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+-- Thread: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? (/showthread.php?tid=7335077)
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Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 11-27-2017
I picked up a well used Foley Belsaw planer this weekend for $100. Needs new feed rollers. The switch is disassembled; seller thinks it's damaged.
I want to convert it to a drum sander as I already have and love a PM100.
Have any of you done this? How's it work for sanding duty?
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - jteneyck - 11-27-2017
(11-27-2017, 09:21 AM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: I picked up a well used Foley Belsaw planer this weekend for $100. Needs new feed rollers. The switch is disassembled; seller thinks it's damaged.
I want to convert it to a drum sander as I already have and love a PM100.
Have any of you done this? How's it work for sanding duty?
Looks like more than just the switch is missing? There is a magnetic starter in there, or supposed to be, and they can get pricey for a 5 HP motor; or at least that's what was on the one I had. But I guess you could put a new starter on it and still have a great deal for what you paid for it.
Mine had the sanding drum accessories, too, but they looked like a PITA to install and change. IIRC correctly, you had to install three separate strips of paper, one with each gib. I had a drum sander already so I wasn't looking at it for that function. I regularly made molding on the one I had and it did a really good job. Good luck.
John
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 11-27-2017
I have the magnetic starter in hand; the PO had taken it out while trying to figure it out. I also have a few spare caps; the one on the motor is bad.
I don't currently have a drum sander but really want one. If I can get this one running decently well (and fairly inexpensively), great. If not, I may just keep it in case I decide to give molding a try in the future. I had one of the older versions of this (cast iron frame sides, green paint) five years ago but sold it because I was so limited in space.
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - DFJarvie - 11-27-2017
Check the Belsaw website and see if the have a sander head.
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 11-27-2017
I haven't even looked at it to see which model number I have. Hopefully this evening I can.
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - jteneyck - 11-27-2017
(11-27-2017, 11:45 AM)DFJarvie Wrote: Check the Belsaw website and see if the have a sander head.
With the one I had you used the stock planer head for sanding. The sandpaper was held by the planer knife gibs.
John
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - jteneyck - 11-27-2017
(11-27-2017, 11:03 AM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: I have the magnetic starter in hand; the PO had taken it out while trying to figure it out. I also have a few spare caps; the one on the motor is bad.
I don't currently have a drum sander but really want one. If I can get this one running decently well (and fairly inexpensively), great. If not, I may just keep it in case I decide to give molding a try in the future. I had one of the older versions of this (cast iron frame sides, green paint) five years ago but sold it because I was so limited in space.
Oh that's good that you have the starter. The switches can go bad on them; was on mine. If it runs by pushing in the contactor manually (with a non-conductive stick) then the switch is the problem. Those switches are readily available and cheap.
I think Belsaw still sells feed rollers for them. As I recall they weren't cheap. I also think some other company recovers old worn out rollers. IIRC, someone here or on SMC had a link to who does that. Someone at OWWM probably knows, too. I replaced all the springs and bushings in the abused machine I had. I got all the parts at McMaster Carr. Fortunately, the F-B planer is a really simple machine, easy to work on, and very robust. Once you get it running it likely will sound awful - but do a great job.
John
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 11-27-2017
~$100 for a pair of rollers and ~$120 for the sanding thingamajig that attaches to the cutter head.
Really can't complain about those prices if it turns out to be a decent drum sander.
I'll need to fab up a dust hood to fit over the drum, but that's no biggie.
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - Ken P - 11-27-2017
(11-27-2017, 03:57 PM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: ~$100 for a pair of rollers and ~$120 for the sanding thingamajig that attaches to the cutter head.
Really can't complain about those prices if it turns out to be a decent drum sander.
I'll need to fab up a dust hood to fit over the drum, but that's no biggie.
I have a older Belsaw planer that I have hung on to thinking I would make a drum sander. Everything on it works, so don't need any new parts. John's comment about his planer was converted to a sander by just attaching sandpaper to the head using the existing gibs sounds like something I would like to try. Thanks for bringing this subject up.
Ken
RE: Foley Belsaw as a drum sander? - CARYinWA - 11-28-2017
(11-27-2017, 03:33 PM)jteneyck Wrote: I also think some other company recovers old worn out rollers. IIRC, someone here or on SMC had a link to who does that. Someone at OWWM probably knows, too.
John
Western Roller does it. I had some redone on a JPM-13 last year.