Drill Press Edge Sander

A full-size, dedicated edge sander is one of those tools that would be nice to have — if you have the space. As an alternative, we built the portable edge sander you see above. It’s a scaled-down version of a big, commercial unit with several advantages. First, it’s powered by your drill press. Since there’s no motor, it’s easier to store when it’s not being used. Plus, it uses a common 4″ x 36″ sanding belt. The long, wide platen provides support for smoothing straight edges and outside curves. Inexpensive hardware, including ball bearings, makes it a smooth-running, quiet machine. And the best part is, you’ll find that building the sander is just as enjoyable as using it afterward.