Delta/Rockwell 12" disc sander pickup

[GLaD in TX]

Just got this sander from an older gentleman. He was moving to a smaller home and was liquidating his tools. This was one of the last remaining. Couldn't pass it up for $60. Needs a good cleaning and maybe breakdown and restoration if I am up to the task. No rust, the discoloration under the table (which tilts) is all sand dust. The disc shroud seems to be off somewhat, not sure what that could be. The motor is 3/4hp which I think will be plenty for my use of some metal grinding and general wood work. When I turn off the motor it takes the disc forever to come to a complete stop. Other disc sanders I have seen have the original Rockwell 1 hp motor. This must of been replaced at one time. The open stand looks appropriate. Others I see are sitting on an enclosed steel box for this particular era. Serial number dates this to early 70s. This machine compliments my 70's Delta Band saw and 40's WT drill press. Any comments would be appreciated on what I just picked up. I may be back to ask questions if and when I tear it down.

 

[steel 35]

I like thouse leg’s

 

[larry4406]

I like thouse leg’s

Agreed.

$60 seems like a great deal. Did it include the miter slide?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I made my own 12" disc grinder. It started off a a shop class project and I finished it 5 decades later.

 

[Nutria]

That is a great pickup. Sometimes people talk about a long spin down time being a good thing, and it can be, but more often I think it's due to dry bearings that could use replacement, or at least a re-lube. You might want to get in there, remove the bearings, and see if they are dry and a little crunchy. It's hard to tell without getting them off the shaft.

 

[acer66]

Nice find, my old delta bandsaw has the same nice stand.

 

[PCustoms]

I'd jump at that at $200 all day, $60 is a screaming deal.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Thanks for the comments. No miter gauge. Nor the highly desirable dust chute. The shroud seems to be off alignment with the rotating disc. Is that a concern or is it bent? Won't know what is going on until I tear into it.

 

[Nutria]

The shroud seems to be off alignment with the rotating disc. Is that a concern or is it bent?

On the later sanders, like yours, there should be a pair of adjustment screws on each side, in addition to the screws that are doing the main job of securing the shroud to the base. That pair of screws can be used in opposition to provide some adjustability. See page three of attached manual.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Awesome thanks will check the manual. Wow the 1st page with the picture shows my sander with the box it sits on and the open stand. My switch is different. So must be the way it came when it was bought new. And sure would be nice to get those wheels that you can engage when needed.

 

[Nutria]

And sure would be nice to get those wheels that you can engage when needed.

I have those retractable casters on several of my Delta machines. The casters are kinda neat, and you'd think that they would be ideal. But they need a good bit of clearance to roll when retracted, and they hang up on my uneven floor. If your floor is good and flat, they would probably work great.

Retractable caster sets come up with some regularity over at owwm.org. If you find a set with axles that are too long, you can always cut them shorter and cross-drill the axle for a new roll pin location.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Ok great to know that. Thanks.

 

[Straightgrain]

Mine dates to 1970 and has the original 3/4 HP Delta motor. I had to put rubber pads on the bottom of the cabinet to keep it from "walking" when it was running. As you mentioned, it runs for a good while after shutting it down.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Good looking disc sander and you have the enclosed stand, which I like. I have the box that sits on the stand. Surprised that Delta produced them with an enclosed or open stand. Must of been for different applications.

 

[Nutria]

In my experience the enclosed stands are noisy due to resonance, but do a great job of keeping sawdust out of the motor (if it's one of the old belt-driven ones like mine). Open stands seem to be quieter, but the motor can load up with junk. That's not relevant in your case, as yours is direct drive. I don't know why there would have been an enclosed stand on a direct drive sander.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Yes doesn't make sense to have an enclosed stand for the direct drive sander, but does look nice. I'll keep it the way it is and get one of those aftermarket dust chutes on ebay when I'm ready to do some sanding and send the dust to some type of collection box.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Yes doesn't make sense to have an enclosed stand for the direct drive sander, but does look nice. I'll keep it the way it is and get one of those aftermarket dust chutes on ebay when I'm ready to do some sanding and send the dust to some type of collection box.

Bad pic.

 

[454ragtop]

Nice sander. I have one as well, I added a drum switch to reverse the motor, comes in handy being able to work on either side of the table.

 

[GLaD in TX]

Interesting. Send a pic of your setup.

 

[454ragtop]

Here you go, just a simple bracket off the junction box on the motor. Throw the lever to the right, use the right side of the table, to the left, use the left side.

 

[AndyMB]

I have a Delta/Rockwell 12" disc & 6" belt sander combo. I purchased a 3D printed dust port (shown by GLaD in TX above) since it did not have the parts for dust collection when I purchased it from the previous owner. Apparently, it was never installed since the cabinet knock-out was still intact, which I've removed. I've attached a piece of 4" dust hose to the dust port that'll run to the knock-out opening, but I now need a thru-connector on the cabinet to connect to my dust collector.
Any suggestions?? The actual knockout opening is 3 7/8".
Thanks~!

 

[toolmiser]

We had a rule in college that you couldn't leave a tool until it was completely stopped. Everyone would slow the sander down with a piece of scrap wood. But don't let the instructor see that.

 

[jmarkwolf]

I have the 1945 version of that disc sander (pics below) that Inherited it from my dad. It was one of my earliest memories of his shop.

The motor used to take about 3mins to spool down. I thought it was just the inertia of the heavy 12in platter. I recently restored the sander with new bearings, wiring work, and paint, etc. It now takes about 1min to spool down.

 

[Camshaft]

I have the 1945 version of that disc sander (pics below) that Inherited it from my dad. It was one of my earliest memories of his shop.

The motor used to take about 3mins to spool down. I thought it was just the inertia of the heavy 12in platter. I recently restored the sander with new bearings, wiring work, and paint, etc. It now takes about 1min to spool down.

 

[Camshaft]

Hey markwolf...

I have a sander that looks very similar to yours. Wondering if I can pick your brains about the motor?

Chuck

 

[crguy]

That is a great pickup. Sometimes people talk about a long spin down time being a good thing, and it can be, but more often I think it's due to dry bearings that could use replacement, or at least a re-lube. You might want to get in there, remove the bearings, and see if they are dry and a little crunchy. It's hard to tell without getting them off the shaft.

Dry, crunch bearings would stop sooner, not later.

 

[Nutria]

Dry, crunch bearings would stop sooner, not later.

The motor used to take about 3mins to spool down. I thought it was just the inertia of the heavy 12in platter. I recently restored the sander with new bearings, wiring work, and paint, etc. It now takes about 1min to spool down.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Hey markwolf...

I have a sander that looks very similar to yours. Wondering if I can pick your brains about the motor?

Chuck

Sure, PM me.

 

[shoot summ]

I know this is an older thread, I am restoring a late 50's version of the same sander. It is a pretty simple machine. The comment I have on the OP's machine and the comment about the shroud being off. That sander has a replacement motor on it, it takes some effort to get them to line up like the factory motor. I am dealing with that on mine, it has an old GE motor with 3/4" shaft that needs spacers to get the shaft in the horizontal center of the opening. I think mine might have been 3 phase originally as the second owner brought it home from his work at an industrial facility.

 

[toolmiser]

I saw this post and I just about posted the same response as I did two years ago.