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4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=35375		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  sdsollod [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
I've been thinking about setting up a jig to shape the back of the headstock among other things. I have seen that what is typically used for this is a small stationary 4" X 36" belt sander with a jig made to rest the headstock on and feed it under the arm of the belt sander and bring it to the desired thickness and put in a nice scooped volute. [:Y:]

I understand the concept of the jig. A hinge is used as a pivot, but I'm not sure how to adjust the angle. How is this designed? It looks like some type of long bolt arrangement. Does anyone have a photo, plans, and/or can you describe how to adjust the height?

Also, do you have a recommendation for a 4" X 36" belt sander? It looks like most of the ones I've looked at (Harbour Freight, Rikon, etc. for about between $70 - $150) have some kind of complaint... but, I would guess for this light use it may not matter so much...
BTW - I've built 6 guitars (working on number 7) so I'm "small time".

Thanks,
Steve
Author:  ernie [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
If you have a drill press. you can easily mount a 3in sanding disk , with a wood fence mounted to do this .Most of the small sanding machines especially the 4 by 36 are IMHO crap, unless you can find a cheapie off craigslist or e-bay.Think china gaah
Author:  John A [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
I would also like to see the jig -

I am happy with my Porter Cable - it has an 8" disk and the 4x36 belt -
i would not say it is crap - it serves it's purpose well.
Author:  Wes McMillian [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
Here's mine. I'm sure there are better designs out there, but this just gives a picture of one idea. I used spring hinges to keep tension on the whole mess and barrel bolts because....well....because that's what I had on hand. I would actually like to redesign it at some point to make it a little more solid, but it works. Which, knowing me, means I'll probably redesign it when something breaks or I need to get a new sander.

Image

Image
Author:  cwood8656 [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
Here's a bad cell phone picture of mine.

Chris.

Image
Author:  sdsollod [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
This is what I'm talking about... Those are some interesting designs. Chris, I was thinking that a turnbuckle could be used to adjust the height (thickness). Does anyone else have a design to share before I attempt to make one?
Author:  Link Van Cleave [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
You could do like Chris but use threaded rod. The rod would go into a thick block so you would have some travel and the rod would still be inside the block. Have two nuts, one to adjust height, the other to lock. Or one coupler nut with some blue lock tight or one of those lock nuts with the nylon inside.
L.
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
I found an old picture of mine. I used 1/2" threaded rod. I'll see if I can find a better picture of the mechanism.

Image
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
When I made the table height adjustment for my thickness sander (same principle) I used threaded rod and imbedded a coupling nut into the loser brace and put a hand wheel on the rod. If I had been thinking more clearly, I would have used a tee-nut instead of a coupling nut, I think that would have been much easier.
Author:  cwood8656 [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 4" X 36" belt sander with headstock jig
Mine works fine. Were I doing it over again I might fabricate a way to lock it in position. It's never moved, but I always worry it might.

Chris.
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