New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

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greybeard
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New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#1 Post by greybeard » Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:18 pm

After replacing the on/off switch in an old six inch bench grinder I decided to use it to make a drum sander.

Fortunately I had a piece of ½” plywood that was big enough to make the grinder holder as well as two laminated sanding drums.
I will now be able to shape handle / risers on this machine instead of using the wheel of the lamination grinder.
With the removable top in place it allows for full width sanding when using the 5” drum with a 2” depth. The smaller drum has a 2” diameter and 3” depth. I still need to design a 1” diameter drum.

The unit can be mounted horizontally on the work bench if needed.

Daryl.
2 Inch Drum.jpg
2 Inch Drum.jpg (118.32 KiB) Viewed 5427 times
5 Inch Drum.jpg
5 Inch Drum.jpg (84.93 KiB) Viewed 5427 times
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

metalhead
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#2 Post by metalhead » Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:58 pm

That's a good idea. How do you change drums?

hardgainer
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#3 Post by hardgainer » Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:35 am

now that is a great idea.

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greybeard
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#4 Post by greybeard » Sun Aug 06, 2023 12:57 pm

metalhead wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:58 pm That's a good idea. How do you change drums?
The sanding drums can be changed in the same manner as with a grinding wheel. Undo the retaining nut slip the drum off the shaft put the other drum on and replace the retaining nut.

Changing the sand paper may be a little more difficult.

The 5” drum has a rim speed of 3800 feet per minute so contact adhesive was used. The leading edge, approximately ¼” of the sandpaper without adhesive is put into the narrow slot across the drum. The remaining sandpaper and drum have contact adhesive applied and when the adhesive has tacked off the sandpaper is carefully rolled around the drum.
Eventually when the sandpaper needs replacing I may have to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive.

The 2” drum has a rim speed of 1454 feet per minute and as it will be using finer grit sandpapers I have used two sided tape. The leading edge is angled across the drum. So far the two sided tape has not come adrift.

The 5” drum must be fractionally out of round as more wood dust was retained by the sandpaper near the join and directly opposite. The high rim speed must negate this slight issue as the curve in the handle is nice and even. The fadeouts will be finished by hand with 40 grit sandpaper on the curved end of the sanding stick.

The next task is to make a dust extractor shroud as sanding dust got blown all over the place.

Daryl.
*
Drum.jpg
Drum.jpg (114.53 KiB) Viewed 5374 times
Handle.jpg
Handle.jpg (34.23 KiB) Viewed 5374 times
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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greybeard
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#5 Post by greybeard » Sun Aug 06, 2023 12:57 pm

The site went off line whilst submitting a reply, saved as a draft and somehow got duplicated when back on line.

Daryl.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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Stickbow Hunter
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#6 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Mon Aug 07, 2023 5:31 pm

Good setup there.

Jeff

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greybeard
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#7 Post by greybeard » Tue Aug 08, 2023 12:03 pm

The dust extractor shroud was made from off cuts and appears to be very efficient.

Daryl.
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Extractor Shroud.jpg
Extractor Shroud.jpg (96.7 KiB) Viewed 5317 times
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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Stickbow Hunter
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#8 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:29 am

Should work a treat.

Jeff

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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#9 Post by greybeard » Sun Aug 20, 2023 12:06 pm

This is the first handle off the new grinder set up and the unit worked better than expected.
The Brigalow was harvested in the Kingaroy area about two years ago.

Daryl.
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Brigalow Handle.jpg
Brigalow Handle.jpg (45.83 KiB) Viewed 5117 times
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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Stickbow Hunter
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Re: New Life for an Old Bench Grinder

#10 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:49 am

Very nice!

Jeff

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