Bazmak Diary of a Linishing Machine

[bazmak]

I HAVE RESURRECTED THIS THREAD DUE VARIOUS REQUESTS AND WILL DELETE PHOTO BUCKET AND ADD NEW PHOTOSi will run this short thread on how to make a cheap
item into a very,very useful machine
We had just moved into a new house and planned to fitted furniture
Planned were bedside drawers.vanity unit drawers in the WIR etc
I finished up making units for about 30 drawers.Basic construction was MDF
with a front frame of 40x20 nom section and dowelled construction.
In the past the main problem was getting the ends dead size and perfectly square.I bought a cheap 6" disc and 4" belt sander,took off the cheap and wobbly
tables/guides etc and set it up on a base so i could carry it to any location
garage,shed,garden even the block next door.I buit up simple tables from the base fitted swivel sqares for any angles and off we went.Absolute magic for linishing the end of timber dead square etc
First problem was the 6" disc sander had pads glued on,a ballache to change
Whilst browsing thru the hardware store i saw 7" pads with velcro fixings and
and a backing disc.There was just enough clearance to screw on a 7" dia
timber disc and true up with a wood chisel in situ MAGIC. TBC

 

[bazmak]

After much use the bearings in the driven pulley gave up the ghost
I stripped it down,the driver pulley had roller bearings but the driven
had had plastic bushes,totally disintegrated.I bored out the ends of the pulley
made and fitted brass bushes and off we went.I was now starting to use the linisher for metal and heavier use.The bearings were difficult to lubricate
got hot siezed up etc.So i bored out the pulley again and fitted cheap skate bearings.No more problems.
When using the belt sander upright it wobbled on the pivot so i fitted a simple
hinged strap from 25x3 flat and drilled and tapped a fixing to repeatable 90o
I also wanted 30o so drilled and tapped for that.When refurbing the Advance lathe i needed to make a gib that was missing.How to do it without a mill
and minimum filing.Partly described under sieg lathe.
I drilled and tapped a piece of 40x5 flat x approx 400mm lg for holding
2 no M3 to clamp a piece of 1/4 x 3/8 in position and proceeded to grind i side
The initial side took longer as i had to grind thru the brass and the steel
It was simple and accurate to take it to a knife edge.I then reversed the brass and did the second side working to a dimention and trial fit in the cross slide.I blued and bedded in to fit te dovetail but it wasnt necessary really
The gib fitted within a couple of thou.It was so easy and successful that i made 2 more for the sieg lathe.Back to the linisher.Worth its weight in gold
it will large amounts of material quickly and accurately with good finish
will also grind tooling accurately.WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE.Photos to follow

 

[bazmak]

 

[bazmak]

One thing i missed.When pivoting the belt sander upright the unit clamped on the motor side
but had too much play.I fitted a small angle to the front side with a pivot pin.Clearly shown in photo 5
This takes all the play out and makes it easy for accurate adjustment

 

[ShopShoe]

Bazmak,

Thanks for posting that. Now I don't know whether to do that to my similar machine or build Chuck Fellows's horizontal sander next. And I still need to build a better table for the 1 x 30 sander I modified earlier.

Keep the mods coming,

--ShopShoe

 

[bazmak]

If you want to build a new sander and have the the cheapy then do both
Mod the existing one first.It will be so useful to help you make the other
saves a lot filing.My wish list is for power feed to the mill and fit DROs
regards barry

 

[oldboy]

Thanks for putting this up. I can see how it will/has made a big difference to the machine. Love the bigger rests for supporting the material.

Thanks again Barry.

Regards. Barry.

 

[gus]

Hi Barry,
Plan to buy same sander for S$250---300. My drawer end finishing was anything but disastrous.
I have two more ToolMakers Chest and some tool cabinet to build or improve.
Just put up a very good storage shelf in the ''Boys'. Will have storage to keep Sander.Friend came in with half his carpentry shop to put shelf in two hours. Was a horse trading affair, he asked me for two very expensive Shimano Fishing Rods and I ended giving him one more for the very professional job done and he is about to put one more in the washroom.
Been thinking about buying or making same for sometime.

 

[bazmak]

Hi Gus that shelf looks handy,if there is a power point
you could have a TV up there,personally i like
a good read while im contemplating

 

[gus]

Hi Gus that shelf looks handy,if there is a power point
you could have a TV up there,personally i like
a good read while im contemplating

Hi Barry, Thats a good idea ,watch TV while Gus is bombing Tokyo.

Now back home. Bit tired and blurry.My better half had a great time window shopping at Isetan.Hankyu,Mitsukoshi etc with Gus following behind.About to unpack some tools bought bough from TokyuHands.

 

[bazmak]

Over the years as us oldies know we gather a collection of tool steel and old cutting tools.Most of which are never used.I found that i was limited for HSS
turning tools for the lathe.The height requd was .350.I had lots of 5/16 and 1/4
all of which well ground and reqd packing.I bought from my local supplier
4 pieces of 3/8 sq x 3" lg for $20.The quality as of yet i dont know.I was determined to grind up a no of tools at the same time.
1 piece double ended for RH,1 double ended LH and a 2 sided chamfer tool
What setup ? as i only had a 6" bench grinder.
I drilled and tapped the side tfor the hinge strap to give me 5o rake
and set the sliding protractor to 10o.This will be shared for the front and side clearances.The top compound rake i did on the rad of the bench grinding wheel
Using a 40 grit belt it works quickly and well.The actual cutting edge is not crisp enough and needed stoning.Once all the rough grinding is complete
i will fit a new fine grit and touch up.Only time will tell,will keep you informed.Photos tell the story. Regards bazmak

 

[bazmak]

I finished rough grinding 5 tools and then fitted a fine grit belt to touch up
A good finish and consistant profile was achieved with min touching up on an oilstone.I will use this setup for sharpening in the future rather than wear out my small bench grinder

 

[bazmak]

Now i was using the linisher more and more i decided to upgrade to MK3
Originally i built a timber support stand which grew over time but was a hotchpotch oof bits and pieces of old timber so i decided to go back to basics
and a build a proper steel support frame.No drgs to designed as building progressed with materials to hand.I built a frame frome RHS and Angle
surplus from a fencing job.Built ,adjusted and a coat of hammerite.Tommow when the paint and adhesives are dry will finish with the slotted tales and
sliding adjustable mitre square.

 

[bazmak]

no comments on the welding please.Galvanised thin wall tubing is never easy

 

[Cogsy]

no comments on the welding please.Galvanised thin wall tubing is never easy

I was gonna compliment ya Baz - I know just how much of a pain it can be - but you won't let me comment so I won't

 

[bazmak]

Any comments to make me feel good are ok.so will clarify.No adverse comments please.$0 years ago i was a good welderbut age etc etc.
However i was happy with the welding,only 1 or 2 holes
Finished everything off this morning.Very pleased.Lighter than the old one
much more ridgid and most things nice and square
I glued and screwed 2 strips of 3thk alum to a
piece of 18mm MDF with a 13mm gap down the middle.I then ran a 16mm router bit down the middle and cleaned up the sides. Fitted the cheap plastic
protractor,which i may improve later. The existing alum table i stiffened uu and fitted to the belt sander,which also accepts the protractor.Just need to fit 4 small rubber feet to the frame and think of some more improvements.Sure does save a lot of filing

 

[gus]

Soaking up all the good ideas. Don't let me get too near because I will pick your brains too.

Made another box and this time to house a ''Bose'' NoteBook Speaker for travelling. YouTube has lotsa good classical pieces . Still learning how to sand straight to get 45 degrees for the corner bevel joints.

 

[bazmak]

Get as much pleasure from knowing people are getting ideas from my posts
as using the ideas.Thats the beauty of this forum.Keep picking Gus happy fisherman

 

[bazmak]

I have been making perfect joints for many years so will detail my method
and hope it will work for you Gus.Attached some photos to help
For 90o joints set the protractor at 90o and sand side 1,flip over and do 2 thru to 4 keep repeating until you are near your mark reducung cut/pressure gradually.When you are near the line keep repeating but reducing cut until
you are only just touching.May touch a dozen times until happy.Same principle for 45o but only 2 sides.Set a 90o guide to point at the disc and flip the timber so you sand from both sides again reducing press

 

[gus]

DIY a Sander to get 90 degrees and 45 degrees is so easy. Fine tuning,competency and get it right, need many practice and failures before getting to make good looking joints. Gus still struggling to hit competency. Latest case to hold Bose Speaker looks OK but still lotsa hidden flaws. Putty and sanding helps diguise flaws. :hDe: