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I am thinking of building a thickness sander ! BUT, in our basemendt stands an old electric ironer "if now thats what they´r called ? So, here it goes take a look at the photos and tell me, is the idea stupid or just not well thought through to make a thickness sander out of one of these ????? change the motor or ad a motor if not attached, and get the weel to be of good size, or and etc etc. Some of these machines have a press screw attached and I figure they are there to change the depth, so that would be perfect for the thickness etc.

Ok now start the laughing smileys hahaha. I am writing this before my head has caught up so .....

Lars

well you should be able to at least use the roller.
a thickness sander is not a very complicated thing to build, but if you want to incorporate an automatic feed it complicates things a little bit.
think i've seen some plans with a feed systetm on the WWW somewhere.

Frank

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Frank

Thanks Frank. I was not thinking of using an automatic feed on it, just a one you can push the plate through by hand.

Lars.

Might be better to sell those things on eBay and buy a thickness sander with the proceeds.

the cheapest 16-32 model sander costs in Sweden about 1800USD when all the taxes are included. !!!!!!! . Also, I want to try and build one myself. .

Lars

Are ya´ll sleepin ?? . almost no replies! hmm, guess my question was way off then haha.

Tonight I built a real nice workbench, 42 " high, but I am tall so I guess its ok, was checking another topic of hights for workbenches, and I am 1.86 cm. so hopefully this was a good hight.put in place and installed the bandsaw I resently bought, its an ACM BS 440.
can´t wait to try it out. Also got me a beltsander and a few other nice things, put up some guitarplans on the wall also, so my shop is starting to look good !! .
Will post as all is in place.

Lars

Lars, that last one looks like it might be promising. Is it wide enough for your liking? The adjuster on top is moving the drum correct? Does it move the drum evenly up and down, or does it tilt the drum to one side? Will you be able to either replace the shaft with a longer one or can you extend the one that's in it now? Really check it out and see if it will work for you. Its not rocket science, but you still need to have a tool that is reliable and gives you the results you want.

Shopnotes had an article on making a thickness sander about a year or so ago. It wasn't large enough for my liking and they used MDF for all of it, but those two things can be fixed. If nothing else, it is a good place to start. I have the article around here somewhere.

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Aoibeann

You will prolly regret that the first time you pass anything through with sugar in the wood. Seriously. I studied this problem over and over, then found a 10-20 Performax for $450 (new). I could NOT build one for that price (including automatic feed).

But, I do understand the need to create and build. Perhaps that is better applied to jigs and guitars?

Mike

Lillian ! I will check it out ! dont have those machines here ! only the electric one. Also If you do find the article, then I would be more that happy to take it of your hands . I have found a few articles but I am not sure on wish one to use, perhaps yours is better ! ? .

Mike. I live in Sweden ! I cant buy a JET from the US as you guys use 110V and also 50HZ we use 60 HZ and 220V and a converter to both these would be more that the machine itself. a JET 10-20 here in Sweden, would be around 1200USD. But I know what you meen, as I have read alot about it, allthough, until I wil the lottery, I will have to try without autofeed. .

Lars.

http://www.plansnow.com/dn3078.html

modify those plans a bit and you'll have a great thickness sander.

Frank

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Frank

Thanks alot Frank. !! I will for sure get me this plan ! Do you know of anyone using this sander ? would be good to hear how it holds up compared to other homemade ones ?

Lars

i've got one in the making, loosely based on these plans, mine will be a standalone device with a powered feed(these plans use a hand crank for feed, and attach to the table saw for powering the roller).

Frank

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Frank

I have studied those plans extensively... and it is a good design. But I would not build it with MDF. I do not care what anyone says. I would also attach a DC gearmotor using 1.5 inch printer rollers (and a speed contol option). Modify plans to adapt to the width of the rollers. Some guy on ebay sells them 2 for the price of one. I would not use velcro. Use the end notch idea. Add your own drive motor too. Don't forget a well designed dust hood. It does more than remove dust, it cools the sanding surface. 1700 rpm give or take on the motor.

One of these days I am going to design a multi-head wagner safe-t planer thickness machine.

Mike

Lars, there is a kit you can buy online, and a few people have made it, and they also tell about the problems etc.....you will need to use google, but I think it was at a major magazine woodworking site. The kit was about $400.00 US I think.

I have a safty-planer that seems to work OK for hardwoods, have not tried it on tops yet, but it should be OK if its sharp. Thats would be the cheapest.

Have you tried thicknessing by hand? I really like to use the handplane for this, but at the bottom end it gets tricky to make it all as even as a drum sander, so far...

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Thanks Frei. "and all you guys, for helping out and beeing as wonderful and friendly as you´ve been.
Frei, I also have the Wagner safe-T planer, got it a week ago . look forward to give it a go soon. perhaps the thickness sander you mention is the same as the others have mentioned !? if so, the article is on the way to Sweden right now. .
Haven´t tried by hand. One of the tops I want to use is about 5 mm on one side and 2.5-3mm on the other side, so I want to be sure not to get it down to much on the low side, therefor I am a bit nervous to plane by hand on this one. !! .

Lars.

I hesitate to mention this, because material hold down is a big issue here. But someone here suggested the router sled method for thinning. You will need a a good "bowl" bit (or planing bit) 1" or better. Build a sled that you can slide back and forth. Adjust the bit depth as you go.

Google "thicknessing with a router"

Mike

Frei, were you thinking of The Stockroom? If so, they are located in Ontario Canada.

Lars, they are definitely the time to browse their site. They have all the special bits and pieces you'll need to build a drum sander and their drums come in different lengths.

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Aoibeann

Hi Lars

Take a look at this http://www.buitelaar.nl/comasy/template ... uctid=3386

They are in the Netherlands and maybe you can find a cheap way to have it shipped to you. They have the cheapest price in Europe( US Price !!). It also has a feature that makes it more accurate (probably) than the usual versions you see around, the drum stabilization bar.

I'm looking for a cheap way to bring it to Greece and even if it costs me 300 euros I will get it...Oh and I have already built a hand fed drum sander. It worked until now but I feel I need more precision and control.

thanks to Matia for the tip on buitelaar

Hei Lars,
here is another option:

http://www.verktoyas.no/rogaland/stavanger/verktoyas.nsf/ProductListByName/63937085E730CA8DC1257145007E6A52?OpenDocument

It is similar to the one Mike L linked to, but open ended. It is however available over here in Norway, so shipping shouldn't be too bad.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Mike/Arnt !! interesting you mentioned just that machine ! I have been in contact with the makers in China through a chineese friend of mine who has good contacts in the export field. 10 minutes before I read your posts I got a mail from them with an offer for the same machine, price 260USD. I cant buy simply 1 machine but if a few got together perhaps I could get them to ship it out for about that price. Not shure on the shipping costs from China though, but I am looking into it through my friend.

Lars.

$250? Definitely interested! I'm sure a few of the other Scandinavians here would be as well. Thickness sander group buy, wohoo

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Double post, sorry.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

$250 USD??? Are you sure? That is a big machine!

Mike

Of course I would be interested!! BUT I'm in Greece. If only I could find a cheap way to ship it from Norway....I 'll check it.

I will do my best, and the price I got was for a container !!! but, My friend is helping me and checking things out, perhaps he can talk them into selling a few "samples". The main thing they have is top sell by the container, and a container full of thickness sanders is 20 sanders. so it would be 250 + shipping and taxes. BUT I also can fill it with whatever tools I/we want "that they have of cause" so If they do not agree on sending a few samples, then maby you could check out their site and see if you need other stuff aswell, and so would I. then let my friend know "as he is in the business and has the contacts and speak chineese " what we need and fill a small container with it. just a thought, but first I will see what they say about a small shipment. ( it is also a 40-60 days delivery on the items, as it goes by sea)
My main though with this was to get the tools I need and sell the rest with a mimimal or no profit, just so I can get the machines I need and for the lowest price possible.

Please dont get any hopes up, as it might turn out to be nothing !! . yet.

Lars.