Electrifying a Radius Dish Sander

Paul Montgomery · Post by **Paul Montgomery** » Fri May 13, 2022 1:51 am

This is a luthier tool and I know it’s not for everyone, but I’m thinking that there might be some clever people here who just might find their own use for it.

https://youtu.be/nBMDt84rlCM

Post by **Barry Daniels** » Fri May 13, 2022 10:52 am

I am doubtful that you could power a guitar sized radius dish with an electric drill. Also, that plastic friction disc would not be sufficient for a large spinning dish. I power my radius sander with a 1/3 hp electric motor and the dish runs on a large lazy susan bearing.

Marshall Dixon · Post by **Marshall Dixon** » Fri May 13, 2022 12:36 pm

Here's mine. Like Barry I use a 16" lazy susan bearing. Direct drive like you see used on a carnival ride. The motor is separate, mounted on a hinge and leans against the bottom plate with an 'O' ring on the drive collar that grabs the perimeter. The double thickness dished plate is interchangeable and locks in with center and edge dowels. It stows away nicely which is important in my small workspace.

Bryan Bear · Post by **Bryan Bear** » Fri May 13, 2022 2:34 pm

When my dryer caught fire and needed to be replaced I stole the 1/3 horsepower motor from it to make a motorized dish. I too use lazy susan bearings. I'm not sure if a drill motor would turn a large dish at a fast enough speed. the dryer motor seems be be just enough power, I wouldn't want any less.

Dave Williams · Post by **Dave Williams** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:56 am

Hey Guys, those powered sanding dishes look like the hot setup. My questions:
What is the RPM of the motor along with HP?

How about some detail showing the interface between the motor's shaft and the rim of the dish.
Is anything done to the rim of the dish to help the contact of rotating motor and dish work properly. I imagine there would be some slippage.
Thanks in advance,
Capo Dave

Bob Gramann · Post by **Bob Gramann** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 11:47 am

: 4C164B0D-0B0E-4F1D-93FC-12354177AD13.jpeg (72.37 KiB) Viewed 16902 times

The pulleys are 1.5” and 20”. The motor is 1/6 hp and 1140 rpm. The dish turns at 85 rpm. I don’t think I’d want it to go faster, but this speed seems about right. The dish bearing is a 12” lazy susan bearing. After a year of use, there are many iron filings around it. I think it will be a consumable. The wooden pulley has a groove cut around it’s perimeter to retain the belt.

Dave Williams · Post by **Dave Williams** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:20 pm

Thanks Bob! That's the ticket!

Best,
Capo Dave

Bob Gramann · Post by **Bob Gramann** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:54 pm

My motor is a two speed (1140/1750) salvaged from a washing machine. In this application, I will never use the higher speed.

Marshall Dixon · Post by **Marshall Dixon** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:23 pm

For mine the motor is from an old washing machine; 1/4 horse, 1750 rpm. Mounted in a box with a hinge at the bottom so the bearing shaft leans against the drive plate rim at just the right angle. The weight of the motor provides good traction.

The sanding platform is 24 inches diameter and the edge has been impregnated with epoxy and smoothed over. The motor shaft has two collets locked on with hex nuts with a neoprene O-ring in between that grabs the edge of the drive plate. Travels around 75 rpm without any work pressure on it.

Marshall Dixon · Post by **Marshall Dixon** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:38 pm

Clay Schaeffer · Post by **Clay Schaeffer** » Thu Dec 22, 2022 4:59 pm

I 've made a couple - one from a bowling ball balancer and one from a Bosch mixer. The bowling ball sanding dish runs rather fast and can take off a half inch of material in just a couple of minutes, so a careful light touch is required. The Bosch universal mixer has three speeds and allows the dish to be swapped out quickly.