I've finished my gelcoat planer

[30boat]

It's done.I had to overcome a few teething problems.The grinder spindle wouldn't take the side thrust so I fitted an outrigger bearing on the grinder side pulley that engages in a pin welded inside the belt case.I also made the guides adjustable by knobs that turn on threaded rods.The vacuum adapter is made of 1mm stainless plate welded up and faired.
This is a simple machine and I'm already thinking of ways one could be made much more simply.I don't understand how they can charge over £2000 for the commercialy available one.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

A MASTERPIECE of Ingenuity.

I hope that the durability of the chosen brand of angle grinder is up to the job! Well done!

 

[30boat]

Thanks,it's no big deal really.I've got a back up grinder as they are cheap enough.

 

[Graham_Wright]

That looks impressive. Is there a market? I've p.m.'d you.

 

[Boathook]

Looks good. What about a model that will clamp to any angle grinder?

 

[Talulah]

I used an ordinary electric plane when I did the old boat.
The nice thing about yours is that you can get into the concave curves.
The front toe af an ordinary electric plane gets in the way but could be taken off.

 

[pvb]

It looks very ingenious. How do you control the depth of cut?

 

[oldsaltoz]

Did you end up rounding the outer edges of the blades?

 

[Gunfleet]

That's impressive.

 

[30boat]

There are followers on each side of the drum that are adjustable by threaded knobs. The left hand one is left flush with the blade and the right hand one is adjusted to set the depth of cut.

Left

Right

 

[Searush]

For anyone considering a commercial version, start with an estimate of the total market for it, then consider the % you can hit initially before a chinese copy appears. You may need to get all your tooling & set up costs back in the first 6-12 months, then £2k per tool doesn't seem so high.

 

[30boat]

Did you end up rounding the outer edges of the blades?

I still haven't used it in anger.Do you think it's necessary to round the blades off?I've tried the planer on wood and the cut is very smooth .

 

[30boat]

Quote"Looks good. What about a model that will clamp to any angle grinder?"Quote

I thought about that but the problem is that every grinder is different and it would be impossible to come up with a universal fitting.

 

[LittleShip]

Do you think it's necessary to round the blades off?I've tried the planer on wood and the cut is very smooth .

When using the hand held scraper it will mark the surface if you don't round the edges.

I would suggest that the power planer will dig in and severely mark the surface your cleaning. Round the edges before you try it in earnest.

Hope it works well

Tom.

 

[pvb]

When using the hand held scraper it will mark the surface if you don't round the edges.

I would suggest that the power planer will dig in and severely mark the surface your cleaning. Round the edges before you try it in earnest.

How can it dig in if it has depth stops each side? It's impossible!

 

[Tradewinds]

When using the hand held scraper it will mark the surface if you don't round the edges.

I would suggest that the power planer will dig in and severely mark the surface your cleaning. Round the edges before you try it in earnest.

Hope it works well

Tom.

I watched the guy at my marina gel plane a hull just before Xmas.

I was there when he changed blades.

Straight swop, worn for new - no rounding of new blade ends. Neat end result.

Just my observation - stand to be corrected by a professional user.