Emery cloth belt Lathe Sander Be Safe In The Shop

[jjr2001]

I think Jon recently posted some info on not holding long strips of emery cloth when polishing on the lathe.
Instead a stick with emery cloth cemented on it would substitute.
Well I have a bad habit of using strips of emery on the lathe and did not like the idea of having fingers (or more)
wrapped around a spinning chunk of steel.

It has been said that if you are using emery on the lathe that it
should not be long enough to wrap around the piece you are turning. Sounds like a good safety practice.

So I made up a "sanding stick" that would hold one 1/2" wide by 18" sanding belt. The belts are available on line and
Harbor Freight had some at my local store.


The stick parts are just a piece of all thread (1/4-20) with one end turned down to fit the spring.
One spring and a piece of 3/8 x 1/2 inch aluminum bar. The short end of the bar is threaded for the rod.
The long end of the bar has a recess for the spring. When compressed the spring is enclosed in the recess.


So without further ado:

[jjr2001]

These sticks can be used and re-used without any glue.
Just cut some sand paper to fit around the channel and leave enough to cover the inside of the channel.
The 1/2" dowel holds the paper tight and it is a simple matter to change the worn paper.

Just sayin!

Cheers, JR

[CharlesWaugh]

Fingers are terrible thing to waste!
:-)

I've been 'excited' by strips wrapping themselves onto work pieces many a time (too many times!)

Great idea!

[DIYer]

Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Emery Cloth Belt Holder to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Emery Cloth Belt Holder by jjr2001

tags: lathe, safety

[rossbotics]

Thats a kool little trick, i'll have to remember this

Doug

[jjr2001]

Thanks guys, I think it just may save some tense moments in the shop.
I have had the emery strips wrap around the part in the past and it is not pleasant.
I never got wrapped up in one but could see how that could happen.
My method did evolve to not allow even a a fourth or 90 degree circle of the emery to wrap around the part
but I think this will be better and remove a bit of uncertainty when polishing on the lathe.

Cheers, JR