Oliver 15 Disc Sander.

Origins · Purchasing · Repair · Restoration

Origins.

This machine came from federal government surplus although I am not sure what agency or from where.

Purchasing.

I purchased this from my buddy Mick, a local woodworker.

Repair.

The table on this sander is supported only on the right side where the adjustment also is located. One of the two bolts was in place and the other was not, the casting had broken. Mick fixed this up by drilling and tapping a hole completely through the table and countersinking a bolt from the top of the table into the casting below. This is holding very well for now, but I am not impressed with the weight of the table and anything you put on the table exerting that much torque on two bolts. I assume that the purpose of this one sided holding mechanism is to provide easy access to the disc for changing the sandpaper. In a high production shop I could see the benefit, but in my shop, I will probably be changing the paper twice a year.

Restoration.

The sander was not in too bad of shape when Mick purchased it. He then went on and cleaned it up and put on a new coat of gray paint.