|
I recently needed a strip sander for a
small project I was working on.
I never needed one prior to this and wasn’t sure of how
much I’d need one once I completed the project.
After pricing 1” and 2” models from Craftsman and
Delta, I decided to build one.
(I’m not cheap, just frugal . . . and always on the lookout
for a project that will challenge my problem-solving skills.
This is the fifth shop made jig I’ve built.)
I purchased a package of 1” x 42”
belts from Sears, two pieces of redwood lumber from Home Depot and a
few nuts and bolts from my local Ace Hardware.
All other parts came from my scrap/spare parts bins.
|
Strip Sander Image 1
(Click
images for a larger view)
|
My Shopsmith powers the strip sander.
I fastened a piece of timber to a 3-3/4” faceplate and
turned a capstan with a 1” recessed groove to accommodate the
belt. I stretched two
rubber bands around the recess to provide extra traction for the
belt.
To ensure the belt always had
adequate tension, I attached a pivot arm to a vertical support with
springs.
|
Strip Sander Image 2
|
I also turned an idler pulley with a 1”
recessed groove. This pulley
has a length of ¼” O.D. high-speed steel as an axis.
This shaft rotates inside of two ¼” I.D. copper sleeves, which
are held in place by two setscrews. The
high-speed steel shaft was reduced slightly (using sandpaper) to ensure it
wouldn’t bind or create excessive heat inside the copper sleeves.
|
Strip
Sander Image 3
|
The strip sander works great and only
cost about $17 (and I have some redwood left over for my next
project!)
| 
