Homemade 12" disc sander

[Kevin in California]

No pictures until tonight, but I made myself a 12" disc sander. Got the motor, brand new 1 hp, 1750 rpm given to me.....can't beat that.
I bought a 12" steel disc with a 3/4" arbor made for the Shop Smith off Ebay for $25 shipped, never used but had a little bit of surface rust that some steel wool took care of.
All the wood materials I had in my shop as scrap. About $6 in screws, washers, bolts and wing nuts, $5 for the sanding disc, and a few hours shop time, which we all love anyway, and I have a pretty cool bench top tool. I've been making do with a 6" on a combination sander, but this baby really goes after the wood.
I put an 80 disc on it. I used 3/4" shop grade plywood for everything except the table top is 3/4" MDF. It is screwed down so I can replace it easily if need in the future.
I am going to rout a miter gage slot in the top too. Ran out of time yesterday.
Anyway, I'll a few pictures tonight and get them up for you all. I you have a motor hanging around you can make one for your shop pretty easily. These discs are on Ebay all the time.
If anyone is interested, I'll share the "plans" I used.

Kevin

[ken cierp]

I bet a lot of members would like to see the pixs and plans. I am compelled to give a safety warning re: powerful disc sanders -- always be aware of the center line of the disc, creeping the work over to the "up" turning side of the disc can instantly jerk the work piece out of your hand and shoot it high speed around the shop or at the operator -- been there done it!!

[Kevin in California]

Okay here we go with some pics.
The "plans" came from the Dec 2011 issue of Popular Woodworking. The concept was to make a disc sander using your lathe, which by the way is a good way to use your lathe when you are not "latheing"!! I probably shouldn't post them, but I'll sure scan the article and send it to anyone interested.

Kevin

[TonyinNYC]

That's a beefy sander!

[Ron Belanger]

Nice!!