sander(s) for thinning sides, back, soundboard

[peter havriluk]

A cabinetmaker, I knew one once. I'm much more practiced (notice I didn't say 'competent') around mechanic's tools and sheet metal tools. Woodwork, nope. Built a lot of stuff out of sized lumber, but no experience at all in thinning wood to suit.

I'm planning on scratchbuilding some guitars, as my questions the last couple of months indicate. I've acquired a few sets of backs and sides and a couple of soundboards, and all are in their as-delivered condition. Too thick and backs and tops need joining. After the top is joined, and the back as well, they're quite wide.

So...what sort of sander do you run these through in order to thin them down to a workable size, for discussion here, .100", when they're delivered anywhere between .125" and .160"? More than I want for building, at any rate. That sounds like a lot of sanding dust for a random orbital hand sander, or a handheld belt sander, and maintaining thickness with any kind of accuracy just won't happen in amateur hands. I suspect I generated more than a few he-really-didn't-say-that reactions just now, and I apologize for causing heartbeats to skip, but I would like some start-at-the-beginning advice about thinning tonewoods and soundboards in the widths they get joined into.

If anyone can point me to an online tutorial or presentation of some sort, that would be great, too.

Thanks very much.

[ken cierp]

This is the least expensive new store bought tool that can do the job.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=154

[Kevin in California]

Yeah Tony says his sander works pretty good.
I have the Ryobi (no long sold under that name) 16/32 sander that you can still purchase for $700 as the Accura brand (do a google search). It is a copy of the jet basically, probably not quite as well built. I got mine locally used for $150 in awesome condition along with $50 worth of sanding strips. I was lucky. Watch craigs list and you might score one too.

Kevin

[ken cierp]

Ditto Craigs list -- we picked up our dual 37 "SuperMax" for an unbelievable price --- a $7000 unit we otherwise could not afford at the time.

Note sometimes you'll read about how easy it is to hand plane tops, backs and sides to thickness Bull S*** guys/gals that make that statement simply cannot afford a drum sander and the nonsense about hearing the wood -- please!! Even with the proper tools and training I did exactly one set that way -- forget it!! -- I proceded to construct my first drum sander. $.02

[Robert Hosmer]

Peter, as every shop needs a drill press, the rotary planer (Safe-T-Planer) is fantastic for this. But good luck finding one now, and it's apt to be very pricey if you do.
Many have had good results using the same concept as the rotary planer, but substituting a sanding disc for the planer.
This method will work for both backs and sides, but the back plates cannot be joined (unless you happen to have a very deep throat on your drill press).
Even then, after the back plates are joined, you still need a method of finalizing thickness across the new width. This is where a drum sander really shines.

Abrading the wood (sanding) will produce more dust and usually takes longer than cutting, but you don't have to worry about tearout.

You mentioned that you were handy with mechanics-type tools, so you should be able to easily construct a drum sander from simple plans if you can't afford a commercial unit.

Here are some ideas concerning this subject.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=575
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viewtopic.php?f=5&t=414
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=518
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=153
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=581
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=521

[Tim Benware]

I tried hand planing a top ONCE. Good thing I started with it extra thick so I could thickness sand away my mistakes (tear out, gouging, yuck - plane was sharp, I guess it was just me). I know it can be done but if you can afford a thickness sander why would you? Now I use a Safe-T-Planer to get close and the thickness sander to dial it in. I bought a used Performax 16-32 that works like a charm ($300 off Craigslist, the guy had up graded).

[peter havriluk]

Folks,

I am very grateful to everyone who posted advice/experience/information for my benefit. Thanks to all. I've since been grazing around on Craigslist and Ebay, and I'm getting a sense of the market for drum sanders. Looks like I'm looking for a sander open one side, 10/20 and larger.

Thanks again to everyone.