I have seen very little about this use for the wood-lathe, and would like to recommend it. It is a simple matter to true up a 12″ plywood disc screwed to a face plate and apply self adhesive abrasive. With this I use a table made from a laminate surfaced sink cut-out mounted on two upright 2″x8″ pieces each with a carefully fitted extension to go between the ways on the lathe. The table should lie at or about the height of the center of rotation. It takes a hard knock with a mallet to seat the table between the ways. One could cut a channel for a miter-guage. One could probably obtain a cast metal sanding plate and have it tapped to fit the nose thread of the lathe. I think that ready made disc sanders run too fast and one is at risk for burning the work piece, whereas with the lathe one can select an optimal speed.
TDom
Replies
I've seen that setup mentioned in FWW. Don't remember what the verdict was, but it makes sense to me. I'd use MDF instead of ply, but that may just be the neuroses talking. If your lathe faceplate isn't perfectly perpendicular to the axis, you might want to shim or something to make sure your sanding pad is perpendicular.
The downside is when you want to be able to move back and forth quickly between turning and sanding, you'd always be tearing down and setting up.
This ois not uncommon in the UK on lathes which have an outboard bowl-turning plate
Scrit
I agree, scrit-- common in the UK, but I never did see anyone in the US set up anything like it on their lathe during the ten years I lived there. A disk of ply and a bit of spray mounted paper or PSA abrasive paper and Bob's yer Uncle. Slainte.Website
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