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A floor buffer! Just had one given to me and thinking about using it. It's a high speed buffer at 1500 RPM, so I'll have to gear it down. Anybody think of a good reason not to?

I see them listed used for several hundred dollars so I would resell it, instead, (if I thought I could) and just build a sander (it's been on my list for years). Just because you see them listed doesn't mean anybody actually buys them, though.

I saw the occasional one listed for less than $100, which may make a good solution for those looking to build one. Shop around on Craigslist.

So, I'll wait and see if anybody can talk me out of it before I start tearing this thing apart. I haven't found a good reason not to use it.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

This is exactly the model I have in my shop. Sure, this one is listed at $500 but, again, I don't have great confidence in being able to actually sell it.

http://www.ivie-ent.com/specials/specials-details.asp?EquipID=5356

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I'll sure try. Photo documenting is still something I'm not good at and I appreciate the time involved for the people who do it. Once I start working, it's hard for me to stop and take pictures. But I'll make a point of it this time!

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Thinking I'll incorporate it into my homemade downdraft table. Build a removable section of the downdraft table and add some rails to slide the body in on.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I almost never discourage someone from trying a WA project, BUT...

A couple thoughts.
- The disk for the sander doesn't have an axle of it's own, they usually just clip-lock onto the motor shaft. So you will end up trying to make a jack shaft system anyway to gear down to less than 1000rpm
- you will need to convert the clip-lock part of the motor shaft to accept some pulley and come up with a mount system to adapt the end face mount.
- the sander disk will be flat, so if you also want to sand profiles, as you would with a hollow form disk, you will need to make some attachment system for your hollow forms.
- small 1/3hp motors can be had free from heating and air conditioning places if you pull them from the junk units they have lying around.

Nothing wrong with all that but it seems like you will be expending a lot of energy to make this sander fit the new purpose. I'd suggest that you just sell it and custom design your own system that does just what you want. For some ideas on design you can look at my web pages at
http://dunwellguitar.com/
and Click on the Luthier Pages link and follow the info for powered hollow form sander. You may also be interested in the info on making hollow forms. There are lots of other designs out there too.

Just my two pfennigs worth,
Alan D.

I think it's a great idea. I have one. They are also used to sand floors which is what I use it for. Mine was $40 at a garage sale and looks a lot better than the junky looking one in the ad. I wouldn't pay $500 for that. I don't think mine runs that fast. If I have a chance I'll have a look at it. I'm pretty sure the speed mine runs would work as is. There is probably a hub that is attached to the polishing plate. If it's screwed on you can use that hub to mount you radius dishes to it.

Good luck,
Danny

Actually, Alan, it is mounted on it's own axle and pulley. The belt drive system is already in place, I just have to slow it down. What I've got in mind is a keyed system along the lines of Mario's sander that I can use my existing dishes on. I don't think I'll have to do anything that isn't easily reversible. Just unbolt the handle, swap a pulley, and bolt an adapter on the end of the existing shaft to accept my dishes. The pad bolts on with a single bolt.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

So, here's what I'm looking at. The last shot is my current downdraft design that I'm looking at mounting it in. I'll have to modify the rails and downdraft panels in order the make this a drop in unit. Plan is to have the center panel removable and add two rails to slide the sander in on. The table has four JennAir downdraft range fans for suction.

Now for the stupid question: can I run my router speed controller on this motor? I had planned on just gearing it down, but I ran it on the speed controller and it ran sweet. It's pushing the amperage limits on it, but I just wondered if it would be an option.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Wes - the speed control can be used on a universal motor of up to 15 amps.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

That could work really well. Rick Turner of Compass Rose uses an electric potters wheel.

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http://goatrockukulele.com