be using corian, lexan, aluminum plate or something like that for the bottom of my new jigs, plywood alone may not be hard enough. There is a cabinet shop near my house and I need to see what they have in the scrap pile.

[Crooked Stic]

My jigs have plexi-glass against the rub collar that is setup on a lock collar bearing on the motor shaft. My plate is bolted directly to the motor bearing plate with some shim stock to square it up. The solid rub plate might be the cheaper way to go.

[kennym]

^ for Mark

[Robertfishes]