Disc Sander

[Deltarat]

I was thinking of building a disk sander for grinding and shaping metal. I wanted to build a belt sander, but the parts and fairly expensive to build. The disk seems pretty simple. I have not priced the parts yet.
Would a disk be as useful as a belt. Will it do heavy grinding, such as shaping a piece of 1/4" steel?

 

[rwhite692]

Re: Disk Sander

Many years ago, my dad made one (disc sander) using a motor from a discarded radial arm saw, he mounted a 12" disc to that thing, and made a stand for it...man, I wish I still had it. That thing could remove metal in a hurry.

These days, it is really hard to beat some of the commercially available units.

Enco has a belt/disc combo unit that goes on sale frequently for around $400 and it is a decent unit.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

Re: Disk Sander

Somewhere I've seen plans for a no-weld grinder, online.
Actually, I just googled and this is what I was thinking of: http://www.usaknifemaker.com/grinders-sanders-all-kinds-no-weld-grinder-plans-parts-c-99_59.html

But as you said, they are (IMO) ridiculously expensive. To answer the question of whether a disc sander will shape metal, I know I've seen them in metal shops all over. That is, the industrial duty ones with HD Baldor motors. Not sure what type of abrasive you'd use. I currently use 50 grit on my 6" disc, IIRC.

 

[lilredex]

Re: Disk Sander

Here are a few ideas...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Belt-Sander-Stand/

More elaborate models here, but could be simplified:

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=23230&page=3

Google "bill pace sander" and "disc sander" for more info..........Google is your friend.

 

[atotalnincompoop]

Re: Disk Sander

i was researching this a while ago, but haven't built one yet....a lot of guys use the 12" disc from a shopsmith to make these. they are always on ebay for $10-$20

 

[1948]

Re: Disk Sander

i will say this, you want one with a nice n heavy steel disc for the paper to go on. the reason for that is you want something that will keep momentum up when you are grinding something heavy like steel. that youtube video shows a guy sanding wood, and im sure it does fine for that. but you want something with some balls behind it.

 

[JamieK]

Re: Disk Sander

harbor Freight has them from $50 - $200. The $200 looked pretty beefy, and its a belt and disc sander.

 

[Chaz]

Re: Disk Sander

I couldn't survive without a disc sander for shaping metal... I use a super coarse disc. Cuts like butter!

 

[jcp907]

Re: Disk Sander

harbor Freight has them from $50 - $200. The $200 looked pretty beefy, and its a belt and disc sander.

My neighbor bought the $200 version pictured. He needs to push start it to get it spinning after the 2nd week of ownership. Probably just a bad cap in the motor, but, it might be indicative of the overall quality.

 

[lilredex]

Re: Disk Sander

Don't forget about this gem, that appeared on the sister site, previously.





That will be one of my next projects.

My current disc sander is an 8 1/2" Homecraft that I put on a stand. OK, but could be better.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Re: Disk Sander

I bought one of these from HF and it's a pretty nice piece. They have them on sale for $99 occasionally.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-direct-drive-bench-top-disc-sander-43468.html

 

[Chaz]

Re: Disk Sander

Mine is a Delta Sanding Center with both the 12 inch disc and a 6 inch belt. Its a woodworking tool, but as I made a transition from woodwork to metalwork it transitioned too! It gets the **** used out of it and hasn't given so much as a whimper. Kinda pricey though if I remember correctly.

 

[MatthewM]

Re: Disk Sander

I bought one of these from HF and it's a pretty nice piece. They have them on sale for $99 occasionally.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-direct-drive-bench-top-disc-sander-43468.html

I own the same model and use it all the time. You don't by any means have to baby it, but you can bog the motor down if you try hard enough. Get good quality coarse grade discs if you are working with metal.

 

[ddawg16]

Re: Disk Sander

It's hard to justify your time to build something like that when there are pretty cheap ones out there....the time and labor necessary to just build a stand and foot that is scuare to the disk would be more than what one new from HF costs....

I keep watching CL for that off deal that will someday pop up....

Like the day I bought a drywall lift for $125....it's the HF model...but it was in great shape....

edit.....

Like this one....

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/tls/2874477880.html

 

[bad_idea]

Re: Disk Sander

I prefer a disc sander over a belt sander for shaping steel. We have a combo unit at work and I just about exclusively use the disc sander. I have an old motor laying around waiting for me to make a disc sander. One of these days...

 

[Keep]

I went through way to many sanders trying to "save some cash" In the end I spent twice as much as I if I would have just bought the proper tool in the first place.

I started with a 4x36 8 inch disc sander. Stalled with anything over 1/8 inch

Then I went to a Grizzly 1x42, 8 inch disc. Out of the box the 1/3 hp motor stalled with any pressure at all, I replaced it with a 1 HP motor and it worked better, but still sucked.

Then I picked up a 12 inch 1hp disc sander, works great for straight pieces, but any sort of detail work and it blows.

Then I finally tracked down a 2x72 belt grinder from a local machine shop that was closing its doors. This thing is a beast and does anything I ask of it.
Cost me $180.

Spend the money right the first time. Luckily I have recovered most of the other purchases by reselling them on kijiji, but I am still stuck with the 1x42 Grizzly, it has been re-purposed to the wood shop.

 

[Deltarat]

Re: Disk Sander

I bought one of these from HF and it's a pretty nice piece. They have them on sale for $99 occasionally.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-direct-drive-bench-top-disc-sander-43468.html

Do you use it for shaping steel?

 

[jwith68]

Re: Disk Sander

I bought one of these from HF and it's a pretty nice piece. They have them on sale for $99 occasionally.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-direct-drive-bench-top-disc-sander-43468.html

I agree! I have one that I picked up used for $50, in like new condition. Mine gets used pretty much exclusively for metal work, and it wears 50 or 60 grit disks all the time. Works great for truing cuts or shaping, but as Keep notes, inside contours are not really doable on it. Would be nice to have a belt machine as well, but I would not give up my disc.

 

[mgilde13]

I don't know where he got it, but a buddy of mine has a disc that he puts in his tablesaw. It's either a 10 or a 12 inch disc and it's a direct swap from the saw blade. Works pretty slick.

As for me, I picked up a brand new Wen belt and disc sander on sale for $50. The unit works flawlessly once you swap out the junk abrasives that it comes with. My uncle sold me on it when he said that they have one at the Twin Cities Harley shop and that it's used all the time by a dozen or so Techs it's been there for at least 6-7 years.

http://www.denverpower.net/WEN_6501_BELT_DISC_SANDER_p/6501.htm

 

[Keep]

I don't know where he got it, but a buddy of mine has a disc that he puts in his tablesaw. It's either a 10 or a 12 inch disc and it's a direct swap from the saw blade. Works pretty slick.

These work okay, BUT sawdust and sparks do not mix. If you go this way you must ensure the saw is clean of saw dust.

And you can pick those up at about any wood working shop.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Re: Disk Sander

Do you use it for shaping steel?

That's what I used it for when I got it but since I have built a 2" x 72" with a 1 1/2 hp motor and that I what I use mostly now. I still use the disc for flattening larger surface areas.

 

[Jim Stabe]

I went through way to many sanders trying to "save some cash" In the end I spent twice as much as I if I would have just bought the proper tool in the first place.

I started with a 4x36 8 inch disc sander. Stalled with anything over 1/8 inch

Then I went to a Grizzly 1x42, 8 inch disc. Out of the box the 1/3 hp motor stalled with any pressure at all, I replaced it with a 1 HP motor and it worked better, but still sucked.

Then I picked up a 12 inch 1hp disc sander, works great for straight pieces, but any sort of detail work and it blows.

Then I finally tracked down a 2x72 belt grinder from a local machine shop that was closing its doors. This thing is a beast and does anything I ask of it.
Cost me $180.

Spend the money right the first time. Luckily I have recovered most of the other purchases by reselling them on kijiji, but I am still stuck with the 1x42 Grizzly, it has been re-purposed to the wood shop.

You stole that thing, nice find.

 

[ddawg16]

You guys are trouble......

I posted a response....and included a link to a disc sander on CL.....

Then after the post I looked at some of the other offerings......guy was selling the HF model....6" disc with 36" belt....$40....and he was close....

I bought it....nice guy....AF dude....getting out for medical reasons....moving out of state and needs to lighten up the 'load'....

 

[Jack Olsen]

Now I'm looking for one, too.

 

[BD1]

Here's my POWERMATIC 6"x48" belt with 12" disc. Bought the belts at Harbor freight on sale and they lasted as long as the big buck ones. Awesome machine. I use it mainly for metal and cannot believe how well it does to square up a cut. Wish I would have bought it years ago.

 

[lilredex]

If anyone is interested in building something basic such as this:





PAL has a 1HP motor on sale ($15) starting next Tuesday. It appears to be reversible also, as the leads to the start winding come outside, to that switch on the end. It looks like they ship to the U.S. .............if you check their shipping quotes.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8300881/Ac-Motors/1-HP-Treadmill-Motor

 

[Keep]

You stole that thing, nice find.

Yeah I know!!

You guys are trouble......

I posted a response....and included a link to a disc sander on CL.....

Then after the post I looked at some of the other offerings......guy was selling the HF model....6" disc with 36" belt....$40....and he was close....

I bought it....nice guy....AF dude....getting out for medical reasons....moving out of state and needs to lighten up the 'load'....

hahaha yeah this place is pretty bad for things like this.

 

[muibubbles]

Re: Disk Sander

harbor Freight has them from $50 - $200. The $200 looked pretty beefy, and its a belt and disc sander.

My neighbor bought the $200 version pictured. He needs to push start it to get it spinning after the 2nd week of ownership. Probably just a bad cap in the motor, but, it might be indicative of the overall quality.

i have this one.. got it off CL for like 50 bucks brand new. it is definitely beefy as hell. very heavy, works AWESOME, i have yet to have any complaints.

ps i dont use the stand it comes with

 

[steel 35]

Here's my POWERMATIC 6"x48" belt with 12" disc. Bought the belts at Harbor freight on sale and they lasted as long as the big buck ones. Awesome machine. I use it mainly for metal and cannot believe how well it does to square up a cut. Wish I would have bought it years ago.

Mine spits the HF belts out faster then I can put them on, the end joints were not smooth; the disks work great and 1/4" is easy trimming......

 

[BD1]

Mine spits the HF belts out faster then I can put them on, the end joints were not smooth; the disks work great and 1/4" is easy trimming......

Not being a smart as@ , but there are arrows for direction of rotation on the ones I bought. I purchased two five packs of 80 grit and the numbers on the belts themselves are both different. The wrappers says Lifetime Carbide, 80 grit,Aluminum oxide,cloth backed, and a HF number 34513. Who knows, HF stores may vary what brand or type they sell. Sorry yours are not working. The belt number A 80 grit KX 167 is the current one in use. The other pack is P 80 grit GXK 51 . GO figure ??? Maybe HF screwed up and got good ones by mistake. I never thought to look at belt markings. Curious to know what kind of numbers are on yours. My store is in Wisconsin if that matters.

 

[steel 35]

Not being a smart as@ , but there are arrows for direction of rotation on the ones I bought. I purchased two five packs of 80 grit and the numbers on the belts themselves are both different. The wrappers says Lifetime Carbide, 80 grit,Aluminum oxide,cloth backed, and a HF number 34513. Who knows, HF stores may vary what brand or type they sell. Sorry yours are not working. The belt number A 80 grit KX 167 is the current one in use. The other pack is P 80 grit GXK 51 . GO figure ??? Maybe HF screwed up and got good ones by mistake. I never thought to look at belt markings. Curious to know what kind of numbers are on yours. My store is in Wisconsin if that matters.

I used two THIRANI FLEXO E120 RGR ALOXIDE F11L and the seams popped within three revolutions with light application of steel (Installed Correctly) Have another pack of 80s unopened seams look worse D11G Just hope too find the reciept someday..... I will keep checking them instead of totally giving up. Thanks; From the other coast

 

[BWS]

1910 American Sawmill 16" drum/20" disc....with retrofitted pump sleeves on pulley side(opposite disc)....bought for beer money.Only problem was/is moving the beast.....as for performance,you can take a pce of 3" tubing and ram that mofo into disc as hard as you want.....it'll peel it off in a solid stream of molten steel.

We don't have the drum hooked up....just because....well,it needs a balance job and I haven't gotten 'round to(lazy) building the fixture and assoc. eng.And admitted'ly this was originally more of a wood sanding part of the design.Its use on metal would be for putting "brushed" finishes on,stainless for instance.Our shop profile is leaned twds paint(all more dirt kick'n excuses)so drum would see limited usage.


Moral of the story....keep an eye out for some of these oldies.Be open to some obscure labels......Collectors?Like certain brands,fine they can have them.Got cheap?Maybe broken?BW

 

[mytoolsupplies]

Hi this is my first post and i am in Australia ,I was a sheep shearer and we used to sharpen our tools on a comb and cutter grinder which was a 2 hp electric motor with a through shaft of 1 inch with a left and right hand threads that held either a 10 or 12 inch flat disc .
These discs had a face plate that was used to clamp the grinding paper to the disc with a water based glue.One of these would do you perfectly as you could use one end for the disc and then manufacture a system to run a belt

 

[dragginbalz]

Re: Disk Sander

harbor Freight has them from $50 - $200. The $200 looked pretty beefy, and its a belt and disc sander.

I have this model and I was very disappointed for use on metal. It works ok on sheet metal, but if you are trying to shape 1/8"-1/4" brackets it does not have enough power. You can stop the belt with little effort.

I purchases a muli-tool (Bluepoint) and a JET bench grinder. Although a bit smaller, it works MUCH better for metal working. The disc is very small though.

 

[Deltarat]

You guys that have the HF machine, is the power the only problem with it? If the 1 hp motor is too small, could you just install a bigger motor and make it a good grinder? If I could find a deal on one, I have a 5hp motor on my compressor that really needs a higher amp motor. I could replace the compressor motor and use the smaller 5 hp on the grinder. Going from 1-5 hp should give it plenty of power.If i was going to build a disk grinder, I would use that motor anyway.