3" Robo sander?

[longrifle]

Was just wondering if anyone has used one of these for template work? Riser duplicating in particular , if so what size drum how did you like it, any problems, thanks

[Crooked Stic]

My opinion don't waste your money. You will be way better off rigging something on a drill press with a more solid sanding drum.

[Walt Francis]

I read good and bad reviews before trying the robo sander, but decided to get one anyway and give it a try.  For the price, it does a satisfactory job.  I am able to place my riser in the jig, run it along the the drum, and then it is ready to glue up 80% of the time.  The twenty percent of the time it doesn't work perfectly, it only needs a couple of touches to get the riser ready.  I bought the metal sanding drum when ordering and that may have made a my results different than others.  Also, I found your technique makes a big difference, using long light strokes gives me better results than trying to hog the material off.

A good edge sander, modified as others on this site have done, would be my preference.  However, I already had the drill press so the robo sander was the most economical choice for me.

[Dmaxshawn]

I have one and used it for a little while.  Now the the 6x80 takes care of everything I need.

[Robertfishes]

I bought a 3 inch robosander in 2009 and I had trouble with the rubber drum bulging with standard sand paper sleeves..I bought some tungsten carbide (metal/ non bulging) sanding sleeves and have used them along with jigs to shape risers before glue up. I bought a used 6x80 edge sander and am working on making a pattern sander on the motor end.

[longrifle]

Thanks guys for the input, like Walt I have heard good and bad about them, I was hoping to use it and get my risers real close then go back and use what I use now which is MDF jigs and plate glass held at 90* and make sure all is perfect. I don't build a lot of bows each year but would like to do it a little bit quicker .

[Surewood Steve]

I have used the 3" drum sander with good results.  The sanding sleeves that I use are very course grit, like 36 grit or 40 grit.  Plus I have a drill press with variable speeds and I adjust it to the fastest speed.  I put a 1/2" spacer on my jig so the handle stock is sanding in the middle of the sleeve.  If you tighten the nut down too tight you may get a slight bulge on the sleeve, so don't that.