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Table Saw Sanding Disk

PackRatBill's picture

Table Saw Sanding Disk (post #168831)

PackRatBill on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 19:14
in

Is it wise to use a sanding disk in a good table saw?  Will it damage the saw?  I have a Jet Pro Shop saw and want to make sure it lasts a long time.  But the idea of having a disk sander capability is intriguing.  I have an old disk I can clean up and use.  Thanks for any feedback.

-A +A
Jigs-n-fixtures's picture

Is it balanced? (post #168831, reply #1 of 4)

by Jigs-n-fixtures in reply to PackRatBill [original] on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:46

I can't see any issues from the dust produced. 

But, if it isn't ballanced correctly it might damage the bearings.  Also, the bearings might not be designed for the side load, and that could damage them. 

That said:  My Dad used one on his late 1950's era Craftsman for 40 years with out any damage to the bearings.

SteveSchoene's picture

Sanding removes both wood--no (post #168831, reply #2 of 4)

by SteveSchoene in reply to Jigs-n-fixtures [original] on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 18:28

Sanding removes both wood--no harm from that dust--but also bits of the abrasive from the disk.  That stuff I don't want around the arbor and it's bearings. 

Test your finish on scrap, FIRST, or risk having to scrap your finish.

forrestb's picture

RPMs may be an issue (post #168831, reply #3 of 4)

by forrestb in reply to SteveSchoene [original] on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 12:34

I suggest that you be sure that your old disk (any disk) will stand up to the RPMs of a table saw.  If unbalanced and/or not capable of that speed it could tear apart as well as damage the bearings.

I have a Shopsmith (variable speed) and the recomended disk sanding mode RPM is about half the recomended saw mode RPM.

If you can use your disk, be sure to use a very light touch as saw speed will remove wood very quickly, and do not stand in front of the saw in case the object catches and is thrown forward.

Forrest

hammer1's picture

I've used a disk sander on my (post #168831, reply #4 of 4)

by hammer1 in reply to PackRatBill [original] on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 20:05

I've used a disk sander on my saw many times. In fact, Sears used to make a tapered disk for table saws. You would angle it about 7 degrees and could even use the saw fence with it for sizing rips. The angle and taper meant that the wood only contacted the disk in one area. It would leave straight sanding marks, not circles like an ordinary disk. The speed of a saw is within the acceptable range for a disk sander. The bearings on many modern saws are sealed and housed. Not much chance of any debris getting in. Like with any disk sander, you only want to work on half the disk face, the side that is going down, pushing the work to the table, not the half that will spin the work up. For typical disk sanding, you probably want to have the sandpaper face the left side of the saw, you would stand at the end of the left extension table, not in the ordinary saw operator position at the front.

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