disc sander safety advice needed.

[chunkolini]

I have just bought one of these
http://www.recordpower-thetoolshop.com/acatalog/Disk_Sander.html

I was hoping to use it to sand end grain on pieces of wood up to around 400mm wide. There is a very natty sliding fence fitted which as far as I can see is useless with the guard fitted.
The insructions advise against removing the guard because the workpiece can snatch on the right hand end of the disc as it is effectively moving upwards. How likely is this?

I notice the smaller versions say 200mm dont have this guard fitted.
If I rig an adjustable fence (eg 30mm steel box section bolted through the table) above the timber am I safe?

Your opinions gratefully recieved.

Chunko'.

Chunko'.

 

[rtbcomp]

....The insructions advise against removing the guard because the workpiece can snatch on the right hand end of the disc as it is effectively moving upwards. How likely is this?

......

Someone I know operated a table saw without the guard fitted, the piece of wood caught and went sailing past his right ear at high speed, so it could easily happen.

 

[the artfull-codger]

I built one of these years ago [without a guard I hasten to add] & it's o-k on the down side but if I need to do anything that's wider than the diameter of the disk you have to put the work on ever so slightly angled to the down side, it's a bit hit & miss but can be done, it WILL chatter/oscillate on the up side, I,ve never thought of putting a restraint above the work, if you have the sander allready it's worth a shot,even better if it was spring loaded similar to a spindle molder.

slan go fol

 

[madkayaker]

don't drink and sand. the big problem is using the wrong side and it fires the stuff up you could make a rail that fits horizontally above the piece needed to stand to stop it lifting

 

[Hitch]

As mentioned, one side will try and lift. Perhaps a bar could be affixed to it, accepting an adjustable featherboard to keep a good level of downward pressure.

 

[Windy Miller]

I'm guessing that you will be running the wood backwards and forwards to sand the full width on a large job (400 mm as you mentioned), and I'm wondering will there be a problem with one half being sanded up, and the other half being sanded down?

I have a big old sander like that out in the garage, but I dont think I have ever tried sanding wood that is wider than the radius of the disc. For bigger stuff I generally use the linisher.

Im not saying there will be an issue, just thinking out loud really!

 

[chunkolini]

Had a look at it today, does the job with the guard off, but I think will need treating with respect, and when I come to do the job in question look into making a guard/guide thingy to stop the workpiece getting to jiggy.

Wll report back sometime.

Chunko'.