What sort of sander do you use for edge sanding

[UKRay]

I have been thinking about adding some kind of power sander to my workshop and wondered what you folks think is the most effective type? I have looked at belt sanders, drum sanders and disk sanders and can see good reasons to use all of them but only have the space for one - which would you suggest and why? How do you get the best from your sander?

Ray

[pete]

I have been thinking about adding some kind of power sander to my workshop and wondered what you folks think is the most effective type? I have looked at belt sanders, drum sanders and disk sanders and can see good reasons to use all of them but only have the space for one - which would you suggest and why? How do you get the best from your sander?

Ray

A dremel tool and the little barrel sander that it comes with works great for all sizes of projects.

[hidepounder]

Ray,

I use a belt sander more than anything else. For small curved edges I use the little drum sanders. I have a series of different sizes that I use on the end of my burnisher or I put them in a dremel. But 99% of my sanding is done on the belt.

[bruce johnson]

Ray,

I wouldn't be without two - benchtop and Dremel. I like the benchtop belt sander with a 4x36 belt. I have it mounted backwards so the free part of the belt extends over the front of my bench. I can get down into the inside curves that way. It is pretty forgiving on trueing up edges and mild shaping. Because it is a lower speed and the belt is moving more, it doesn't heat up and scorch like a Dremel will. The top is good for trueing up flat edges like a the edges of my frames. I use the Dremel some too for tighter areas. You just have to be careful to use a light touch and keep it moving to prevent scorching.

[badger]

Ray,

You should have spotted mine in the workroom when you visited (good to see you!). Having said that, it was behind you and we were in the room at the same.........you may have noticed that there isn't room to turn around with two in there

In case you didn't see it; 4 inch by 36 inch belt in the horizontal position, dust extracted.

Badger

[Luke Hatley]

Ray mine is a belt sander from Harbor Freight, you should be able to find a 4x36"

belt sander in the U K.

there is a lot of different grites of belts avaiable for it.the belts are very easy & fast to change.

[electrathon]

dust extracted.

Nothing about working with leather bugs me... Except the breathing and smell of the leather dust. It just seems icky.

Aaron

[Bree]

I use a spindle and belt sander combo

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...ost&p=93084

Works great.

[Art]

Hi Ray,

This is way overkill because of the knifemaking thing, but a Burr King, and a Bader 2x72, both killer belt grinders and a lot of accessories, then there is the old Craftsman 6x48, none are terribly variable speed (you have to change pulleys). I been wanting to replace the motors with three phase and put a VFD on them which would be better for leatherwork. Then I have one of those oscillating jobs that I stack everything on, add to that a couple of Baldor buffers and a drill press that I can chuck a sanding drum into. I haven't had the opportunity to use the surface grinder on a piece of leather yet, magnetic chuck might be kinda useless. One of those knifemaker's buffers from Grizzly might be good (kind of like that Weaver thing on steroids), but I don't have one........where is that catalog? The mill and lathes are worthless for leather, but you can make parts for weird or old sewing machines and are just handy to have.

But I digress......

That old Craftsman 6x48 seems to go and go, the only optional thing on it is a foot pedal for on/off, and it has one of them disk sanders on the side (seldom used), good sander/grinder and cheap.

The Bader has an attachment with a 3/8" wheel for tight places on holsters, but it spins it fast, I have to use Militec on it to keep from toasting the bearings.

So the answer is:

Used 6x48 (Powermatic is someone doesn't know what he has) and a Dremel or Foredom.

Art

I have been thinking about adding some kind of power sander to my workshop and wondered what you folks think is the most effective type? I have looked at belt sanders, drum sanders and disk sanders and can see good reasons to use all of them but only have the space for one - which would you suggest and why? How do you get the best from your sander?

Ray

[celticleather]

Ray

I spotted this (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43273) in our local Maplin store at the weekend. I wonder if it would do the same job as a Dremel, but at a much lower cost - £24.99.

Terry

[DCKNIVES]

Ray, most any sander will work but a variable speed simply works better for leatherwork.I agree with Art that most knifemaking sanders are overkill for most leathershops, but mine get used on almost every leather item I make.Dave

this is my Burr-King

this is my homebuilt, 1"x 42" horizontal, small wheel machine, not VS, but I purchased the motor with a slower speed just for that reason.

[badger]

Terry,

The Maplin thing is crap, sadly. Most of the new Dremels are as well.

They don't seem to hold up to any sort of work for long. The motors are weak and will choke under pressure and the bearings wear really fast.

Troll the flea markets and boot fairs for an old Dremel. You can buy new motor brushes for them and they are much better made.

Cheers,

Badger

[china]

hidepounder, that's what I like to see high quality Aussie product being used in the US.

china

[CharlieR]

Hidepounder--what sort of attachment is that on the Jet sander? Interesting looking--is it catalog available?

[hidepounder]

hidepounder, that's what I like to see high quality Aussie product being used in the US.

china

It's been a great tool!

Hidepounder--what sort of attachment is that on the Jet sander? Interesting looking--is it catalog available?

It's called a Multitool. They also make a Portagrind, which I have also, which attaches to a hand grinder. They are manufactured by P.A. Products, 6 Barry Ave, Mortdale 2223 N.S.W. Austrailia

[UKRay]

I'm pleased to report I now have a belt sander but that machine Bree uses looks like the perfect solution to me... I've looked all over the place in the UK but can't find one.

I can't justify the Burr-King guys - but what an amazing bit of kit!

Now I'm on the hunt for a Dremel - any suggestions please, given that Badger has already warned me that the new ones are not as robust as the older ones. Is there a model that would do the business or are they all bad? Remember that I run a commercial production workshop and need a tool that can work hard.

Thanks everyone,

Ray

[Art]

Hi Ray,

If you run a commercial shop, get a Foredom, just a better machine. GRS also makes an air powered handpiece that is very good also.

Art

P.S. Did you get the Roller edge guide? Sent it a week and a half ago.

do the business or are they all bad? Remember that I run a commercial production workshop and need a tool that can work hard.

Thanks everyone,

Ray

[UKRay]

Art, et. al. Having checked out Foredom thoroughly, I discovered that my existing jeweller's pendant drill is pretty much the same thing. Check out http://www.suttontools.co.uk/acatalog/Sect...ools_Acc_s.html for UK prices. These guys are excellent and very reliable. They do sell Foredom as well as their own brand but their own stuff is used extensively in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and really does the job - and they didn't pay me a penny for saying that!

Art - I PM'd you about the roller guide. many thanks.

Ray

Hi Ray,

If you run a commercial shop, get a Foredom, just a better machine.