I am only using one bearing, and I can adjust the driving torque up to 2.5 ft-lbs if I need to. I'll just have to point a desk fan at the stepper if I do that.
But even if I lose 10% to drag, 1.25 ft-lbs is still plenty for sand paper.
Most cue lathes have 0.75-1.5 HP motors, which produce...