Sanding facets

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Wmcullen

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Dec 1, 2020
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I'm not sure if this process is right or wrong; unique or common. But it works for me and I want to share in case it's interesting.​
17: Sanding facets with homemade drum for pens
last post:16-Facet-ilitating a New Project
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Homemade sanding drums are well-known and easily made. I decided to make mine specific for pens by including 4 different levels of grit. It works well and gets the job done quickly.​

The Problem
When making a faceted pen with straight sides, sanding on a lathe becomes impractical.
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My Solution
(Not rocket surgery, just how I did it.)
1. Cheap 2x4 pine cut and drilled with a 0.25" hole lengthwise.
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2. Turned it round... no specific diameter... just round.
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3. Installed a 5.5" long 0.25" bolt, washer and nut.
4. Cut a trench down the middle with a handsaw.
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5. Shoved sandpaper into trench, wrapped around drum and cut so there was no overlap. Affixed with a small amount of glue.
Note: think through which direction the drum will spin before wrapping sandpaper.
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6. The drum has 4 grits. Each facet can quickly hit each stop.
Note: Putting the segments on a bolt gave me much more control and accuracy than trying to hold the segment freehand.
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Summary
I'm sure there are a billion methods to sand straight pen facets but I like the one I'm using and wanted to share.
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Thanks for looking
- Cullen
 

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magpens

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@Wmcullen

Your "multi-faceted creativity" shines through again !!! .... This is a SUPER idea !!!!

Do you have a bearing on the lower end ? ..... enabling you to anchor/clamp the lower end and maintain vertical rigidity .....

I wonder if your "sanding drum" could be mounted horizontally on a lathe ..... I do not have a drill press.

BTW ..... how do you create the original faceted shape ..... do you do it on a mill of some sort ?
 

Wmcullen

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Joined
Dec 1, 2020
Messages
397
Location
Fairfax, Virginia
I wonder if your "sanding drum" could be mounted horizontally on a lathe ..... I do not have a drill press.
BTW ..... how do you create the original faceted shape ..... do you do it on a mill of some sort ?
Thank Mal.
I don't have a bearing on the lower end of this drum but that would be a sound choice to make.
Mounting the drum horizontally on a lathe would have been a cleaner way to write this up. I didn't think of it but should have. Good call!
I made the original faceted shape on a router table using a new jig, which I'm still tinkering with like a mad scientist! Here's a link to the write up on it.
Best,
Cullen
 

dogcatcher

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Jul 4, 2007
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Location
TX, NM or on the road
Slap some 40 grit on the drum and you can create the flats on round stock.

For making hexagon and pentagon shaped game calls I used a jig like the one on this video to fit my bandsaw and 2" upright belt sander.
First cut, trim with bandsaw, then sand on the belt sander with various grits.
 
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