For anyone who has used a drill press to make a spinner: is a drill press with a 1/3 HP (120V, 60 hz, 1 Phase, 1725 RPM) motor enough? I'm looking at one on craigslist at the moment for $75 and hoping I can talk him down a little bit if this will do the job.

By the way, I was planning on following this vid:

IDK, looks wobbly to me, which means that it will take a toll on the machine. Doesn't look too stable. I can imagine that it would be challenging to get the hole in the bowl drilled exactly center. It also doesn't look like its spinning fast enough or stable enough to put much pressure on the ball for refinishing. I'd also keep in mind your work height too. You want it at a reasonable working height so you can bear down on it. The lining on the edge of the bowl is a must. I might try that rubber handle liquid stuff. The stuff you dip tool handles in? Put it in a tin foil throwaway pan (unless you want a divorce real quick, then use the wife's) and dip the bowl/s.

Erin

There's another DIY video on youtube that is pretty much the same thing and that one is a lot more stable. He has padding on the edge of the bowl (But the bowl is way too small so the ball sits on, not in, the bowl. If you get the drill press drilled to a table and the bowl center, it should be stable. I'm thinking of getting weather stripping to line the bowl (the kind that lines your trunk). Putting weight on the drill press itself might be a problem, though, as I don't know how strong they are.

intheZONE782: PM sent thanks

socalboomer: PM sent thanks

Don't forget the GFI, since you'll be dripping water all over the place...

I made mine off of one of the videos on the internet. First bowl we couldn't get centered well enough. Second bowl, my dad took it to work and had a guy with all kinds of tools center it. It works perfectly fine for me and I love it!

I have seen a few video's on youtube and to be honest some look kind of dangerous. A superglued 1/2" bolt used as a shaft to one of the pulleys.. Wouldnt it be easier just to buy an electric motor for $40 and mount it to a frame? The bowl would be attached directly to the motors shaft...

The video doesn't address water. Its best to sand balls with water. If you get water down into this electrical drill press what happens? If your seal is not perfect you will also get water in the bottom of the bowl, which will again drip down into the electrical drill press. Two stainless steel bowls rotating is going to generate a lot of static electricity and if they are not secured, could also contribute to the electical error possibilities. I don't think super glue would secure the two bowls. You'd need to to silver braze them together. Or you could use a more rigid plastic like PVC piping if you could find it in a big enough diameter.

The more I think about it, the more I think of this contraption as being the next Darwin Award.

Erin

I use mine 4 times a week cleaning 2 the 3 balls each time and already have resurface and refinished a few balls. Mine is rock solid and is made with a Harbor Freight $35 drill press. Used the large bolt to bowl and very little wobble.

Love it!

This works wonderfull! Love having my own spinner. Was wondering if it would be worth $300 up for spinner and I think it is. To have to only pay $35 makes it even sweeter. Totally has paid for itself over and over.