I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

goodfella wrote:
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since
replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and
all
I want to sand is balsa.

Don't see any reason why not--this works fine with a radial arm saw
and I can see where a miter saw's adjustments could be very handy. Be
aware though, that with a wood as soft as balsa it may sand too fast
to be really controllable.

A Sears 10" sanding disk is 16 bucks
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ol+Accessories.
Worst that's likely to happen is that you find that you wasted 16
bucks. If you like the results there are fancier disks available.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"goodfella" wrote in message
...
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

1. Do you really want to listen to that thing run during a sanding session?
Darn near all of them are too noisy when simply running for a few seconds.

2. I wonder if the bearings would last taking a load 90 degrees to the
direction that they were designed to take a load and were they or the motor
designed to be run non stop for several minutes at a time.

3. I'd strongly suggest a $150 dedicated 12" disk sander, very QUIET by
comparison.

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"goodfella" wrote in message
...
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

1. Do you really want to listen to that thing run during a sanding
session? Darn near all of them are too noisy when simply running for a
few seconds.

2. I wonder if the bearings would last taking a load 90 degrees to the
direction that they were designed to take a load and were they or the
motor designed to be run non stop for several minutes at a time.

3. I'd strongly suggest a $150 dedicated 12" disk sander, very QUIET by
comparison.


I think I still have a ten inch disk (I said DISK!) that takes sanding
disks. It came with my first Crapsman tablesaw back around 1980 .
Want to say I've seen them since in a catalogue or some-such.

Dave in Houston

On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:46:14 -0700 (PDT), goodfella
wrote:

I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.


For safety sake make sure the sanding disk is rated for your motor
speed. With a light easy touch, it may work for balsa.

On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:46:14 -0700 (PDT), goodfella wrote:

I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

IMHO. it's way too many RPM for balsa..
Try a washing machine motor and a wood disk in whatever size you want your
paper...
If you don't have a motor handy, trade the saw for one, someone out there needs
it..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Aug 28, 8:41*pm, mac davis wrote:
On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:46:14 -0700 wrote:
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. *I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. *I have since replaced
it. *I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. *The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

IMHO. it's way too many RPM for balsa..
Try a washing machine motor and a wood disk in whatever size you want your
paper...
If you don't have a motor handy, trade the saw for one, someone out there needs
it..

Not this one. I loaned it out and when I got it back, it wouldn't cut
straight. I hate to throw it away because the motor is still
good. . I agree with the light touch on balsa. Thanks to everyone
who responded back to me.

A good carpenter can do good work with bad tools
A bad carpenter can do good work with good tools
A bad carpenter can't do good work with bad tools

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:37:09 -0700 (PDT), goodfella wrote:


Not this one. I loaned it out and when I got it back, it wouldn't cut
straight. I hate to throw it away because the motor is still
good. . I agree with the light touch on balsa. Thanks to everyone
who responded back to me.

hmm... had a problem like that on an old Craftsman and it turned out to be a
little alignment/setup and tightening the bolt that the saw moves up and down
on..
The guy that borrowed it (for 2 years) didn't notice that the bolt was starting
to loosen and the zero clearance slot was about 3/4" wide from the play at the
pivot!


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Aug 29, 11:01*am, mac davis wrote:
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:37:09 -0700 wrote:
Not this one. *I loaned it out and when I got it back, it wouldn't cut
straight. *I hate to throw it away because the motor is still
good. *. *I agree with the light touch on balsa. *Thanks to everyone
who responded back to me.

hmm... had a problem like that on an old Craftsman and it turned out to be a
little alignment/setup and tightening the bolt that the saw moves up and down
on..
The guy that borrowed it (for 2 years) didn't notice that the bolt was starting
to loosen and the zero clearance slot was about 3/4" wide from the play at the
pivot!

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

The problem is in the pivot point. I tried to tighen it, but any
tighter and it won't move up and down.It is a Pro-Tool mitre saw and
since they are out of business, I can't get replacement parts. As a
mater of fact, I replaced it for $69 with a Ryobi. The motor is still
good and I hate to discard it.

Leon wrote:
"goodfella" wrote in message
...
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. I have since replaced
it. I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. The motor still runs good and all
I want to sand is balsa.

1. Do you really want to listen to that thing run during a sanding session?
Darn near all of them are too noisy when simply running for a few seconds.

2. I wonder if the bearings would last taking a load 90 degrees to the
direction that they were designed to take a load and were they or the motor
designed to be run non stop for several minutes at a time.

3. I'd strongly suggest a $150 dedicated 12" disk sander, very QUIET by
comparison.



Not having read all the comments on this subject I would like to submit
my opinion any way.

NEVER USE ANY POWER TOOL FOR SOMETHING IT'S NOT MANUFACTURED FOR.....

Dave N

On Aug 27, 6:23*pm, "J. Clarke" wrote:
goodfellawrote:
I have a mitre saw that I don;t use for sawing anymore. *I loaned it
out, and didn't get it back in very good shape. *I have since
replaced
it. *I would like to know if I could replace the saw blad and put
sanding disc on it and use it for sanding; just like one of those
combination disc and belt sanders. *The motor still runs good and
all
I want to sand is balsa.

Don't see any reason why not--this works fine with a radial arm saw
and I can see where a miter saw's adjustments could be very handy. *Be
aware though, that with a wood as soft as balsa it may sand too fast
to be really controllable.

A Sears 10" sanding disk is 16 buckshttp://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00922723000P?vName=Tools&cNa....
Worst that's likely to happen is that you find that you wasted 16
bucks. *If you like the results there are fancier disks available.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

I purchased one this weekend and it works very well for what I am
doing. I set the saw at 22.5 degrees and sanded a couple of joints.
They matched perfectly. The way I sand my balsa is to set the angle
and draw a line on the wood, Then I sand down to the line. Works
well. Thanks for your help.