UPDATE: I Added a Digital Read Out to My Wide Belt Sander!

Wixey DRO Kit I used in this Video - amzn.to/3YhxFrd
A worthy upgrade that actually didn't take too long to accomplish! I very much recommend this upgrade and the kit is very reasonable priced. I'm sure the replacement SCM part would be much more expensive.
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#Joinery #Woodworking #Wixey

[@scholarscholar9388]

You can get Cat5 cables with right-angled RJ45 plugs - this would be neater.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Thankyou thats a great shout!!!

[@raydriver7300]

As with everything you do there is so much patience, knowledge and attention to detail. I fancy a Laguna 16/32 but need lots more pennies 🌞

[@Mike--K]

I added the WR550 to my P/T, but it was like putting lipstick on a pig (the P/T was the pig). I removed it and got rid of the P/T. The Wixey is a great bit of kit, but if you disconnect the cable from either end or remove the batteries, you will lose the calibration and must recalibrate. I noticed at @1:26, it appears you have the sensor attached to the scale the wrong way. The pattern on the scale is supposed to match the pattern on the sensor. If you flip the sensor over, the cable port on the sensor will be in front. You can also replace the existing cable with a shorter cable that has a 90-degree connection on one end. This will allow you to keep the cable as short as possible and out of the way.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Cheers Mike, Yeah it is upside down to keep the cable pointing into the machine, good spot! Like i say i will get a short cable and get it the correct way once i get a chance, the 90 degree cable is a great shout

[@tpaulfelder1]

I have a couple of Wixey DORs. Their only weak point I have found is their battery compartments. in particular the spring contacts

[@BradshawJoinery]

Nice one Paul. I will be careful around them. The do.look pretty delicate

[@paultay23]

Nice upgrade Ollie. My Laguna 16/32 has a digital readout but unless I am mistaken I don'thave the same facility to to use a piece of timber to dial it in... Cheers Paul

[@BradshawJoinery]

No probably not, I find a caliper easier now tbh!

[@drmkiwi]

Nice one. Having a couple of tools with DROs I find it a little frustrating using other gear with analogue control and attempting to compensate for back lash (which just doesn't happen with the DRO kit) Assume you will also be putting through bigger boards than the ones you demonstrated in the vid. Would it be possible to mount the thickness calibration bits of metal slightly higher so the lower piece is in line with a board on the belt drive. That way for a heavy board it would seem just be a matter of sliding the board slightly sideways with one hand while holding the spring loaded side open with your other hand? Cheers, David

[@BradshawJoinery]

It wasnt with how i wanted the cabling unfortunately, It simply wasnt long enough. Itll be fine. Tbh i prefer using a caliper and adjusting the dial anyway. Just as quick, but its handy to have if you misplace the calipers.... not that it ever happens.... ha

[@tonyworkswood]

Big improvement getting rid of the backlash. That will save you a lot of headaches creeping up to a finished dimension. Good easy fix. Tony

[@BradshawJoinery]

Cheers Tony, Yeah its a good improvement all round. I like it.

[@mrnormski9005]

Another great improvisation video, however you realise the digital display means you're now on the clock! So where's the sash windows videos 😂. All the best for Xmas & the New Year

[@BradshawJoinery]

Haha Cheers Norm, Im working on it mate lol

[@theofarmmanager267]

Uncanny really. I recently bought a secondhand Axminster 635 - which is a drum sander, albeit twin drums - so not in your league. Now retired, I couldn’t justify the cost of a true wide belt sander. Anyway, I haven’t commissioned it yet as I know I want a few days of no work in order just to ficus upon the sander - but I did buy the igaging DRO because of the need for accuracy when sanding in order to avoid very expensive burnt abrasive. I’d like to say that this season will give me the opening to get the sander going but i know I’ll be working in the shop every day bar Xmas Day, Boxing Day and 27th. I’m hoping the igaging version (bought because I have several other of their tools and I’ve found them very good) is as relatively easy to fit and as useful as your Wixey.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Nice one Theo! Yes its hard to find the time sometimes, however things like this that ive bought and want to use are like a scratch i have to itch so generally i get them sorted! haha

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@BradshawJoinery I know that feeling but the lesson I’ve learnt from my personality is that I try to squeeze extra jobs in - and quality suffers. So, now, I try and make sure that I really give myself the time to do a job like commissioning a piece of equipment properly. In the meantime, I’ve still got my old sander and so do have something to fall back on. By the by, big mistake after more than 45 years of woodworking. I had to make a 4m x 1.2m dining table and persuaded my wife to use the existing table as a base and just make a removal top that would sit on top of the existing 8’ top. Not a bad idea. But, it went downhill from there; I could have used plywood but wanted solid timber so, I milled up 8 boards of European oak 1800 x 130 x 21 and 8 off 2400 x 130 x 21. I decided that staggering the central joins would give additional strength and still be supported by the base. Experience told me that aligning the boards in height and along the lengths would be an issue and so decided to use dominos for height adjustment and pocket screws for tight joints along the lengths. Good theory; dreadful in its application. All my fault; my biggest cock up for years. Dominos did not align and pocket screws didn’t bite enough to pull together. So, I decided to retro rout grooves along every joint to hide the irregularities. That was compounding error on error. I used a Festool router attached with the Festool jig to Festool track and expected straight grooves of an even depth. Nope. Uneven boards led to uneven depth of grooves. Whilst I was able to cramp the tracks at the edges and ends, I didn’t expect that the friction of the (new) router bit going through some of the oak would move the tracks bit, boy, it did. Poor design; worse application ; dreadful attempt at recovery. £120 on a tablecloth wil now hide it from public view but it will sit there until I die to remind me that I know so much less than I thought I did.

[@tundrawhisperer4821]

Wixey products are complete garbage IMO. Accurate Technologies makes some of the finest retro fit DRO’s out there.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Do you Have a link? I agree they are a bit tinpot, but ideal for this job, cost effective and easy to use/replace. I wouldn't be putting a wixey on a milling machine, but then i wouldnt put a expensive DRO on a old woodworking machine!

[@hswing11]

USE A CALIPER

[@BradshawJoinery]

I do, pretty much

[@paul_my_plumbs_uk]

So you wont be xmas shopping at axminster or workshop heaven ollie??? 😜😜🎅🎅🎅

[@BradshawJoinery]

Maybe a little, but ive bought the mother of all presents for myself recently so reigning in the spending!!! haha

[@nicksimmons7234]

Just look for Cat 5 patch cable and you’ll find some really short options.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Cheers Nick, Ideal

[@christopherinteriors6521]

I have used quite a lot of wide belt sanders ranging from single to 3 belts. Not one of them ever had an accurate gauge on them. When I invest in a wide belt sander myself (second hand) I will consider this upgrade. Thanks for the great video again.

[@BradshawJoinery]

Cheers matey, yes made a good difference! Will see how it goes

[@Merkaveli]

Timesavers wide belts have incredible accuracy

[@Dazza19746]

If yours is like mine, it all depends how many of the heads are in use, as they’re all taking a wee bit more. Wouldn’t mind getting the tech in for a service Have a great Xmas Oliver 👍🏻

[@BradshawJoinery]

Pretty much, it's only a single head but can add the pad in to flatten the belt which sands more. It's just nice to read off the bed rather than the motor spindle because of all the slack in the mechanism!

[@Dazza19746]

@@BradshawJoinery yeah, you’ll love the digital ! Tenth of a mm precision 👍🏻 I mortice my stiles, hit them with the little router bit for haunch, then through the sander at 57.3 leaves me a fat mm either side to skim on the surface planer to dead size, as I factor 100 mm over all off the shoulder deduction when docking my rails, where as it actually ends up 102 ( 2@a tad over 51+ the moulding is around 6.4, makes it that 57 ish ) I’d rather have the option to take a little bit off, you can always take some Off, adding it on is harder 😜

[@richardstevenson2727]

🎅🏻👍

[@BradshawJoinery]

Ho ho ho.. :)

[@gavjav1]

Ive never seen one of those Wixey DRO kits before Ollie, How's it working?

[@BradshawJoinery]

All good so far, (3 months) I havent been in the shop much, but seems to keep its settings ok!