S.A. Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Hi there. I am new to woodworking/guitar making and this forum. I have been reading as much as I can from this forum, and in my readings I have seen the Robo sander idea a lot. Unfortunately, I live in South africa and my local hardware store don't have such things... I was wondering if it would be possible to make the sanding bit. IE a dowel rod with sand paper spiralled on it. MY guess is that I will go mad trying to get the sand paper to sit flush and perfect on the dowel. Any thoughts on this ? Thanks a bunch S.A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 sible to make the sanding bit. IE a dowel rod with sand paper spiralled on it. MY guess is that I will go mad trying to get the sand paper to sit flush and perfect on the dowel. ← Ah another 'reinvent the wheel' type... My idea is to drill through a fat dowel rod, insert a long bolt to clamp the dowel. Take some nice string two-sided tape and wrap that around, then cut out your sandpaper so it'll fit exactly... You'd have to change the tape each time you change your sandpaper....and I wouldn't press too hard... I plan on doing something similar with the drill in my drill stand --to help true up the sides of the block I'm butchering with a jigsaw these days.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A. Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Ah another 'reinvent the wheel' type... Kind of, although I prefer to think of it as "necessity is the mother of invention/copying ..." Thanks for the reply. SA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Ah another 'reinvent the wheel' type... Not by choice...you would be taken aback to see how difficult it can be to get certain things in South Africa. Stuff we take for granted every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Ah another 'reinvent the wheel' type... Not by choice...you would be taken aback to see how difficult it can be to get certain things in South Africa. Stuff we take for granted every day. ← Hey, I'm in France. When they do have the stuff I'm looking for, it's usually way overpriced....but that's where ebay comes in I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneMonkey Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 I've got a few points to make on this one.... 1) If you're trying to make your own, I think you are going to have a MASSIVE pain in the arse trying to drill down the length of the dowel and trying to get it all square. 2) I don't know how much they are in other countries, but I'm in the UK and got mine from Axminster for £10 including 4 sets of sleaves. Idch - Hopefully I'll be stopping over in Paris on my way to Chamonix later this year. If you're anywhere near either of these and you want me to bring some cheaper supplies from the UK over to you, then tell me closer to the time and I'll see what I can do . You'll have to remind me though, too much means that my memory is a bit Kaj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A. Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Thanks guys. The worst part is that I live in a smallish town, so when you ask people for stuff your would swear that I had a green alien on my forehead . I thought it may be a mission, so I will look round and try order on on the net. Thanks for the help all !! SA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 >>>Idch - Hopefully I'll be stopping over in Paris on my way to Chamonix later this year. If you're anywhere near either of these and you want me to bring some cheaper Nice of you to offer...though from what I hear EVERYTHING is more expensive in the UK... I actually went ahead and tried the idea out today...since I happened to have everything I needed here. Most important, I have a drill stand --that's why I'm able to drill straight down into the dowel. Without that, well, good luck! Then I screwed a screw into the dowel and cut off the head with a metal saw... And guess what? It actually works! I'm still going to have a look at the hardware store to see what the prices on these things are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A. Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Great stuff.. I will give it a go this weekend. thanks a bunch SA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHowell Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 (edited) I made one like this: Cut two discs with a hole saw, it will have a hole perfectly centred in the disc. Then fit the discs into the ends of a piece of PVC pipe and glue or screw in place from the edge with two or three counter sunk screws, put a piece of threaded rod through the holes and there you have a perfectly serviceable sanding drum for use in a drill press. What town are you from S.A? I'm in Cape Town. I've have never had any problems getting any tools but I made one because I wanted it in a hurry and my nearest hardware store (Mica) have never got anything and anyway it was a Sunday evening. Keith Edited January 20, 2005 by KeithHowell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.A. Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Howzit Keith I am in Pietermariztburg. I have looked in mica,makro,game,servistar... I thought that about a PVC pipe, but got all caught up using end caps and sleeves.... got complicated .... but your way sounds perfect. Did you order your pups and electronics from a music shop or did you bring them in from outside ? SA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHowell Posted January 21, 2005 Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 (edited) Pickups I get from Paul Bothner, SoundWorks and have ordered through StewMac as well. Electronics from Communica, Yebo or Mantech they all do mail order but I think should have branches in Durban (Yebo don't but are Cape Town based and specialise in mail-order) Wood from Rare Woods (The Cape has a off-cuts section where you can get guitar sized pieces) They also supply Indian Rosewood backs, sides and fretboards. Hardware Centre is the best place for tools. Mica et al are expensive and only cater for the hobbiest. Hardware Centre have the real thing. I think they have a Durban branch. Contrary to what ErikBojerik says, just about everything is available around here. The only thing I have trouble with is very specific luthery orientated tools, but then I drop into see Kevin at Southern Music and he is always helpful on sourcing tools. Electronic components seem easier to find in Cape Town than in some parts of the USA reading the comments some members have made. Good Luck! If you're ever in Cape Town (like most of the rest of South Africa at this time of year) give me a shout and I'll show you some of my guitars and tools I've built. Keith Edited January 21, 2005 by KeithHowell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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