But I quickly learned that I’d created something far more usable than for spoon-sculpting. A low-speed, high torque, stationary sander has been an extraordinary tool to have around. The slow speed avoids burning end grain, high torque keeps it spinning even when I really dig into it, and being heavy & stationary allows precise & predictable control of the workpiece.

On top of that, I can re-use 5″ sandpaper discs once they become too dull to use effectively on my ROS (random orbit sander). How can this be? Random Orbit Sanders are high-speed, low-torque devices that rely on the grits to be sharp to work effectively & efficiently. But the lathe is a low-speed, high-torque machine – an excellent matchup for sandpaper that has become too dull for effective ROS usage.

5″ and 6″ plates are now available on Etsy so you can have one in your shop. Go getcha one!