I've done this with a drum sander as well. If they are really thin or short, I will use two sided tape to hold them to a larger board so they can pass through the sander without being destroyed. Try to put all of them on the same board and run them together.
Good tip. If you glue some 60 or 80 grit sandpaper (sandy side up) to the carrier board, then you need not double side tape the strips. The sandpaper will grip the thin pieces.If you're able to use this method, which I absolutely agree with, then try to use a piece of MDF. It's uniformly flat and consistent thickness.
I just finished sanding/planning hard maple and walnut strips down to 1/8". 32 walnut and 16 hard maple - both 36" long. I have a DW 735 and years ago I made a melamine outfeed table for it. I put cleats on it to fit each DW in and outfeed extension which holds it securely. After taking it on and off a few times I have ended up leaving it on full time as it gives me a longer in/outfeed and so far has not interfered with anything I want to plane. I seldom plane anything thick. I have no problems getting thin strips through but most of the time long strips - 12" or so is as short as I have done. It was worth it as it was easy to make and I have a permanent solution to something that comes up often such as edging plywood. I've put both through drum sander last (don't know if this is a universal problem but I have had shelix cutters for ~4 yrs and have never been able to adjust and get a smooth cut all the way across the width. Finally gave up and use the drum sander) with no problem but again they are long strips.I have some thin walnut strips left over from re-sawing. Want to use them but the thickness of each one varies. When I say varies, I mean on each piece. Any easy way to make them uniform enough to use?
It is faced with soft rubber roofing membrane. There is a small shop vac on the floor behind the table saw. You can see the vacuum hose laying over the saws rip fence.Very interesting. Is it faced with adhesive backed paper to aid friction? What do you use to generate the vacuum?
Free to copy for your own use but if you start selling them I would like royalties...@Mike Davis - really like that design. Aside from not wasting thin stock, it'd let me rip it safely, something I've been looking for a way to do. Thanks!