Replies

1. 
   ErnieConover | May 22, 2006 04:03pm | #1

   First of all as an educator I do not often give specific brand recommendations. Rather, I try to give you the smarts to decide which product is best for you, so here goes. "Spindle Sander" is a bit nebulous for it could describe three different tools. The the first is a hand held device, often powered by an air motor. It can; however, be powered by an electric drill. Sometimes called a rolling pin sander the tool is 2" to 6" in diameter with a free wheeling handle at one end with a air motor at the other. The drum is a rubber bladder that can be inflated with a basket ball pump to any degree of resiliency. It is held like a rolling pin but depressing a paddle on the air motor powers the drum with abrasive sleeves on it. It is great for free form work and Sam Maloof has used this type of sander on his chairs for years.

   The second spindle sander is a 1725 RPM motor with very long shafts on which you can mount drums of varying diameters with abrasive sleeves also of rubber and inflatable to the desired resiliency. (Delta builds a disc/belt sander that has an extended shaft to mount one drum.) Work is free handed against the drum and this type of sander is great for free form work such as canoe paddles.

   The third type of spindle sander is the a spindle of hard rubber mounted vertically in a small table on which abrasive sleeves are fitted. (The spindle is not inflatable.) The best scheme has the spindle oscillating up and down so as to distribute wear on the abrasive sleeve. Still better is if the table also raises and lowers to further distribute wear. When sanding 3/4 or 1/2 inch material you do not use much of the sleeve. Oscillating spindle sanders are perfect for sanding inside radiuses dead square to the face against the table. Some even have tilting tables so that an edge can be sanded at an angle to the face.

   Armed with knowledge you are now ready to you to pick the tool that best fits your needs and budget.

   With best regards,
   Ernie Conover