[Treeoflifestairs.com]

Have 9/16" diameter stainless steel rods that come to me with a mill finish on them. In the past I have sanded them by hand to put the "grain" onto them but it would be so much faster if I could put one end of the rod into a drill and spin it while I sanded. Similar to how a lathe would work. My question is if anyone knows of an attachment that I can put on my 3/8" or 1/2" drill so that I could clamp down on the end of the rod and spin it?

 

[sawdustfactory]

Do you have a lathe?

 

[woodnthings]

motor shaft adaptor

Like these:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CLIMAX-METAL-PRODUCTS-Step-Up-Adapter-5AEY7?Pid=search

You need a 1/2" shaft with a 9/16" bore. They may not make that size, but the idea is the same. A local machine shop could make one in about an hour or less. That may even be cheaper, I donno?

If it were me, I'd start with a 3/4" hex head bolt. I'd reduce the 3/4" to 1/2" for your shaft, bore a 9/16 hole in the head, and drill and tap 3 of the bolt faces for 10-24 set screws.

You can also make one with a wood dowel. Same idea, just slit the 9/16" bored end of the dowel and use a hose clamp to secure the rod, since you can't drill and tap the wood. You must secure the opposite end if the rod is longer than 5 or 6" for safety. You don't want it wobbling around in space.

Another idea is to just get a larger chuck for your drill.
Like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacobs-dril...8?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item2ecb1ad5b4


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-8-Drill-C...5?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item3385a806cf

 

[BWSmith]

Make a Cat head of some fashion.

 

[FrankC]

Cheapest way would be to chuck the threaded end of one of these in your 1/2" drill and get a bushing to reduce 5/8 down to 9/16 to hold the rods.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-8-Electri...985?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53fb843871

 

[Pirate]

I would chuck a short 1/2" rod in the chuck, and ise a short piece of 1/2" vinyl(?) tubing as a coupler. Clamps may be needed.