Do you own an oscillating tool??

[EdCaffreyMS]

If so, then you own something that can be a great help with "hand" sanding!

This lupus stuff, has proven a challenge for many of the things I do. Hand sanding is a biggie....may hand hurt so bad I can hardly grip the sanding stick. So, I found something that has helped me tremendously. An oscillating tool! I found/purchased a universal dremel brand sanding pad (they all seem to have velcro on them), which I ground off to the rubber, and use a light coat of contact cement to "stick" the paper to the pad. It's tedious cutting out the sandpaper, but man is it ever speedy! At 600, I spent literally less then a 1/4 of the time I would otherwise spend hand sanding. Now, that being said, once done with the oscillating sander, I still finish by hand/with the sanding stick....but it's just a couple mins.

I happen to own a Makita battery operated oscillating tool, but any should work. Just thought I'd pass along the info.











There's a very short learning curve..... as in DO NOT press too hard, and train train your eye to see where the sandpaper is cutting. I like the pointed triangle shape of the sanding attachment.... it allow you to concentrate on a small spot/scratch, taking it out and blending the area. It's also easy to get into the plunge area with it.

 

[billyO]

Thanks for sharing the idea. I'm going to have to bookmark this.

 

[John Wilson]

That’s worth a try! Somebody here, forgive me for forgetting who, was also having good luck with a palm sander.

 

[Sean Jones]

That's a good idea. I find hand sanding rather tedious. Particularly if it's a big knife.

 

[Randy Lucius]

use a light coat of contact cement to "stick" the paper to the pad.

Would feathering glue work?

 

[Randy Lucius]

That’s worth a try! Somebody here, forgive me for forgetting who, was also having good luck with a palm sander.

I tried it using instructions I found on the web. Replacing the rubber pad with G10. Vibrated my hands like crazy. Didn't use it very long and ditched that idea.

 

[Chris Railey]

If so, then you own something that can be a great help with "hand" sanding!

This lupus stuff, has proven a challenge for many of the things I do. Hand sanding is a biggie....may hand hurt so bad I can hardly grip the sanding stick. So, I found something that has helped me tremendously. An oscillating tool! I found/purchased a universal dremel brand sanding pad (they all seem to have velcro on them), which I ground off to the rubber, and use a light coat of contact cement to "stick" the paper to the pad. It's tedious cutting out the sandpaper, but man is it ever speedy! At 600, I spent literally less then a 1/4 of the time I would otherwise spend hand sanding. Now, that being said, once done with the oscillating sander, I still finish by hand/with the sanding stick....but it's just a couple mins.

I happen to own a Makita battery operated oscillating tool, but any should work. Just thought I'd pass along the info.











There's a very short learning curve..... as in DO NOT press too hard, and train train your eye to see where the sandpaper is cutting. I like the pointed triangle shape of the sanding attachment.... it allow you to concentrate on a small spot/scratch, taking it out and blending the area. It's also easy to get into the plunge area with it.

I bought this off of amazon with the intent of using it for “hand” sanding blades. I have not tried it yet but no reason it should not work well. It came with many different contours you can use. The sandpaper snaps in securely with a clip and no glue. Plus, you will be cutting squares for use which will be easier than tri-angles.

 

[EdCaffreyMS]

That's pretty darn sassy Chris!! I love it!! Do you remember what it's called.....that would make searching for it on Amazon a bunch easier!

 

[Chris Railey]

That's pretty darn sassy Chris!! I love it!! Do you remember what it's called.....that would make searching for it on Amazon a bunch easier!

Screen shot. I believe this is it.

 

[Chris Railey]

Dremel version. Have not used this one.

 

[Smallshop]

That’s worth a try! Somebody here, forgive me for forgetting who, was also having good luck with a palm sander.

I've used both...the triangle sander gets crazy amount of oscillations compared to the palm sander and seems easier to see what's happening on the steel...and is adjustable speed! I mainly use it to dome the spine of larger blades and clean up plunge area....pre heat treat of course...

Walmart has the sander (hyper TOUGH brand...lol...we'll see...) for about 20$. McMaster Carr has packets of sanding triangles that are BIGGER than the ones that come with the sander. Actually a cool mis-fit...I like them because I can use them in the plunge area and the paper folds to get a nice clean corner!

These are velcro style attachment...slap 'em on and pull 'em off easily...$2.48 for 5 sheets. They seem to hold up well. have not tried them on hard steel.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

Hyper Tough 2.1 Amp Corded Oscillating Multi-function Tool, Variable Speed, with Hex Key, Sanding Pad, 1-1/4 inch Blade, Scraper Blade & 3 Sanding Sheets (80, 100 & 120 Grit) - Walmart.com

Free 2-day shipping. Buy Hyper Tough 2.1 Amp Corded Oscillating Multi-function Tool, Variable Speed, with Hex Key, Sanding Pad, 1-1/4 inch Blade, Scraper Blade & 3 Sanding Sheets (80, 100 & 120 Grit) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[Chris Railey]

crazy amount of oscillations compared to the palm

It sure does. I was surprised by that and mine is cordless.

 

[soundmind]

Any suggestions like this are helpful. My hands will involuntarily cramp and close up after a day in the shop. I gotta find some better work holding methods and hand sanding will do it to me, too. I like the large handle option on your sanding sticks.

 

[Chris Railey]

Any suggestions like this are helpful. My hands will involuntarily cramp and close up after a day in the shop. I gotta find some better work holding methods and hand sanding will do it to me, too. I like the large handle option on your sanding sticks.

Get you a piece of 1 inch square tube and cut a piece about 14-16 inches long. Wrap a two inch wide strip of sandpaper around the middle of it and secure it with a magnet. Wrap some cloth around each end as fat as you want for handles and secure with duct tape. Sand until you wear out a surface then rotate 90 degrees to a new surface. Continue until you have to rip off some paper and repeat. Works like a charm. Let me know if you want pics.

 

[DouglasKnives]

This is great, I do a lot of hand sanding and this helps get the first initial grit done much quicker.

For backings, I tried attaching poundo board rubber seems to be working okay with the triangle sanding attachment.

 

[razor-edge-knives]

Ed, how do you do plunges? Or do you still do those by hand?

 

[Chris Railey]

Ed, how do you do plunges? Or do you still do those by hand?

If you go to Ed’s website he has a video explaining exactly how he does plunges. Very helpful.

 

[razor-edge-knives]

If you go to Ed’s website he has a video explaining exactly how he does plunges. Very helpful.

I found the video on his site about hand Sanding... But can't find one on the oscillating tool and how it relates to finishing the plunge. Do you have a link?

 

[Chris Railey]

I found the video on his site about hand Sanding... But can't find one on the oscillating tool and how it relates to finishing the plunge. Do you have a link?

My bad. The video on his site is about plunges on a grinder. How are you creating your bevels? Files? Grinder? Angle grinder?

 

[chrisstaniar]

Lol, I started using my orbital sander awhile ago. I made a few cleavers and the hand sanding was brutal! I always read about everyone doing hand sanding with blocks, sticks, etc. and figured I might get that "you do what?" disdainful look if I mentioned it.

I got a pack from Amazon that goes from like 150-800 after that it's pretty easy. I used it before attaching handles/bolsters.