The Sand-rite got me to thinking...

Rick Pierce

Rick Pierce

Well-known member
Yeah, I know..."oh my God...it's going to be a 'hold my beer and watch this' moment from Arkansas..."

Nope. Well...maybe not...

I went to the Sand-rite website, and the pneumatic sanders are very cool. I saw they also had a two-handed portable sander that ran off of air or drill.

Which got me back to thinking about something...why hasn't Kutzall or someone made a "power drawknife"? A longer Kutzall bit with an extra "tang"...just chuck it up in two Foredom handpieces, attach one to the Foredom, and have at. More stable, can put good pressure on the piece, and don't have to worry about grain.
 
Rick,

I can visualize the tool you describe. Sounds like it might work on the drawing board, not sure about real life. I can forsee at least two issues; (a) work load applied may exceed the strength of the flex shaft cable. (b) more exposed bit length greatly increases the chance of something getting wound up in the bit.
 
I think I have seen this someplace. The item had a power side to the handle and then a handle side. It was a sanding tool and not a cutting tool. The handle side had press fit bearings. The bowels of my mind are telling me it was an artist tool for wood sculpting and was custom made. The artist had tried disc grinders, but needed a drum sander that had better control.


And when in doubt just refine your google search words and things show up


http://www.grizzly.com/products/4-x-1-1-8-Hand-Held-Pneumatic-Drum-Sanders/H2881

With a 3/8 spindle it will be kind of large to fit to some flex shafts, but there are ways around that.
 
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I didn't look at the exact link, but that's essentially what Sand-Rite makes as a portable sander. A drum that sits between a handle and a "live" end.
 
Dave,

The torque on the shaft is probably it.

As far as exposed area, I kind of understand that, but it really puts the bit between your hands, which would seem safer. I guess if you cut through a piece too aggressively and it bounces, you'd be right into your apron, shirt, etc.

Just thinking out loud...

Maybe I'll weld a couple of Kutzall bits together and try it...here, hold my beer and w...never mind.
 
I have done some experimenting with what you speak of. I came to a number of conclusions.

1. The RPM and torque required to make it cut put it well Into the danger zone.

2. A 4" disk is much more controllable and versital.

3. Both are considerably louder and dirtier than a drawknife and not much faster.
 
Don't discount the sander as a valuable tool. Uven though it won't remove stock as fast as a drawknife it is a great tool for quickly smoothing out a decoy after rough shaping. The correct pressure, speed and a good quality abrasive with the right grit will do wonders. I have 3 sandrite machines and spend 20 or 30 hours a week sitting in front of them. The value of them is in the drums. Nice and ballanced and a wide range of adjustment so far as air pressure goes. Ive used the padded sanders and had a grizz before. All get the job done but sand rite gets it done lots quicker lots better and lots easier. Even with the 2" drum and 60 or 80 grit you can move cedar or pine pretty quick if you want.
 
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