Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Band saw or sander
Robert Cox
>I have a cruddy little table saw and 2 very nice sleds that were given to me.
I want to try segmented turning soon and I have enough left in my Christmas budget for either a small band saw (9") or a disc/belt sander.
Which one is more important?
you already have a sander
Mike Schwing from Md.
>I haven't done this but there are lots of products that turn the table saw into a disc sander by simply replacing the blade with a disc that has sandpaper mounted on it. I'd imagine it is just the kind of thing you might want for segmented turning, but not having done any, others' advice will carry more weight.
For me, between the two, the bandsaw is more valuable. I don't have such a sander.
Re: Band saw or sander
Andy in Raleigh
>Very few people are happy with the small bandsaws; they are outgrown rather quickly. I would go with the belt sander. Throwing you a curve ball - do you have a drill press? I have used a small disc sander attachment and a tilted DP table to get precision angles sanded on really small pieces.
Re: Band saw or sander
Robert Cox
>Hmmm, I could combine the 2. Get the sander saw thingie and a Drill Press.
Mike knows I hate it when people make me think!
Re: Band saw or sander
Stuart Johnson
>I would go with a 12" disk sander. When doing segmented stuff I only use my bandsaw to rough out a glue block or the bottom disk. The sander is used for turing up segments and other minor adjustments.
Re: Band saw or sander
Andy in Raleigh
>If you don't have a DP, then by all means get one as a next purchase (IMO, YMMV). You will be surprised how often you will use it and wonder how you ever did without one.
Re: Band saw or sander
JamieDonaldson
>I would vote for the band saw- nothing under 14" wheels and min. 1 hp. You can make a very nice sander by mounting a faceplate/MDF disc with sandpaper glued on and a table mounted on the lathe bed ways. Mine even has variable speeds, and I don't own a belt sander.
Re: Band saw or sander *LINK*
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>Robert,
The question here is, what is your objective:
1) Do segmented turning?
2) Get another tool"?
If it is #2, then it is your choice. But I have had a 9" bandsaw, and though not a total waste, it was damned close. I currently have Delta 6"disk & 4"x36" belt that I like very much, though I admit it is not a professional setup.
If the answer it #1, there is no absolute need for BS, Sander (though nice) or Drill press to do segmented work. If you want to do segmented turning, and you have a TS and have or can make sleds, here is what I would suggest for tools. 1) Buy a top quality cutoff blade. I happen to use an 80 tooth Forrest Duraline that is made for composites, but produces an absolute polished finish on endgrain. It costs about $140, but is well worth it.
http://www.forrestblades.com/hiat.htm
2) Spend $17 for a table saw sanding disk from Sears or Woodcraft. http://www.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=1809&gift=False&mscssid=D872DC2F7FFA40698F4F8137F7B134FD
Other sanding option, buy the Forrest blade, and the Delta sander like I have from Lowes for $139 because the belt is useful for sanding disks flat - it is all I use.
You will have tools you can use and not regret buying, and they will allow you to do segmented work.
Have fun,
Re: Band saw or sander *LINK*
Dennis Vallianos
>For segmented work I use the disc/belt sander more than the band saw, but I do use the saw for sizing stock when I'm trying to conserve a piece of valuable wood. The belt sander is about the easiest way to flatten discs & a good disc sander is great if you decide to follow the methods of Ray Allen & others.
My Web site
Re: Band saw or sander
Robert Cox
>Thanks everyone!
Well, I passed on the band saw when I got a look at it. Too much structural plastic in the 9" Delta. Looked like a flex special
I have a Forrest 80 tooth blade with stabilizers in my saw now (On the advice of Mr Schwing).
I picked up one of those saw sander discs at Sears and a crappy little drill press.
I'll get a Saf-T-Planer next time I'm near a Woodcraft, just to help clean up glue lines.
I'll cut base discs with a jigsaw for now.
Re: Band saw or sander
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Is that one of those little round things that you put in your drill press? You can have mine. It has about 5,000 revolutions on it.
Seriously, just wait till I see you again and remind me beforehand.
I didn't realize you were asking about the 9" Delta bandsaw. I gave mine to the Bus. Mostly worthless. I think he was going to try to cut meat with it!
Re: Band saw or sander
Robert Cox
>Yep, that's the thing.
And that was the saw.
Re: Band saw or sander *LINK*
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>Dennis,
Nice Website, and nice segmented work. I see you are a fan of Kevin Neeley.
Re: Band saw or sander
Andy in Raleigh
>You need a heavy duty drill press and even heavier duty nerves to properly operate one of those things. An 80 grit sanding disk is almost as effective and not nearly as life threatening. I have a flex shaft for my DP also (< $10 at my local HF) that I use a lot. More control and less noise than a Dremel using a carbide burr or small hard drum sander (BTW, those little sanding drums are carving tools, not finishing tools). I also use a little buffing attachment (a bonnet for the sanding disk) on it.
One of the other reasons I suggested a DP if you don't have one is that it turns out to also be incredibly useful for drilling holes dead vertical in the exact spot you want them. It's amazing how much difference it makes in the precision of making quick jigs and fixtures. Many times I measured and marked carefully, then used a hand drill and found that surfaces didn't want to quite mate up because the holes weren't true or a jig was a little too loose or tight because I was slightly off the mark.
Re: Band saw or sander
Robert Cox
>The disk sander is a good idea! And something I already have to boot.
As for true holes, I built 3 full size loft beds a couple of years ago. All adjustable and bolted together. Rock Solid.
But getting them together meant having the drill in the room to make the holes fit. A Drill Press would have been nice.
Re: Band saw or sander
Dennis Vallianos
>Thanks for taking a look. I'm hoping to come up with some original work over the cold months ahead. As you may know, Kevin's been a great help in offering plans to some of his work on the Wood Turner Pro software site, in addition to the many tips provided on his own web site. And thank you for bringing the variable speed motors offered by Vega to my attention. I have one hooked up to my little Vicmarc 100 & it's been performing well for almost a year.
Re: you already have a sander
Brad Vietje
>A piece of 3/4" MDF screwed to a faceplate will turn the lathe into a pretty good disk sander, too. Should be relatively easy to make a support table with a miter groove ...
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
