Tip #6
Drum Sanding (continued)
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Surface Sanding

Figure 18-7. You can do surface sanding by passing the stock between the drum and the table. Keep the stock moving and don't try to remove too much material in a single pass.

Surface sanding is done with the Mark V set in the horizontal position. Place the stock at the edge of the table; then position and raise the table so the stock just touches the abrasive sleeve. Remove the stock and turn on the motor; then feed the stock, between the drum and table, against the drum's direction of rotation. This means standing behind the Mark V and moving the stock toward the speed dial side of the power plant (Figure 18-7). Warning: Do not stand directly in line with the stock.

Figure 18-8. One way to surface sand wide stock. After making the first pass, turn the stock end-for-end and make a second pass.

Stock that is wider than the drum can handle in a single pass can be sanded by making additional passes. An example procedure, with the fence used as a guide, is shown in Figure 18-8. Assuming that the width of the stock is less than twice the length of the drum, set the fence to accommodate the width of the stock and make one pass with the stock riding against the fence. Then, after turning the stock end-for-end, make a second pass.

Surfacing Thin Slats

Figure 18-9. This is about the only way you cna surface sand thin slats so all will be of equal thickness throughout their lengths.

Surface sanding thin material can be difficult to do, especially if you want the slats to have a uniform thickness. As long as the slats are not wider than 2-1/2", the work can be done accurately and efficiently by using the setup shown in Figure 18-9. Position the fence so the drum will bear lightly against the slat. The slats are fed in at the rear and pulled out at the front of the machine. Be sure to keep them moving. Any hesitation will cause the drum to form an indentation.

Making a Drum for Thickness Sanding

Figure 18-10. You can make a drum sander that can be mounted between the lathe centers and used, as shown here, for thickness sanding. Here, even more than on other operations, the pressure against the drum must be very light.

A drum sander you can make, and which is used with the Mark V in the lathe mode, is shown in Figure 18-10. The drum affords several advantages: It can surface sand material more than 12" wide; the large table surface provides excellent support for the workpiece; and if the drum is accurately made and the table's alignment is correct, the material will be sanded to a uniform thickness.

Use a hardwood like maple or birch. Construction details of the drum sander are shown in Figure 18-11.

Figure 18-11. Construction details of a special drum sander. Click image to see larger view.

Don't use excessive speeds, feed too fast, or try to take too deep a bite. Light passes will do a much better job than a single heavy one. Warning: If you try to remove more than 1/64" of material at once, you might cause the drum to be thrown from its mounting or the stock to be pulled from your hand and thrown.

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