Power sanding is a fast and easy way to
prepare your woodturnings for a final finish.
Power sanding cuts down on time
spent sanding and also allows you to do
light shaping when needed.
Although hook-and-loop type sanding
discs are the most versatile and widely
used, other types of power sanding discs
are also available.
Before doing any type of sanding, always wear safety glasses and a good quality dust mask for
protection.
Let's get started.
In order to power sand
you'll need an inertia sander or power
sander, for holding the abrasive disc and
holder.
Inertia sanders are driven by the
rotation of the work surface being
sanded.
They sand slowly, aren't aggressive
and don't create as much sanding dust.
On the other hand, power sanders are ideal
for fast, aggressive sanding, allowing you
to lightly shape the work piece.
There are two types of power Sanders, pneumatic and electric.
Pneumatic sanders are recommended because of their broad range
of RPM's and a fully enclosed motor, which
prevents damage from sanding dust.
Electric drills provide more torque, but
their lifespan is limited.
Because
electric drills are air-cooled, they force
sanding dust through the motor, which
will ruin the drill.
If using an electric drill, we recommend thoroughly cleaning the motor after each use.
To start, reduce the lathe speed by 1/3 in
order to minimize heat buildup that can
cause surface checking.
The surface being
sanded should never become hot to the touch.
When sanding, only the lower half
of the sanding disc should contact the
work surface.
Using the lower half of the
disc, prevents the sanding pad from being
pulled into the surface, resulting in a
catch.
Sand in a continuous back-and-forth motion for best results.
If power sanding does not remove
stubborn torn grain, spot sand with the
lathe off.
Wet sand as needed when sanding torn grain and fine raised wood fibers.
Changing grit before the surface has been sufficiently sanded is a common
mistake.
When you can see that the only imperfections on the wood surface are
being caused by the current grit, then
it's time to change.
Spend more time
turning and less time sanding, with
premium quality power sanding supplies
from Craft Supplies USA.
