Shaping on a router table?

[maomoonshiner]

Howdy folks -- I've got some shaping to do with those mini sanding drums. I don't have a drill press and I SURE don't have a proper shaper.

So...here's my question. Is it okay to use sanding drums on a router table? The shafts are 1/4" and 1/2", so they fit snug in my collets. But my router (Freud 1700), at its lowest setting runs at 8000 RPM. Is that too fast?

I've used it for this purpose before, but it seems to wear out the sleeves on the drums pretty quick. That may just be because they're the sleeves that come with the drums, but I can't be sure.

What are your ideas? Thanks.

Morgan

 

[Joe Scharle]

Wow...I'm surprised the drums didn't disintegrate.

 

[TracyP]

I would say that 8000 plus is too fast.

 

[maomoonshiner]

Is an rpm rating in the 2000 range acceptable?

 

[FredP]

I dont think its a good idea.:dontknow: do you have a dremel and a set of burrs? HF sells the burr sets. I dont know if they are worth a darn though. before I would put the sanding drums on a router I would try a file or wrap some sandpaper on a dowel and shape by hand.:icon_thum

 

[merrill77]

I would say that is not recommended. RPMs are way to high for sanding. And the drums aren't balanced (since they're meant to be slow). Sounds like trouble. If you try it, be sure to have a video camera running when you fire it up

 

[Makinsawdust]

As the Croc hunter would have said, "Danger, Danger, Danger". If you've ever been hit on the hand by the sanding sleeve peeling apart on one of these, imagine that times the added rpms. Ooooooooouch!
Rob

 

[PChristy]

As the Croc hunter would have said, "Danger, Danger, Danger". Rob

I thought that was from the Robot in "Lost In Space":rotflm: I agree with everyone else - way to many RMP's - Do you have a hand held varible speed drill - just a thought

 

[jeff...]

 

[PChristy]

Jeff :icon_thum

 

[Tarhead]

I think Doug Robinson's signature line sums it up:
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should.":gar-Bi

What kind of shaping do you need to do?

Back in the pre router and sandpaper days they used scratch stocks for molding profiles. They still work pretty good if you keep the edges dressed to 90 degrees with a file. Just need a piece of scrap wood, piece of sawblade/spring steel/etc, a few files and a few screws.

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/scratch.html

http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/content/binary/082-83_FEB08PW_JJ_Scratch Stock.pdf


If you just need to clean up a profile here's a great idea from Charles Neil using Bondo and wax paper to make a big profile sanding block:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1305031876?bclid=1311197674&bctid=1305478080