I know I don't participate often, but I thought this might be a good place to come for this. I am looking for a drum sander, or a way to construct one. I need something that is only 3-4 ft wide and has a place for multiple drums 2-3 inches wide. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate the help!

Alyssa

Back to the top, this one was in the wrong category, sorry for the no reply Aly!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

This is a 36" wide one. 48" may be stretching it for a shop made one.

DRUM SANDER

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

What is the purpose for the multiple drums? I could see it if you were to mount different grit paper to each drum and sand a piece of stock through three grits making it a one pass process. It would save a lot of time. Keep in mind the smaller the drum diameter the more heat will build up and not dissipate as fast.

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

Typical of me, I thought Aly was thinking of multiple grits on one drum.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Using several drums, each with a separate grit would surely speed up the process but add to the size, complexity and horsepower required.

I looked at a lot of designs for shop built sanders- some quite elaborate. If you have the resources ($ and facilities) I think building one would be doable.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Sorry about the wrong category, I didn't know how to fix it when it happened.

I actually make shoes and need the multiple drums for different purposes while making a shoe. I work with a very large drum sander every day but it is around 10' wide and is much too large for anything I will want when I have my own shop. I will use multiple grits within just a few minutes and do not want to slow down the process by having to change the sand paper every time I need a new grit

Is there anywhere I can look to find these or directions on how to make one?

Aly, don't sweat it, it was not big deal being in the wrong category. I was more concerned your post was not getting the attention it should.

Are you saying your a shoe maker, for human shoes? And if so, then the drums you need can be exposed, you just need the drums with different grits exposed to finish the shoes? We are not talking about a machine where wood actually gets fed between two tables right?

Aly L said:

Sorry about the wrong category, I didn't know how to fix it when it happened.

I actually make shoes and need the multiple drums for different purposes while making a shoe. I work with a very large drum sander every day but it is around 10' wide and is much too large for anything I will want when I have my own shop. I will use multiple grits within just a few minutes and do not want to slow down the process by having to change the sand paper every time I need a new grit

Is there anywhere I can look to find these or directions on how to make one?

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Yes, I make human shoes .  Nothing gets fed between two tables. Basically I want a machine like the one in this image, but instead of the brushes I want drum sanders with each one being about 2" wide and a proper way to not have dust everywhere. I think they can be exposed if I understand that term correctly. I have even considered using a dremel tool with the sanders they have for it, mainly it is too dusty.

Now that's a horse of a different color (To quote the Great and Powerful Oz). This could be easily made with a motor, a bench mandrel, rubber wheels and some hardware.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Forgot, as for dust collection, Do you have an old range hood? You could set it close to the machine and vent it to the outside or even build a partial enclosure and connect a Shop Vac.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

What your looking for is like this 

or a solid rubber replacement tube from a feeding sander for boards.

You could mount these on a shaft and put 2 different grits on each barrel.

Dust collection is then just a matter of making a sheet metal hood or "scoop" under the wheel to suck up falling dust and dust off the drum.

Have you consulted the great, the wise, the all knowing, omnipotent, omniscient,   the Ayatollah of all-a-knowah - - google?

 

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Rubber-Expanding-Drum-with-Pop-Out-Bushing-6x-2-1-2/201088

You buy belts to go over the wheels and they fit snugly

Thank you everyone for your input. I have some ideas now for what I need to do. Cliff, Google doesn't really like what I do and I don't think it believes shoe making exists, I have tried searching and nothing useful comes up.

People actually MAKE shoes?  REALLY~!!???

I thought they just sort of grew on store shelves.   Ya know the store people sprinkle little gimlets on the empty shelves and in the morning ~ ~ ~ ~