Re: OK...How I Did It !!
One thing I didn't mention was that you can probably get away with running a Gen 1 laminate across a jointer to flatten it (you unavoidably get glue smears around top and bottom) , as long as the first cut isn't to steep 9(like 45 max). But that's about it !!
With the Gen 2 design the grains on individual pieces are running in every direction, and you'll tear out for sure.
I used to have one of these
http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool...rmax-closed-frame-drum-sander-shoppro-25.aspx,
but my shop is small and with the splayed out legs/casters I was always tripping over it. Plus my dust collection system wasn't strong enough to suck up the sanding debris and I had a hard time with burning. I sold it to a returning Iraq War Marine a few years ago (for a very very low price).
So I needed something to flatten the laminates with and built this: (it is NOT a thicknesser, but running both sides of the laminates across that thing produces an acceptable thickness control). Plus because the standard Klingspoor strips attach to velcro on the drum, there is a small air space between the sandpaper and the drum with spinning centrifical force..so the paper stays cool..ie. no burning...plus all the dust is dropped into the vee trough below and an ordinary shopvac takes care of it. It literally produces zero dust in the air...and yes those are $5 inline skate wheels on the hold-downs.
Here's a YouTube describing how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9CkBLHuG4
My total out-of -pocket was less than $500.
If there's interest I can do a separate post on it
Don
