How to Speed Control For 1" Sander

[Merle Rice]

Hi GUYS, I'm Converting my 1" sander to a Leather Belt for Stroping my tools and would like to know what do I need and how to install it. I am not an Electrician, so it must be simple. Thanks in Advance.. Merle

[tucker1931]

Merle, if you were closer I could send my neighbor over to help you out. Heck, he came over to help me hook up a dryer motor for a dust collection system I'm trying to build, and it only took him 10 minutes to burn the motor up. Let me know if you need him.
Cliff

[Claude]

Speed control on an AC motor without losing torque is impossible, without using gears/stepdown pulleys or an expensive controller. If you want speed control, and still have torque, you'll need a DC motor.

I think the cheapest alternative might be to replace the motor with a DC one. Another option would be to take the motor off the sander, reinstall it with a multiple pulley on the motor and the sanding belt pulley, then you could just shift the belt to change speeds...

There are lots of manufacturers of DC motors out there. Try Googling "DC Motor Variable Speed" and see what you can find.

Claude

[dart]

Google search "harborfreight" or "pennstateindustries" and look for a plug in 'variable speed control'. Hope this helps. Oh lots of other uses for the devise other than your sander. It won't work on a devise that already has a variable speed on it.

[AlArchie]

Merl, if that's a brush type AC motor, you can control the speed with a GOOD variable speed control. With a cheap one, you will loose torque rapidy, but the modern better ones control Hz rather than just lowering voltage and torque is maintained at nearly top end...not quite, but nearly.

If that's a brushless, induction type AC, there is no way I know of to lower the speed, other than what Claude suggested with pulleys, belts or gears. If you try to use one of those speed control units on an induction type, you're gonna burn out either the motor or the control unit.

Al

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

This just dawned on me and have not checked at all, but wonder if it's possible to swap the bottom wheel for the top one. You'd have to remove all the guard stuff so they'd fit which I'm not sure is possible. It's too cold so I'm not gonna go out and check. Just a thought.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

What about a router speed control unit, guess like Al said it has to have brushes in order to work.

Dave

[Merle Rice]

Hi CLIFF, wELL YOU STARTED MY sUNDAY OFF WITH A GOOD LAUGH, Thank you. That is funny. I don't want to burn up anything that's why I'm asking for help. Thanks BUDDY and Stay Well. Merle

[Merle Rice]

Thanks Claure,Dart,Al,Ed,and Dave. Boy you guys gave me a lot of information, and that's what I needed. The Sander is a Craftsman, 120 volt,AC Permanent Split Capacitor,Single Phase,3450 RPM. Without taking it apart I feel it doesn't have Brushes. This might turn into a bigger project than I planned on. Something to keep my mind working. lol. Another question. The Leather belt, Does anyone make their own, or do you buy it already made? I'm going to try and make my own. 50" belt from Tandy Leather cost $9.95 as $34.00 made up from Chipp Carving. Again, Thanks Guys. Merle

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Hi Merle, I bought a 1 X 30 " leather belt from The Woodcraft Shop for about $15.00, but if you can make one for $9.95 that would be the way to go. I was originally planning on making a belt but Tandy wanted to sell me a huge sheet of leather, I thought it was alot of money (don't remember the price).

Dave