Workshop Sanders and Related Items

Handy jig for using a drum sander at the drill press. DXF Format

For the longest time, I used a scrap piece of wood for a sanding block. It was simple and did not cost much. But it never worked as well as I would have liked, the sandpaper tended to shift around and tear. Recently, though, I came up with a new sanding block that works really well. Not only is it sized to fit my hand perfectly; it also holds the paper in place using plastic tubing.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a downdraft sanding table. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

When I am sanding small workpieces with a palm sander, I like to use a non-skid sanding mat. The mat holds the pieces in place and leaves me with one less thing to worry about. The only trouble I have is keeping the mat within easy reach. The solution to this problem was simple...

Based on a tool used for automotive body work this simple sanding block will become one of your go to tools.

To solve this problem, I make a simple sanding block that lets me sand precisely on the top of the edging -- not on the plywood.

This dispenser is a nifty way to hold rolls of sandpaper. Plus, it makes it easy to pull out just the right amount of sandpaper and tear off a piece.

The clouds of dust produced by my sanders make sanding my least favorite task when building a project. Thankfully, this mobile sanding station makes the job a lot less messy. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

An oscillating spindle sander is a great help for smoothing contours. But I came up with a way to use mine to joint or smooth the edge of a straight workpiece. The simple key is a jointing fence.

Standard sandpaper comes in 9 x 11 inch sheets. But this is rarely the size that I need. Most often, I end up dividing a sheet into smaller pieces to fit my sander or a sanding block. For a long time, I made do with simply folding the sandpaper and then tearing it. But this crude method often gave me less than satisfactory results. So I decided to come up with a more reliable way to do the job.

When I used my stationary belt sander to sand the edge of a board, it was hard to keep the edge straight and square. So I solved this problem by adding a fence to the side of my sander.

You can convert your drill press to an oscillating sander for less than $30.

When cleaning up moldings (like V-grooves or roundovers) with sandpaper, the problem is getting the sandpaper to conform to the moldings profile. So I needed to find a way to hold the sandpaper to match the shape. The nice thing is, you do not need to buy...

It is amazing how this little sandpaper cutting jig will make life easier in the workshop. Here is how to build one for yourself.

Build this disk sander with parts that are probably sitting around your shop gathering dust. All you need is a 1/4 hp or larger 1750 RPM electric motor, a v-pulley, switch, electrical cord and scraps of wood.

I created a small platform for my sander. It is just a piece of hardboard with a few scrap pieces glued to the top to create a holding area.

My random-orbit sander sees a lot of use. But I always found it annoying that I could not just set it down on the bench after turning it off. I would end up wasting time holding the sander while the pad stopped spinning. Finally, I decided to take the bull by the horns and find a solution.

When I use the belt on my belt/disc sander, it makes me a bit nervous to have the disc spinning there while my attention is focused elsewhere.

I designed and made this handy little storage box. There is now a place for each different grit as well as storage for different shapes of sandpaper and sanding belts. Here is my solution.

The drum smooths curved edges, while the disc can easily handle the straight edges.

Having the right tool for the job certainly makes a woodworking task easier. Take shaping and smoothing parts, for example. Getting smooth, even curves can be tough to do by hand or with portable sanders. But after building this disk sander, those hassles are a thing of the past. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

My oscillating disc sander has built-in dust collection and it works great, but only when the holes in the sanding disc are aligned with the vacuum holes in the sanders pad. And this simple requirement is not always as easy as it sounds. So rather than rely on a good aim when installing the discs, I put together a simple tool that makes hitting the mark a sure thing.

A pneumatic drum sander does a great job of smoothing and shaping all kinds of curved work. My shop-made sander works just like expensive commercial models, but requires only a few dollars worth of materials.

It is not often you can save time and money, but this heavy-duty, shop-built project will do both. Powered by the motor on your table saw, this machine can quickly sand panels up to 16 inches wide so they are flat and smooth, whether it is a 3 inch-thick workpiece or a strip of veneer only 1/16 inches thick. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

Many of the projects I have around the house seem to require sanding into tight places. I finally tired of continuously folding sandpaper to accommodate the situation, and thought there must be a better way. So I made a detail sander out of plywood in my shop.

This wall mounted workshop sandpaper storage unit will help keep your sandpaper organized, flat and within easy reach.

Build a wall mounted sandpaper disk storage rack for your workshop using these free woodworking plans.

This sander was designed to get straight and sharp edges, particularly for small pieces. Here is how to build it.

How to build a surface sander that is every bit as smooth on your budget as your board, including detailed diagram, instructions.

Get your workshop organized by building this sandpaper storage rack. You can use 1/2 and 1/4 inch plywood for this build or whatever scrap wood you have on hand.