Make a Honing Disk or a Sanding Disk for your Lathe!

You can easily make a honing disk for your wood lathe to sharpen your skew or carving tools. This one is just MDF with a honing compound. Or add a disc sander attachment for your lathe for that occasional sanding project that calls for a disk sander that you do not have in your shop. This
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[@aarondsalberg]

Very helpful! Thank you.

[@billy19461]

Retired welder, widower. I have been turning for just over a year now and I think that I have learned more from you, Eric Anderson, and the Wyoming wood turner than all of the rest of the you tube videos that I have watched. I'm in Louisiana so in the heat of the day that's what I do. Watch KZbin. Keep up the good work! Ps Thanks!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good company. I hope you are enjoying turning as much as me.

[@markyehle6355]

Mike--just a quick thank you for your video on sharpening a ban saw blade. I followed your directions and I was astounded at how beautifully the ban saw worked. It was better that a new blade. Thanks for that tip.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate that. Not one of my more popular videos as it did not resonate with many folks.

[@billy19461]

I loved it

[@wagWAGart]

thank you mike great tips and thanks for sharing

[@andyc9460]

Great video Mike, more great tips thanks

[@benmeyer731]

Very nice Idea I plan to make one about 12 inches as i already have an 8 inch disk sander as part of a combo disk/belt sander.

[@jaysimmons2319]

Suggest putting a coat of finish on the Baltic birch plywood disk. Makes removing the sandpaper even easier

[@johnwallace4408]

Nice video. A lot of valuable information in this video. This is why I subscribed to your channel.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for your support, John.

[@mitchellmanning7887]

Thanks for sharing

[@monophoto1]

You sort of answer this question, but for the sake of completeness - the honing disc is made of MDF, and doesn't require any special edge treatment. The honing compound starts out green, and eventually turns black as it picks up fine metal particles from use. That said, if you want to be fancy, you could add a leather edge - perhaps an old belt. I don't think I could find it now, but many years ago I saw a video in which the turner suggested permanently mounting the mdf honing disc in place of the outboard handwheel. That way, it's always available. If I were to do that, I think I would design a two-part wheel - the inner disc made of mdf for honing, and an outer wheel to serve as a handwheel so that you don't have to grab that grubby honing wheel.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You got it. I don't like to get too fancy. I tend to be happy with perhaps a fast 90% solution. Adding leather would just be too much effort for me without a clear understanding it would be a signifcant improvement. I actually rarely use the honing wheel. If I used carving tools, I would probably use it more.

[@bertdelisle393]

Great tip Mike, every woodturner needs one of these. I made a 12" one and found it too big and now have reverted back to a smaller one, just easier to spin on and off and easier to store the smaller one.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sometimes bigger is not always better!

[@ValioMadre7]

My girlfriend disagrees.

[@beloitdavisja]

Great video. I made a sanding disc to use for sanding segmented rings for a bowl. Not as good as a dedicated 12" disc sander, but it works!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Excellent idea. Big belt sanders are expensive!

[@cobberpete1]

Thanks Mike. I made a disc a few months ago but put a Velcro sheet on it. Cost me $8 Australian. It makes it a lot easier to replace the sanding pads when due for a change

[@hardtailsuicidaljockey6827]

I was just about to write that great minds think alike. ...lol

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Great idea if you are going to use it a lot in the absence of a dedicated sander. I bet you built a nice platform for yours.

[@mitchellmanning7887]

Great idea, thanks for sharing

[@MrVillafum]

Great ideas Mike. Also I've heard of others using leather for their honing disks. Is that what you used? Or if have a video on how you made it can you share the link? Thanks

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It is an mdf disk. No leather. It works.

[@michaellionart4841]

“Spare lathe” 🤣

[@richardlowman6152]

Mike, does it really make a difference in the cut the tool gives you?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes on a skew. I would not use for a gouge. That said, I rarely mount my honing wheel to hone my skew. When I do, I do them all at the same time.

[@jeffoldham3466]

mike what is the material you put the green compound on,,is it leather

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

No it is just an MDF wheel.

[@chaselee86]

Thanks for the video demonstration! What should be the speed / rpm of the lathe when it is used as a sander? Should I set it to lower speed?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You will have to experiment and see what works for you. I would think around 800 - 1000

[@chaselee86]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Thanjs very much!

[@jaysimmons2319]

Mike. What is the "rubber" material on the honing disk?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

No rubber. Green metal honing compoound you can probably get at the hardware store. It turns black from the metal oxides in use.

[@zetuskid]

Mike I think u misread some of the post asking what material, the band around the MDF. I too want to know what is around the MDF that u put the compound on to. The black ring around the MDF, that u put slices into. That one???

[@KenWmo]

zetus kid it is just MDF. The disk has been used before this video. When the compound removes metal from the tool, in turns black and the wax/metal/abrasive paste is embedded into the MDF, turning it black. I used to use compound on flat poplar for hand honing with the same result.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It is just MDF with slots cut with honing compound added. The black is just steel oxide from use.

[@erouse666]

Sanding wax: proper use of. Just a suggestion for a tip video. I have made the mineral oil/beeswax sanding wax but I'm not sure I'm using it right. At what grit do I start? Once started do I reapply for each grit? Is it supposed to ruin my sandpaper? Things of that nature. Thanks and keep the good stuff coming.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I would use for any grit that will cause dust. I do plan on a video on wet sanding and making sanding butter.

[@dclinks]

what material is on the honing disc? sandpaper?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

The green is honing compound that you need to reapply. It comes off a stick.

[@dclinks]

Thanks

[@emostorm7]

Buffing compound is just mostly wax, melt it and it'll come off the block so fast you won't know what to do with it 😊

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for commenting.

[@gaylewilliams7353]

What is on the edge of the honing disk?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Disk is all MDF with a honing compound applied.

[@gaylewilliams7353]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Okay. So the edge is just MDF with the honing compound. Thanks!

[@haroldsworld]

You dont say it or show it but I have assuming, and you know that that means, that the honing disk is just MDF?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry I did not make it clear. Just mdf.

[@victortatum1564]

What was on your honing disc?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Metal honing compound is all and some n otiches to better hold some.

[@victortatum1564]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning I saw that but I mean what is on the surface edge of the disc?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I must not be understanding the question.I don't know how to say it any other way. Honing compound. And a few saw notches to hold some compound.

[@victortatum1564]

So honing compound on the bare wood of the disc edge.

[@victortatum1564]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning lol...