Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
I had this idea the other day when thinking about tooling up, does anyone think its a good idea to pick up a cheap wood lathe with a good motor and use it to drive a couple belts for a slack sander ?
Seems like it would be straight forward, mount the lathe to the floor, chuck a drive shaft with a couple of wheels onto it, mount a bracket on the wall above it with two arms, a pivoting arm below with a wheel and a fixed arm above to hold spring tension onto the bottom arm.
Seems like for a couple hundred bucks you could build a nice slack sander with two belts and adjustable speed, but am I being too simple ? Would it be difficult to get it tracking straight without having an adjustment for that ?
Any thoughts about what I'm missing, or how to actually build one this way ?
Seems like it would be straight forward, mount the lathe to the floor, chuck a drive shaft with a couple of wheels onto it, mount a bracket on the wall above it with two arms, a pivoting arm below with a wheel and a fixed arm above to hold spring tension onto the bottom arm.
Seems like for a couple hundred bucks you could build a nice slack sander with two belts and adjustable speed, but am I being too simple ? Would it be difficult to get it tracking straight without having an adjustment for that ?
Any thoughts about what I'm missing, or how to actually build one this way ?
Ryan Alden
http://www.aldenpipes.com
http://www.aldenpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
If you can build one from an electric motor, you can build one from a wood lathe, as it's just an electric motor with a housing and a bed...
Whether or not YOU can build a decent, well tracking one is more up to you than up to the lathe I think...
Whether or not YOU can build a decent, well tracking one is more up to you than up to the lathe I think...
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Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Right, makes sense to me. I was just concerned I might be oversimplifying things, forgetting to add something vitally important like some kind of tracking adjustment.
I see some variable speed lathes going really cheap around here, seemed to be a fairly easy way to build a sander.
I see some variable speed lathes going really cheap around here, seemed to be a fairly easy way to build a sander.
Ryan Alden
http://www.aldenpipes.com
http://www.aldenpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Just make one out of a used electric motor and some step pulleys made mine for under $25.00 its easy never mind a lathe
"I never knew how empty was my soul untill it was filled" Arthur
http://www.clarkpipes.com
http://www.clarkpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Yeah, it seems like it would be pretty easy to do it with a motor and pulleys, but I dont know where to get a good motor without spending a lot. Any ideas where to find a good motor ?
I was thinking of doing it this way because I can get a VS wood lathe free from a friend and could drive two belts with it, and have speed control.
I dont know what I'll end up doing.
Thanks for the input.
I was thinking of doing it this way because I can get a VS wood lathe free from a friend and could drive two belts with it, and have speed control.
I dont know what I'll end up doing.
Thanks for the input.
Ryan Alden
http://www.aldenpipes.com
http://www.aldenpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
go to your local hardware store.. buy a belt sander.. straight iron.. angle iron and order an idler wheel from beaumount metal works... just make sure the belt sander runs under 1400 RPMs...mine is measured out to work w/ 2x72 belts.. works like a charm
james
james
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Brilliant !
Thats on the list of possibilites.
Would a standard bench grinder work as a motor. with step pulleys to adjust the speed ?
I just want to set something up with two belts I think, one finer one coarser.
Thats on the list of possibilites.
Would a standard bench grinder work as a motor. with step pulleys to adjust the speed ?
I just want to set something up with two belts I think, one finer one coarser.
Ryan Alden
http://www.aldenpipes.com
http://www.aldenpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
If you can get a free lathe then by all means use that. A box metal frame could be welded to the bed to support the idler wheels.
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Edward
I agree with Chris.. spend as little as you can (on quality parts) while still buying/getting setting up your workshop.... if you can get a free lathe.. work with that.. step pulleys would work.. but don't go out and buy a motor to just get a motor
james
I agree with Chris.. spend as little as you can (on quality parts) while still buying/getting setting up your workshop.... if you can get a free lathe.. work with that.. step pulleys would work.. but don't go out and buy a motor to just get a motor
james
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Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
jogilli wrote:go to your local hardware store.. buy a belt sander.. straight iron.. angle iron and order an idler wheel from beaumount metal works... just make sure the belt sander runs under 1400 RPMs...mine is measured out to work w/ 2x72 belts.. works like a charm
james
Yankee ingenuity at work!
I want to know who has to pedal the Schwinn to make it work, your wife or kids or??
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Hehehehe.I want to know who has to pedal the Schwinn to make it work, your wife or kids or??
Thanks James and Chris for the advice. I'm going to go take a look at the lathe this weekend. Its a Harbor Freight lathe, barely used but a few years old.
Chris, I dont follow you on the box welded to the bed, but I may see what you're saying once I sit down and design it on paper.
I was thinking Beaumont wheels on an aluminum rod with a channel milled down the top to give the set screws a place to grab and both ends milled square to mount in chucks.
Ryan Alden
http://www.aldenpipes.com
http://www.aldenpipes.com
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
Oklahoma.... got the same question at work.. it's for my sun... saves me paying for electricity.. the only problem is when I near the 2 hour mark he starts to complain.. I guess I have to mount a TV down there for him to watch while he plays gerbil
and I personally would stay away from aluminum and stick w/steel
james
and I personally would stay away from aluminum and stick w/steel
james
Re: Converting Cheap Lathe into Slack Sander ?
This is one the next things I need to build next. Great pics guys!
Andrew
www.andrewstaplespipes.com
www.andrewstaplespipes.com