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Did you know about relays? I didn't. Turns out some don't like being turned sideways. Like the one on this used Craftsman sander I bought to turn into an edge sander.

Bought it used for 250, then built a dedicated workstation around it. Then it started being weird, then started popping breakers like mad. Turns out the relay blew, which blew the capacitor, which burned the motor windings.

To the tune of 672$ to repair. We could have bought another used machine, had it rewired to run in reverse and checked for a compatible relay, but it wouldn't have been much less and would have required rebuilding the station.

An expensive lesson. What really stings, is that had I known about relays, I could have opened the bottom plate and taken 5 minutes to rotate the relay 90* and saved a pretty pile.

Live and learn, for 922$!

Anyway, in case anyone else has the bright idea to do this (which I recommend, it's an absolutely wonderful shop machine, so so very useful, which is why we rebuilt it at such cost), get the relays checked..

When the motor on my Grizzly edge sander died I contemplated spending a couple hundred bucks to replace it. The motor's shaft is tapered and mounts the drum so an aftermarket motor wouldn't work. What I wound up doing instead was coupling a motor to the shaft of the old motor after removing the fan. It looks kind of funky but works, and put to good use an old motor I had laying around.
They are handy tools, and I'm sure you're glad to have yours up and running again.

Our second option was buying a new motor and using a pulley system on the disc sander part of the original. I figured once all the fuss and bothering was done it would be a watch. But yeah, I love it. With the bed was 6" longer though,..

Couldn't you have done basically the same setup with the Ridgid spindle sander in stock configuration?

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

That's a bit of a new one on me. I've installed relays in many different orientations on boats with no issues. Sucks buddy. Sorry to hear that.

Jim,

The Ridgid one is 4x24 I think. Pretty rinky dink. We have one and it gets used for sanding tailblocks and such in the other room, but I need something for brace shaping, neck fit, etc. with a bit of heft. This is a 1 1/2hp motor and a good solid machine, the Ridgid is a toy in comparison.

Danny,

May no one ever need to find out if one of those relays works sideways...

Mechanical relays rely on gravity. If the plunger can't fall back into place it stays across the start windings. Many electronic versions out there today though.

Thanks much, Ed--
I have a Delta that looks like it was made in the same factory. I've been thinking about turning it on its head for some time now. Maybe this was one time that my procrastinating paid off.

Eric,

We tried a Delta as v.1., the 4x36 one. RJ spent a great deal of time making a swanky box for it, with all kinds of accoutrements. When the Tada! moment came, we were very disappointed when it started smoking after about ten seconds.

That is one machine that don't work sideways.

That being said, both shop fox and craftex make 4x36 edge sanders...(so we learned)

https://www.woodstockint.com/SHOP-FOX-1 ... nder/W1717

http://www.busybeetools.com/products/be ... aftex.html

However, I wanted something beefier. Knowing the eventual costs, I would have simply made one from the ground up with at least a 24" sanding surface. All in all, this size is a great guitarmakers sized machine.

The thing about this machine specifically is that the morrow turned opposite of most modern machines. This allowed us to put the (removed) disc spindle underneath the bench and allowed us to change belts from above.

To use a new machine for this purpose...

http://t.harborfreight.com/6-inch-x-48- ... ogle.ca%2F

One has to either

1) pay to have the relays checked and have it rewired to spin in reverse, if it can

2) learn to have the belt move from right to left, which exploded my brain and made me feel not safe, which is no good. But a practical solution if you can get around it...

Thanks - I didn't notice the size difference. I'd love to have an edge sander myself, but I can't find the space to put it.

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

They're awesome. We have a 6x89 as well, that used to be in the same spot, but RJ was tired of sharing it, so it got put in the bigger machine room.