Sanding Edges

[evandailey]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I have a question. What sanding grits are you guys using for the best finish with belt grinders?

220 seems to be about the best balance for me. Much finer and they tend to burn. Much coarser and the edge is not very smooth.

[dirtclod]

I use 50 or 60 grit first to get ever thing even quick and use 150 or 180 to finish with, then burnish. I'm sure your going to get a bunch of different answers.

[The Grizzly]

Thanks so far. I, too, have been using a heavy grit to square it all up then 120 for finer sanding. Is there any point in going above 220? What about hand sanding above 220?

[Shooter McGavin]

I've been using the same 220 belt for 2 years. It's barely has any grit left on it but thats how I like it. For curves and corners I use a rotary tool with a couple different diameter drums, the largest being 1/2"

[BigRiverLeather]

I use a drum sander in my drill press, may upgrade to a oscillating sander someday. The grits I use on my drums is Around 100 or so, but then I after I bevel the edges I go in with these Scotch Brite Finishing sander flapper wheel.

It conforms nicely to the edge. I have them in Medium and Fine. I really like the fine. I wet the edge and go at it with this and it gets me to a point where I can then go after it with 400 grit paper by hand, then burnish it. Lots of hand work on my edges.

[Ran]

I've owned one of these for years and love it. I use it for all sorts of things, leather just being one of them. Its both a belt sander as well as spindle sander and changing between modes takes seconds.

http://www.ridgid.com/tools/oscillating-edge-belt--spindle-sander/en/index.htm

[evandailey]

I've owned one of these for years and love it. I use it for all sorts of things, leather just being one of them. Its both a belt sander as well as spindle sander and changing between modes takes seconds.

http://www.ridgid.co...er/en/index.htm

Agreed! I use the same and feel it's one of the best power tool deals on the market in any category!

[Ran]

Agreed! I use the same and feel it's one of the best power tool deals on the market in any category!

[JeffGC]

I have an oscillating spindle sander from Harbor Freight. It is perfect for sanding edges on holsters, especially those made of two pieces of leather and can lay flat on the table. The sander will produce a perfect edge. With a folded holster, you can't use the table. You must periodically verify that you are sanding at the correct angle. I glue, sand and the groove. I use the sander on every holster I make.

Jeff C.

[oltoot]

I'm a little late here but way back to the flap. I think that is actually a good thing as it sets up the piece for more even and lasting edging than would otherwise be, and the goal of edge sanding for me has never been to get the finished edge of a piece but to clean up even up and set up the edge fibers to take whatever edge treatment I'll be using as a pre treatment for good burnishing. Oh yeah, I use a belt sander, horizontally set on the bench with 80 grit.