Author Topic: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?  (Read 663 times)

Offline Kohlqez

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Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« on: November 05, 2016, 08:55:00 PM »
Everything that I've read about making laminate bows suggests that a bandsaw and drum sander are invaluable tools in the build process. I have a bandsaw, but not a drum sander, and since I don't have several hundred dollars to buy the Jet, Baby Grizzly, or Shop Fox that seem to be the preference for bow making, it seems unlikely that I will be getting one any time soon.
It's unlikely, but I was wondering if anyone had a suitable cheaper alternative for grinding lams easily so I don't have to purchase the lambs every time I want to make a bow.
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Online Roy from Pa

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2016, 10:11:00 PM »
Do a search on you tube for diy drum sanders. There have been some posted on here also.

Offline bigbob2

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2016, 12:10:00 AM »
I made a very serviceable lam grinder which has made more than 100 bows so far from a makita belt sander running gear sans motor and handle etc, which is mounted on its side through a table. I powered it with a spa pump motor which fitted straight up to the pulley on sander body.Adjustable mounts keep belt tensioned, table 'floats' in frame so it can be 'squared'as need be,and fence is a moveable one and is simply a square block of wood.Each grind pass is accompanied by a tap on fence to reduce gap and it is remarkable how quickly one becomes adapted to judging correct amount of force needed,

Offline JamesV

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2016, 01:07:00 AM »
I cut my lams on a planer
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Offline mikkekeswick

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2016, 02:08:00 AM »
The thing with a planer is it leaves a 'scalloped' surface. They also compress the wood fibers a little. I bet your blades are sharp though!
It shouldn't be too hard to make a lam grinder.


Offline EwokArcher

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2016, 08:20:00 AM »
I built the one Roy posted there, their is a lil bit of trail and error in learning to use it but you can pump out some lams after you have it down.

Online jess stuart

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2016, 09:25:00 AM »
Some good deals on Craigslist at times.  I found a 6x90 edge sander on there a few years back for a great price.  My buddy found a great deal on a Delta drum sander.

Offline die_dunkelheit

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Re: Any cheap, effective drum sanders or drum sander alternative?
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2016, 10:46:00 PM »
I've seen cheap harbor freight bench grinders used to power a small drum on one side with an adjustable table beneath the drum and a sanding disk on the other side.

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