I don’t need a spindle sander often enough to justify a dedicated machine. So I bought a set of sanding drums for my drill press. While these are very handy, they aren’t as effective as a spindle sander because they don’t oscillate up and down to distribute wear on the paper and minimize deep scratches. So I thought up a simple solution.

It starts with a shopmade platform that allows the drum to pass through it. The other component is a foot pedal, which lets me move the drum up and down while keeping my hands free to control the work. The pedal is attached to a cord that pulls the drill-press handle down, and the spring in the drill press returns the chuck and handle to its upper (retracted) position. I made the pedal from two pieces of scrap and a spring-loaded gate hinge, installed so the pedal rises when foot pressure is released. Attach the cord to the pedal and the drill-press handle, and you’re ready to start tapping your foot and sanding smooth curves.

—JIM BELKNAP, Vero Beach, Fla.

Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Fine Woodworking issue #293

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Hedgehog featherboards

The Hedgehog's unique spiral shape and single knob make it easy to set up and fast to adjust.

Buy at Amazon

Stanley Powerlock 16-ft. tape measure

With its smooth lock, tough case, compact size, and excellent accuracy, this Stanley tape is perfect for workshop use.

Buy at Amazon

Makita LS1219L Miter Saw

This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.

Buy at Amazon