Sander

[Red Cent]

That looks like my router table. Is that a router attachment?

[Slowhand Bob]

Are you asking about the vertical drum sanders?  The one I have is an old Sears model and I guess it does resemble a table router but the sanders have a heavier mounting shaft.  Not to sure how well most of the hobby size routers would stand up to the riggers of being converted to a drum sander?  I currently use a small hobby sized belt sander (including the round shaped top roll, the afore mentioned drum sander with a bit smaller diameter drum and for the really tight places I use a Dremel with either the half or quarter sized drums.  The Dremel, with a wax loaded felt bob, is also handy for a lot of touch up edge work that can not be easily reached otherwise.  One of the large builidng supply stores, either Home Depot or Lowes, has/had an odd combination belt/drum sander rig that I was thinking on but decided against.  The belt sanding function was preformed with the belt turned on its edge, forming a 90deg working edge to the table.  I think it was under the Rigid brand name??   

[Red Cent]

I have a cylinder sander in my drill press. And I have the Dremels.

I have a time with the edging process. I detest the beveler. The tool seems to be a hold over from the 1800s. I have found that attention to detail in sanding can accomplish a more rounded evenly "cut" edge. The picture depicts a more controllable method placing the leather on a flat plane perpendicular to the cylinder. But you need, maybe, a rounded edge.

Now if I can get together with my machine and learn how to stitch.


Thanks Slowhand. As usual, you are a gentlemen and a scholar and your intelligence is only exceeded by your good looks.

[bedbugbilly]

Red Cent - I couldn't see anything on your post but I had the same assuption that slow hand had in regards to what you're talking about.

I have a combination belt/disc sander and have used the roller end of the belt sander for curved holster seams, etc. but for me, I'm not really happy with it.  I have also used various drum sanders mounted in the drill press but when it's all said and done, I still revert to the Dremel with the various size drum sanders you can use in that.  I've used it enough that I can keep the angle to a 90 degree and sand the seams and touch up inner curvets, etc. and for me, it just seems to work better.

I agree with you on the edgers and I find myself drifting away from them.  If a person uses a drill press mounted drum sander, the roller of a belt sander or a table drum sander, I think it is all about getting accustomed to it and maintaining the angles you need.  I updated my Dremel to a better one with a variable speed switch and I'm finding that with the variable speeds, I can get better results.  There is more than one way of skinning a cat though so I think it's what a person feels more comfortable with and the end results they can get with however they are doing it.

I just finished up a Slim Jim for a .36 '58 Remington NMA (Navy) last week that I decided to experiment with by using a beveled edge toe plug.  I cut the inside bevel on the inside of the bucket toe by hand at 45 degrees and thought I was going to speed up making the inset toe plug by beveling the edge using the small disc sander.  I was using a piece of leather about 3/8" thick for the toe plug.  I set the table at a 45 and was going to sand it to the correct outline.  It turned out to be a giant pain in the rear and I finally gave up and beveled it by hand - was much faster and a better job.  I'm always looking for a "better and faster" way and usually end up going back to what I usually do in the first place.   

[Cutter Carl]

It is a spindle sander.  The spindle not only rotates but moves up and down.  Woodworkers use it to sand inside curves.  It might be tough to use with leather with the up and down motion of the spindle. 

[Slowhand Bob]

It actually works fine and offers the same advantages for us as it does for the woodworkers, it adds more surface area to work with before load-out.  The same gum rubber stick used by woodworkers to unclog the sanders works even better/faster with leather.  Not sure what everyone else uses for edge dressing but my formula is the old stand-by, 50% bees wax, 50% paraffin and one or two tablespoons of neatsfoot oil to improve penetration.  You can take the hard bullet shaped wool burrs and load them with the wax and it makes a good way to get to those tight areas and get a deep penetration that can not be matched any other way.   

[Red Cent]

Bedbugbilly, thank you very much for pointing out that I forgot to include the picture.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've often thought one of those sanders would work good for leather. So far, I've only used my Dremel  and a sanding block.

[Red Cent]

I took an empty thread thimble and used sticky sand paper to go around it. Bolt and nut for the stem. Coarse paper works very well.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

These are the sanders I use in my shop, these pictures are from my other shop in California, I find special uses with them all.

tEN wOLVES 

[Red Cent]

I have the little inexpensive guy in the middle. Plus a small drill press. And I have an idle router and table.