Rotex Jig

[presidentsdad]

Question to the FOG...has anyone out there made a jig to turn a Rotex 125 or 150 into a right angle sanding machine to be able to shape small parts?  If so, care to share plans/pix?

 

[nclemmons]

I haven't done it but I think if I were I'd use the handle hole with a metric bolt to secure the tool to a base and use that for holding the tool and build a 'table' against the disc.

Should be easy to design and build.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I made one long ago in 2009 out of scrap MDF when I just got my Rotex 150. Used the two screws on the side for the handle to hold it in place.

I had no plan, just made it on the fly. An MDF board like 40 x 30 cm, with a u shaped cradle to hold the Rotex, and a simple height and angle adjustable worktable pointed at the disc held together by butterfly nuts. Took me like 2 or 3 hours to make it.

I used it sometimes, but not often. The disc doesn't run as smooth as a real one, it wanders all over the place when it's free spinning. It had only limited use for me.

Then somebody threw it out in the garbage by accident when I brought it with me on a job. Never felt the need to make another one.

 

[Gregor]

I used it sometimes, but not often. The disc doesn't run as smooth as a real one, it wanders all over the place when it's free spinning.

Did that only happen in random orbit mode or also when you put the Rotex in the mode that gave it the name?

 

[AlexThePalex]

I used it sometimes, but not often. The disc doesn't run as smooth as a real one, it wanders all over the place when it's free spinning.

Did that only happen in random orbit mode or also when you put the Rotex in the mode that gave it the name?

Both. Rotex mode is not purely circular, it still pulsates from side to side. Probably would have worked better with the hard pad, but I only had the soft pad back then.

[attachimg=1]

 

[presidentsdad]

Makes sense, wasn't really thinking that through.  Thanks for  the help (and from keeping me from doing something stupid).

 

[AlexThePalex]

It's not something stupid. It's just not as effective as the real deal but it can work if you don't expect too much.

 

[DeformedTree]

Sounds like something Festool could offer as a CMS insert (a really cheap one).

While like Alex implies, it's not going to be great, I would think it would definitely be better than nothing and be something to give a tool a bit more usefulness.

Of course now this got me thinking about a kit to turn a Circular saw into one.  [scratch chin]

 

[Alanbach]

MLCS makes an attachment to turn a 10” table saw into a disc sander.
https://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/saw_accessories1.html

You will have to scroll down a little to see the accessory that I am talking about.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Sounds like something Festool could offer as a CMS insert (a really cheap one).

Luckily Festool is not Wolfcraft.

 

[Paul G]

I’ve read of people doing this with a belt sander, maybe that might work for your needs

 

[Cheese]

Luckily Festool is not Wolfcraft.

Now that's funny... [thumbs up]

Luckily Festool is also not Milescraft.

 

[DeformedTree]

Sounds like something Festool could offer as a CMS insert (a really cheap one).

Luckily Festool is not Wolfcraft.

Never heard of them, quick search I'm guessing they are a cheap knockoff company?

I wasn't implying cheap as in "8/10 customers still have 9/10 fingers",  but that it should be a pretty straightforward bracket for them (no moving parts, motors, etc).

 

[AlexThePalex]

Nah, they're not a cheap knock off company, they're a company that make really clever powertool jigs for the hobby market, like the one we talk about here. Like a jig that has 15 ways to turn your jigsaw into a band saw, scroll saw or a cocktail stirrer and more.

All very cleverly designed but built so cheap that after 4 uses everything rattles and is out of alignment, if it's not broken in half already.

The company Milescraft Cheese mentions seems to make the same kind of things in the USA.

 

[DeformedTree]

Ah,  yeah, there are various companies like that here.  We also have a chain called harbor freight that was founded on the idea of importing all their stuff from china (thus the name).  Stuff has a place, if you only need something for 1-2 task, and want it cheap, it's good to go. It won't last long, might not even survive the trip from the store to home, but has a place as long as you follow the rule that you never use their products in a situation that failure can cause injury or death, thus you don't buy a car jack, or a ladder from there.  Sometimes though they have a tool/thing that is infact clever and does something good.

Have any companies made 3rd party inserts for CMS? I know users have but have any regular companies run with it?  I see the company you mentioned makes what looks like a knock off MFT with added stuff to it.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I know of no companies that made 3rd party inserts for the CMS.