I use a sanding drum on my drill press to smooth curved edges. But on larger projects, it’s easier to bring the drum to the workpiece. The edge sander you see here uses a corded drill to power the sanding drum. A cradle holds the drill square to the workpiece. With a few pieces of hardwood, plywood, a dowel, and a couple of hose clamps, you can build your own portable edge sander.
This drawing shows you how the sander is put together. It starts with the base that provides a large platform for steadying the sander when smoothing an edge. After adding a dowel to act as a handle, you can work on the cradle that holds the drill. Two shallow bevels form a “V” to hold the drill. A third piece acts as a support and forms another handle for additional control. Finally, two large hose clamps securely lock the drill into position. Just make sure the sanding drum is square to the base (use shims if necessary to adjust the drill’s position).
This edge sander will become one of your go-to tools in the shop for getting smooth edges.
