Drill Press Disc Sander
![How to make a Drill Press Disc Sander](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FT9/U620/INUJNVM3/FT9U620INUJNVM3.jpg&filename=How to make a Drill Press Disc Sander)
Transform a drill press into a disc sander with a few simple attachments.
Prototype
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.46.38 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEF/UEPI/INT4BGFU/FEFUEPIINT4BGFU.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.46.38 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.47.21 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3D/UB6V/INT4BG79/F3DUB6VINT4BG79.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.47.21 PM.png)
Threw this together with scraps of wood and a few clamps. Proof of concept... check!
Design
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.47.36 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQV/ATLE/INT4BFY0/FQVATLEINT4BFY0.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.47.36 PM.png)
The disc sander is drafted in Fusion 360. This way I can refine the shape while quickly visualizing different designs.
Ripping, Sanding, Cross-cutting
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.48.06 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FL2/V41T/INT4BFR1/FL2V41TINT4BFR1.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.48.06 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.48.54 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5P/509C/INT4BFPB/F5P509CINT4BFPB.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.48.54 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.49.16 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F52/ZQ8X/INT4BGNB/F52ZQ8XINT4BGNB.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.49.16 PM.png)
Everything is made from a sheet of 3/4" baltic birch plywood.
Assemble the Base
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.49.47 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLH/PEBG/INT4BGN2/FLHPEBGINT4BGN2.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.49.47 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.18 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1W/U2PX/INT4BGHK/F1WU2PXINT4BGHK.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.18 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.30 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FM7/ZTAB/INT4BG8X/FM7ZTABINT4BG8X.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.30 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.55 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FF0/0RCX/INT4BG1B/FF00RCXINT4BG1B.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.51.55 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.50.39 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4X/P96B/INT4BGKY/F4XP96BINT4BGKY.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.50.39 PM.png)
3 pieces of material form the base. They're held together with drywall screws.
Tip: A workbench makes a fantastic 90 degree clamp!
Make the Sanding Pad
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.52.47 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FPT/JJ58/INT4BFW7/FPTJJ58INT4BFW7.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.52.47 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.53.06 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDZ/Y983/INT4BGNE/FDZY983INT4BGNE.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.53.06 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.53.39 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1V/OSNM/INT4BGN4/F1VOSNMINT4BGN4.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.53.39 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.06 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUZ/LGAZ/INT4BGMT/FUZLGAZINT4BGMT.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.06 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.11 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBV/35U1/INT4BGMN/FBV35U1INT4BGMN.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.11 PM.png)
Cut a 9" circle out of some more 3/4" plywood to support the sanding pad.
How the Sanding Pad Will Spin
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.40 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9E/GW7E/INT4BGKW/F9EGW7EINT4BGKW.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.40 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.50 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FWX/NPZ6/INT4BGAM/FWXNPZ6INT4BGAM.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.54.50 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.55.07 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7O/E4PH/INT4BG1F/F7OE4PHINT4BG1F.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.55.07 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.55.18 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQF/7WP7/INT4BG4R/FQF7WP7INT4BG4R.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.55.18 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.56.54 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCZ/KDNQ/INT4BGNG/FCZKDNQINT4BGNG.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.56.54 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.56.49 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F42/S8Q1/INT4BG4T/F42S8Q1INT4BG4T.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.56.49 PM.png)
Drill press -> right angle adapter -> 2" screwdriver bit -> 1/2" set screw -> sandpaper (and a lazy Susan bearing holds the sanding disc in place).
ALL THE STUFFS
Drill Press - http://amzn.to/21pGQSL
Right Angle Drill Adapter - http://amzn.to/1SIdIAt
Screwdriver Bit (6 pack) - http://amzn.to/1Y2M4Sr
1/2" Set Screw (8 pack) - http://amzn.to/23iEJQ0
Sandpaper (10 pack) - http://amzn.to/1SFO82g
Lazy Susan Bearing (the 9" inch one) - http://bit.ly/1SIdMQz
Assemble It
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.57.44 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIA/88PV/INT4BGMW/FIA88PVINT4BGMW.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.57.44 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.57.15 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8K/N43Z/INT4BGN5/F8KN43ZINT4BGN5.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.57.15 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.58.26 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FN1/8CR8/INT4BGKX/FN18CR8INT4BGKX.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.58.26 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.58.20 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIV/TIYM/INT4BGMO/FIVTIYMINT4BGMO.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 3.58.20 PM.png)
Connect one side of the lazy Susan to the base, and the other side to the sanding pad.
Stick Sandpaper
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.02 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9G/8FO7/INT4BGCC/F9G8FO7INT4BGCC.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.02 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.13 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F81/52UF/INT4BGCD/F8152UFINT4BGCD.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.13 PM.png)
9" adhesive backed pad of 80 grit paper.
Attach the Sanding Platform
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.44 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJ5/J6CO/INT4BGCG/FJ5J6COINT4BGCG.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.44 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.55 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8D/357D/INT4BGE4/F8D357DINT4BGE4.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.32.55 PM.png)
The finishing touch is to screw on the sanding platform. A few more drywall screws.
Lubricate the Bearing
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.33.18 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5K/KJXK/INT4BGNK/F5KKJXKINT4BGNK.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.33.18 PM.png)
I used silicone spray here, but apparently that's not good for bearings. If you do this, use machine oil.
Attach to the Drill Press
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.34.20 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F24/7KCC/INT4BGN7/F247KCCINT4BGN7.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.34.20 PM.png)
I tilt the drill press table 90 degrees, and secure the disc sander with a clamp from the side.
It's Sanding!
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.34.41 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2K/NG40/INT4BGMZ/F2KNG40INT4BGMZ.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.34.41 PM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.35.05 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJ9/RZYX/INT4BGMR/FJ9RZYXINT4BGMR.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 4.35.05 PM.png)
This project worked much better than I expected.
HIGH FIVE for reading!