Intarsia-sized sanding station

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Walney Col

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The missus bought a new fan for the living room the other day leaving the old floor-standing 3 speed fan just begging for a new use. So I've come up with a tentative design for a tiny sanding station with a 75mm disc, a 10mm belt, and a 50mm dome mop. I've got most of the parts already cut but thought I'd ask for suggestions on ways to improve it from scrollers who regularly do a lot of sanding on their work. Can anyone think of any more useful ideas I could substitute for what I've already come up with?

Tiny Triple Sander 1.jpg

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Tiny Triple Sander 3.jpg


The sketchup file can be downloaded by anyone who wants it but be aware that the final design may well change. :) Just search the 3D warehouse for "Tiny Triple Sanding Station".

Col.
 

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It might work alright but im just wondering if the 60 watt motor you are using will be a bit underpowered?
I've got a Clarke belt and disk sander and the motor is 370 watts.
 
I think that you will find that Roughcut is correct, these little motors have very little torque.

Sorry to put a downer on your idea.

Take care.

Chris R.
 
Whether it's underpowered or not depends on what it's intended to do. Intarsia is typically made up from pieces of wood the size of your thumb (or even a good deal smaller) and trying to sand those on a regular machine is far too nimble-fingered a job for me. I got the missus to take a couple of minutes worth of video of me using the motor to spin a couple of rough cut laminated MDF discs while I trued them up to make the sanding disc. And from having done that I'm pretty sure it's not going to be terribly underpowered bearing in mind I've sanding most of my parts with nail files up to press. :)

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[youtube]i6TeTR66RzA[/youtube]

Col.
 

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Looks very impressive and well thought out

I cut a lot of Intarsia/Segmentation and have a Belt and Disk Sander but find a Dremel with sandling bands is the tool I use most of all,followed by a B&D Drum sander.

The Belt /disk sander is mainly used in prep work

John
 
Thanks for the comments John.

I don't have a lot of strength in my hands nowadays and unless my arms are resting on something I often shake so bad it's not safe for me to use a dremel on small pieces. I really wanted to try using the fan's oscillation mechanism to make a 6mm diameter spindle sander, but unfortunately the broken oscillating mechanism is how come I got the fan in the first place. It'd be very easy to implement though if anyone has a fan motor and cares to try it.

Col.
 
I am just starting on intarsia and have no space at all for more machines. Something small like this Col would be ideal. Can you show us more of the final machine in action?

John do you use dremel`s standard sanding bands? I love using my dremel, I just get frustrated that the heads are so small and it can't take wider shafted heads. I have some bigger sanding bands from Axminster that in my 1 and only intarsia piece so far have come in handy but I a have to use these on my standard drill for the larger chuck.
 
Col.
When I referred to your motor not having enough torque, I did not realise that the Intarsia pieces were so small/delicate, not ever having tried Intarsia work.

Just one thing to watch for, is that you don’t force the motor beyond its rated slip.
When an induction motor is running, torque is produced, by the difference between the speed of the rotating magnetic field in the stator and the inducted magnetic field in the rotor,(motor slip), most standard motors reach there optimum torque at 2 to 3 % slip.

This would have been the case in its original use driving a fan, assuming the manufacturer matched fan size to motor power.

You will know if you are exceeding the motor slip, this is when the motor rpm slows and starts losing most of its torque, plus the motor will over heat.

I apologise if you already know this, but it may be of interest/help to others.

Take care.

Chris R.
 
Hi Stooby,
I use both sizes of bands and both grades ( when I can get them) but I also occasionally use cheap nail files about 30 for 99p from 99p shop just to touch up.To take more off a dremel cutter is handy. I recently saw on Utube a larger(longer ) shafted Dremel sander . It looked good!

The sanding drum is a must for the bigger pieces and can be very accurate, I think I paid £7 from Amazon and got loads of spare belts at Toolstation,s bargain shop
 
Hey Col.
I admire your attitude and determination to get a project done and it reminds me of someone I know, who is much the same as you.
You will no doubt succeed with this and I wish you well.
I look forward to updates on this project from you. =D>
 
Thanks for the comments Scrollerman.

I've made a little bit of progress over the last couple of days. The disc sander part of it in fully functional and already had quite a bit of use. As regards to it being under-powered I'd say 60W is about the least you can get away with... it would have been nice to have another 60W in reserve but for what it's intended for it's adequate if not sensational. :)

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The short video shows it in action...
[youtube]LroEujFu8C4[/youtube]

Col
 

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Hi Col,
Just watched your latest video and am very impressed with the way your idea is progressing so give yourself a pat on the back from me !

Have you considered (with your experimental skills), of making a 'pin router' for rounding over the intarsia parts ?

Here's a link to maybe whet your appetite !

http://intarsia.hostcentric.com/e-book/pinrout.htm

Once again, please keep us informed of your progress as it makes for an interesting thread.

Scrollerman
 
Scrollerman":1jnyolf5 said:
Have you considered (with your experimental skills), of making a 'pin router' for rounding over the intarsia parts ?

No but having seen the size of the bits in your link I wouldn't mind a go. Do you have any idea where you can get those 1/8th and 3/16th point cutting router bits? I've never even seen one that small, the smallest I've ever found is about 3/8th.

Col.
 
Walney Col":ioac8rzm said:
Scrollerman":ioac8rzm said:
Have you considered (with your experimental skills), of making a 'pin router' for rounding over the intarsia parts ?

No but having seen the size of the bits in your link I wouldn't mind a go. Do you have any idea where you can get those 1/8th and 3/16th point cutting router bits? I've never even seen one that small, the smallest I've ever found is about 3/8th.

Col.

As I'm not into Intarsia I can only do a basic search of the net and came up with this :

http://www.axminster.co.uk/miniature-hss-router-bits

Just search for 'Mini Router Bits' for many more.
 
Scrollerman":3ij6i4jt said:
As I'm not into Intarsia I can only do a basic search of the net and came up with this :

http://www.axminster.co.uk/miniature-hss-router-bits

Just search for 'Mini Router Bits' for many more.
Thanks for that. They're the bog standard dremel-style bits I use with my miniture pantorouter which don't include a point cutting beading bit.

Col.
 
Walney Col":2miypj1d said:
Scrollerman":2miypj1d said:
As I'm not into Intarsia I can only do a basic search of the net and came up with this :

http://www.axminster.co.uk/miniature-hss-router-bits

Just search for 'Mini Router Bits' for many more.
Thanks for that. They're the bog standard dremel-style bits I use with my miniture pantorouter which don't include a point cutting beading bit.

Col.

Hi Col. As a fan of your disc sanding project, please tell me your ' Miniture Pantorouter' is home made and if so, would love to see it ?
 
Scrollerman":1ge9nuok said:
Hi Col. As a fan of your disc sanding project, please tell me your ' Miniture Pantorouter' is home made and if so, would love to see it ?

:lol: Yes, it's home made.

I don't have any photos or video but I've nothing to do till I get a new saw so I'll see what I can knock up for you.

Here's a sketchup image to whet your appetite.

3D Router Pantograph.jpg


Col.
 

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