Build your own tools?

[AGAVE]

I wanted to purchase a nice horizontal drum sander until i saw the price$$$ of them. :shock:
So i decided to build the machine myself and save 1000$.
I try to keep my budget to 0$ just to prove it can be done, but i went all out this time and spent 50$ so far.
(weed not included)

My neighbour has a floor sanding machine with a drum that was a bit beat up, he was gonna toss it, that was the most important part to find, so i grabbed it and the project was underway!
Had to spent 20$ at a machine shop to have a 1" hole reamed through the drum and pulley, spent another 20$ for a shaft and 10$ more for a new spool of welding wire.

Here's part 1, got most of the thing together, needs final welding, some sheet metal, maybe wheels too.

[video=youtube;cgVp1NDSTy4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgVp1NDSTy4&context=C3ba8733ADOEgsToPDskIsGSASJq9aZWC7ZCqpmCSM[/video]

 

[ReaImDown]

... but i went all out this time and spent 50$ so far.
(weed not included)

I hope you're not like me... $50 on parts, $2000 on weed - 3 months and you have a lot of ash and a $50 receipt for only god knows what... **Buy more weed**

Haha

Show pics when it's finally done!



- Randy

 

[crankcall]

I have a whole book here on building your own stationary machinery, saws, spindle shapers, sanders. And another book on building and modifying hand tools , planes, scribes and fixtures.
Its easier and less expensive than you'd think. I've been a closet woodworker my whole life.

Good or bad, the Chinese killed an industry overnite with small woodworking machinery. I'm a consultant for a manufacturer that builds affordable, reasonable tools in China for the NA market. I love using handmade fine tools, but a 10" sliding compound saw for $189? hard not to own 2 or 3.

 

[Paulhv1]

Good or bad, the Chinese killed an industry overnite with small woodworking machinery. I'm a consultant for a manufacturer that builds affordable, reasonable tools in China for the NA market. I love using handmade fine tools, but a 10" sliding compound saw for $189? hard not to own 2 or 3.

China has killed many industries here not to mention the skills and manufacturing techniques we taught them.

 

[fusion]

Nice job, fun to build something yourself and save money.

 

[JZ67]

In China, they would replicate your tool and use it at will. In Ontario, the Ministry of Labour would shut that **** down. Nice work though, look forward to the video of it sanding something, the dust is gonna fly.

 

[AGAVE]

I've got it pretty much finished, just needs the frame painted, i'm waiting for a warmer day so i can do it outside.
After a couple rounds of development testing, i've implemented some safety barriers, just in case someone from Ontario wants to try it.
I made sure i closed in the drum area as tight as possible, so far the dust collection has been working well.

I'll take a video when it's done.