Thickness sander

[Bill Hill]

If your ripping your lumber on aByrnes saw from good billets or sheets from Syren is a thickness sander a must have to finish it out?

 

Bill

[Justin P.]

I’ve never used Syren billets or sheets, but generally use the Byrnes thickness sander  as a step prior to ripping sheets on my Byrnes saw, not after.   
 

Based on Syrens own description of their products, I assume they will come ready to rip without needing an additional thinning unless you need a specific dimension not offered.

[Moxis]

Thickness sander or a Proxxon thicknesser DH40, which would be a better purchase? In this part of the world a thickness sander is a very rare tool, a thicknesser instead is more common machine.

[ASAT]

It all depends on the wood species, grain direction, blade sharpness, rejection criteria and your cutting technique as to how many planks will be acceptable after ripping. I think the sander is invaluable for saving a bunch of planking that would have been rejected if ripping only..... 

[davec]

For scale sized planks, thickness sander alone should be fine.  I have the Byrnes, and before that used a Preac (same idea, much smaller motor).  I haven't had any times with pear, boxwood, holly, cherry, or ebony where the thickness sander didn't get me to a usable billet.  I have a tool buying addiction and haven't come up with any  reason to justify buying the miniature planer.

[modeller_masa]

Because of minimum feed thickness of a thickness planer, feeding woodsheet less than 6mm (most of portable thickness planers) or 3mm (the Proxxon DH40) can cause serious kickback injury. I prefer the Byrnes thickness sander for the reason. Not aggressive, quiet, manual feeding, and precision height adjustment.

[Nirvana]

I also have a Byrnes thickness sander along with an Proxxon Table saw.

Yes for me, the thickness sander is a truly valuable tool. Waiting for the day when to invest in a Byrnes table saw.

[Radek]

Hi.

Exist there (in continental Europe) any alternative to Byrnes thickness sander?

I was given a Proxxon table saw - OK that was free. But we can't  find suitable small 230V drum thickness sander sold in EU.

 

Thank you for the advice, Radek

[Jaager]

3 hours ago, Radek said:

Exist there (in continental Europe) any alternative to Byrnes thickness sander?

There is always the option to build your own.

Were you in the US, I would say that this option would probably not be less expensive than a Byrnes sander when all factors are summed.

 

The key factors:

Go quality.

Use a large enough motor.   1/3 HP is the sweet spot. 1/2 HP tends to be heavy and bulky.

A reversible motor is NOT needed.  Unless you also want it to be a medieval siege engine. 

DO NOT enclose the motor!  Sanding is a lot of work for a motor.  Work = heat.  As much air flow as possible!

The drum holding the sanding medium needs to have a large enough diameter - somewhere around 3 inches - before the medium was available as continuous cloth backed rolls, the width of commercial sanding sheets set the diameter.

added:  The drum speed should be ~1700 rpm -  faster and the wood burns - slower is slower -

that is a common speed for 1/3 HP motors and 1:1 on pulleys is easy.

Having a mechanical grip on the roll is way more convenient than using an adhesive to hold the medium.

A dead flat table that stays that way is absolutely necessary.

A reliable and micro adjustable gap set and hold mechanism is a must.

A dust extraction hood is absolutely needed, but no big deal.  I made mine using three layers of Amazon box cardboard, liberal PVA between the layers, 1/4" square internal corner braces, and duct tape. 

A kludge sander will sort of work for a time, but will ultimately be a source of frustration.

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by Jaager

[Radek]

Thank you for the detailed description.

Honestly said - I've tried to build one inspired by Youtube.

(And read these topics:

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/25374-a-diy-thickness-sander/

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/26329-thickness-sander-questions/ )

 

My machine has an acu screwdriver instead of motor - 1st mistake.

Its drum is about 2 inches - second one. Etc., etc. 

 

So I wrote to Jim Byrnes and I'm looking for factory made sander.

 

Radek

 

 

 

[Nirvana]

Radek, I think Byrnes thickness sander is available for 220/240 V, just like the saw.

[Wahka_est]

Hi

 

Probably there isnt any real other alternative. There is ine guy building some tools on FB but ik not sure if he sells them also-probably will sell.

https://m.facebook.com/tools.man.5454
 

Sanders that are kinf of good would suite start from 1000 eur as for as i know.

 

Vahur

Hobbymill.eu

Edited November 7, 2021 by Wahka_est

[Radek]

Hi!

What's typical reaction time of Jim Byrnes? I wrote on Sunday and without answer till now...

 

Radek

[VTHokiEE]

1 hour ago, Radek said:

Hi!

What's typical reaction time of Jim Byrnes? I wrote on Sunday and without answer till now...

 

Radek

You may want to send Jim a PM on here. I had better luck that way.

[Radek]

Another unsuccessfull  attempt - contact e-mail on website: office@byrnesmodelmachines.com

[jimbyr]

The website email is not always working the best use mmllc@cfl.rr.com that is our direct email

 

Jim

[Radek]

Thanks - I send an email.  Radek