Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - 31-710 Belt-Disk sander modified

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl.
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

True Manufacturer:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl., Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Sander
Machine Size:	12-inch disk sander only modification (6 x 48 -inch belt)
Submitted By:	Karl J. Shields

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	31-710 Belt-Disk sander modified
Date of Manufacturer:	1970
Serial Number:	EK-8831 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	4/15/2006 1:28:54 PM

Comments:

I found this sander through a WoodWeb advertisement sometime before ArnFest 2005. It, along with three other disk sanders, was advertised as being available at a dealer near Keith Bohn. Keith scored one of the other sanders, and was kind enough to pick this one up for me. Thanks again, Keeter.

Fast-forward to five days before Christmas, when I finally got to Mahwaukee to get this machine out of Keith's garage. I neglected to take "before" pictures , but it was evident that his sander had spent every day of its 35 years making metal shavings. Loading the sander into the back of my F-150, Keith and I got a good dusting of both metal and snow.

What we've got here is a bit of a salvage job. This machine started life as a combination 12-inch disk and 6 x 48-inch belt sander/grinder, but somewhere along the way--probably due to damage--the belt section was removed, and somebody decided to continue to use it as a disk-only. This is not the first time that we've seen this, as the good Dr. Vaughan details here: http://www.owwm.com/PhotoIndex/detail.asp?id=1927 .

Another odd bit of engineering was a piece of plate steel screwed to the original table, probably to cover the miter gauge slot, which would just collect oil, grease, metal shavings, and other gunge. This plate also concealed some damage to the table: the entire left-side "tab" of the table--which goes around the edge of the disk, and to which the trunnions attach--had been broken off, but expertly welded back in place.

In the process of restoring this machine, I found a great local source for bearings, with a real-live counterman who not only knows his business, but relishes a real challenge. Time to break out those unfindable W-T bearings...but I digress....

New bearings for the shaft and the motor, a new drive sheave/pulley (because I broke the original Browning while removing it from the motor--ouch) and belt, a bath with Castrol SuperClean, some sanding, and a two-tone Rustoleum paint treatment, and voila', this guy should be sanding for another 35 years. Yes, the switch is mounted up-side-down, but truthfully, it makes the stop button more accessible--not to mention it was easier than taking everything back apart to turn it around.

This was my first total rebuild, and I'm pretty happy with how it has turned out. I still need a pair of tilt scales for the table, if you've got one hidden in a rat-hole. And...anybody have a spare rear door for one of these stands?

Photo 1:

Comments: The Twins before. Note Keith's Craftsman on the right.
Source: My Olympus C-3030

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Photo 2:

Comments: Here's the front quarter shot.
Source: My Olympus C-3030

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Photo 3:

Comments: Rear corner, showing the cut-off shaft and belt-mounting.
Source: My Olympus C-3030

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