JC

"J. Clarke"

06/11/2010 1:27 PM

This gator's got no power (Lowes new sandpaper)


Was low on sanding disks and had to go down to Lowes anyway so figured
I'd stock up. Instead of the expected Norton or 3M or other well known
brand, I found "Gator Power". Well, I got a pack of 80 and of 120 (no
150 to be had) and tried it out. Wore out six disks trying to get the
walnut stain off of one table leaf (the rest of the table had been
cleaned with harsh cleansers so many times that it had no stain or other
finish on it--wanted the leaf to match). The stuff cut like crazy for
about ten seconds a disk and then just stopped. Didn't seem to be
loaded up or anything and had lots of grit left on it, so it had to have
gotten dull that fast. Worse, it left little swirly marks all over the
place (you know, the kind you get when you got a metal filing stuck on
the disk or something?).

I finally said "screw this" and sharpened up the scraper, which made
short work of it, not to mention taking out the little swirly marks.

It's a limited sample and anecdotal I admit, but from my viewpoint it
will be a cold day in Hell before I buy any more "Gator Power" sanding
disks. It's worth the gas to drive down to Coastal if I can't get
anything decent from the big box stores anymore.


This topic has 20 replies

Rc

Robatoy

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 8:00 AM

On Nov 8, 4:00=A0am, "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka.
> > Are they truly worth a 300+% price premium?
>
> "Truly worth the price" is open to discretion. They are usuable a lot lon=
ger
> then other sanding disks and they operate much cleaner than other disks I=
've
> used. To me that's convenience. Since I feel I can afford the money to
> 'waste' on such a product, then yes they are worth it to 'me'. Someone el=
se?
> Maybe not, but everyone I know has bought something once in awhile that
> others feel was a waste of money.

Mirka Abranet on a Festool Rotex is better than single malt sex.

Kk

Kimosabe

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 5:56 PM

On Nov 6, 12:54=A0pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
> least.
>
I was in Lowes today. They had it in narrow sheets, but I was looking
for 5" discs for the random orbit sander. Do they exist?

Rc

Robatoy

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 8:08 AM

On Nov 7, 8:50=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Upscale" wrote:
> > Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka. It's design actually
> > does what it claims and lasts a hell of a long time. Yup, it's
> > expensive, but the need to use new disks has been cut down
> > tremendously.
> >http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/Mirka-Abrasives-AE232F1025-5-...
>
> ----------------------------
> Are they truly worth a 300+% price premium?
>
> I buy 6", 8 hole H&L for $0.22-$0.25/per disk based on grit, all day
> long.
>
> Lew

If you have 2 guys sanding for 8 hours to finish a couple or three of
solid surface countertops, that extra $ 20.00 is soon forgotten.
Abranet offers much better dust collection on a Rotex than anything I
have tried over the years. That and the longevity of the product plus
the consistency of the stuff makes it worth every penny.... besides,
the 6" 9-hole pattern isn't generally available from those 25=A2/disk
schlock houses.

Then again, there are those who insist on running today's modern
engines on regular gas just because the on-board computer allows the
timing to be dropped back far enough to 'keep it running'. </troll>

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

07/11/2010 5:50 PM


"Upscale" wrote:

> Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka. It's design actually
> does what it claims and lasts a hell of a long time. Yup, it's
> expensive, but the need to use new disks has been cut down
> tremendously.
> http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/Mirka-Abrasives-AE232F1025-5--240Grit-10Pack

----------------------------
Are they truly worth a 300+% price premium?

I buy 6", 8 hole H&L for $0.22-$0.25/per disk based on grit, all day
long.

Lew

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 9:09 AM


"Robatoy" wrote:


> If you have 2 guys sanding for 8 hours to finish a couple or three
> of
solid surface countertops, that extra $ 20.00 is soon forgotten.
Abranet offers much better dust collection on a Rotex than anything I
have tried over the years. That and the longevity of the product plus
the consistency of the stuff makes it worth every penny....
-------------------------------------
The old "Cost of ownership" game.

In order to justify the up front investment, you have to have the
hours of operation.
----------------------------------

besides,
the 6" 9-hole pattern isn't generally available from those 25¢/disk
schlock houses.
-----------------------------------
Klingspor?

Hardly a schlock operation.
--------------------------------------
> Then again, there are those who insist on running today's modern
engines on regular gas just because the on-board computer allows the
timing to be dropped back far enough to 'keep it running'. </troll>
----------------------------
Oh RUBBISH! !

Snake oil guys hooked another one.

Lew

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 11:56 AM

"Robatoy" wrote:

> You're telling me there is no difference between regular a premium
gasoline, Lew?
---------------------------------
No, I'm saying that for 90+% of the vehicles on the road, there is
absolutely no added benefit derived from using "premium" gasolines.

They are designed to run on "regular".

The price premium goes directly to the refiners bottom line.

The consumer takes it in the shorts.

Lew

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 2:59 PM


"RP" wrote:

>Where n hell you buying Klingspor for .25 a sheet? I want some.
---------------------------------
Direct from Klingspor.

Minimum order = $50

Standard Box Size = 100 pcs/grit.

Usual order is about $100 + sales tax.

Lew

Rc

Robatoy

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 10:46 AM

On Nov 8, 12:09=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Then again, there are those who insist on running today's modern
>
> engines on regular gas just because the on-board computer allows the
> timing to be dropped back far enough to 'keep it running'. </troll>
> ----------------------------
> Oh RUBBISH! !
>
> Snake oil guys hooked another one.
>
> Lew

You're telling me there is no difference between regular a premium
gasoline, Lew?

Rr

RP

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

07/11/2010 6:38 AM

On Nov 7, 4:05=A0am, "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > Ditto. That stuff cuts like crazeeee... and for a long time too. When
> > used for its intended purpose, it almost makes sanding drywall mud
> > fun....I said almost....
>
> Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka. It's design actually does w=
hat
> it claims and lasts a hell of a long time. Yup, it's expensive, but the n=
eed
> to use new disks has been cut down tremendously.http://www.atlas-machiner=
y.com/products/Mirka-Abrasives-AE232F1025-5-...

Mirka bulldog gold rocks! I get mine from Woodworkers Hardware, 5" 8
hole 50 sheets for $17.50 or so... They have that Abranet that some
fella recently was talking about there too. I probably buy 90% of my
cabinet building supplies there. No affiliation blah, blah... Good
prices, good service, blah, blah...

RP

Uu

"Upscale"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 4:00 AM


"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka.

> Are they truly worth a 300+% price premium?

"Truly worth the price" is open to discretion. They are usuable a lot longer
then other sanding disks and they operate much cleaner than other disks I've
used. To me that's convenience. Since I feel I can afford the money to
'waste' on such a product, then yes they are worth it to 'me'. Someone else?
Maybe not, but everyone I know has bought something once in awhile that
others feel was a waste of money.

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

06/11/2010 2:11 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On 11/6/10 12:27 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
> >
> > I finally said "screw this" and sharpened up the scraper, which made
> > short work of it, not to mention taking out the little swirly marks.
> >
>
> I love using a scraper.

I used to but my thumbs get distraught with me these days. Only thing
worse than getting old is the alternative.

> > It's a limited sample and anecdotal I admit, but from my viewpoint it
> > will be a cold day in Hell before I buy any more "Gator Power" sanding
> > disks. It's worth the gas to drive down to Coastal if I can't get
> > anything decent from the big box stores anymore.
>
> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
> least.

Have to give that a try.

Rr

RP

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 2:17 PM

On Nov 7, 8:50=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Upscale" wrote:
> > Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka. It's design actually
> > does what it claims and lasts a hell of a long time. Yup, it's
> > expensive, but the need to use new disks has been cut down
> > tremendously.
> >http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/Mirka-Abrasives-AE232F1025-5-...
>
> ----------------------------
> Are they truly worth a 300+% price premium?
>
> I buy 6", 8 hole H&L for $0.22-$0.25/per disk based on grit, all day
> long.
>
> Lew

Where n hell you buying Klingspor for .25 a sheet? I want some.

RP

Uu

"Upscale"

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

07/11/2010 4:05 AM


"Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Ditto. That stuff cuts like crazeeee... and for a long time too. When
> used for its intended purpose, it almost makes sanding drywall mud
> fun....I said almost....

Lately, I've been using sandpaper from Mirka. It's design actually does what
it claims and lasts a hell of a long time. Yup, it's expensive, but the need
to use new disks has been cut down tremendously.
http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/Mirka-Abrasives-AE232F1025-5--240Grit-10Pack

Rc

Robatoy

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

06/11/2010 7:35 PM

On Nov 6, 1:54=A0pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 11/6/10 12:27 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>
>
>
> > I finally =A0said "screw this" and sharpened up the scraper, which made
> > short work of it, not to mention taking out the little swirly marks.
>
> I love using a scraper.
>
> > It's a limited sample and anecdotal I admit, but from my viewpoint it
> > will be a cold day in Hell before I buy any more "Gator Power" sanding
> > disks. =A0It's worth the gas to drive down to Coastal if I can't get
> > anything decent from the big box stores anymore.
>
> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
> least.
>

Ditto. That stuff cuts like crazeeee... and for a long time too. When
used for its intended purpose, it almost makes sanding drywall mud
fun....I said almost....

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 7:58 PM

On Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:56:44 -0800 (PST), Kimosabe
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Nov 6, 12:54 pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
>> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
>> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
>> least.
>>
>I was in Lowes today. They had it in narrow sheets, but I was looking
>for 5" discs for the random orbit sander. Do they exist?

I buy 5" 8-hole Norton pads from Harbor Freight. They last pretty
darned well, as they should for a buck a pop.

--
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
-- Margaret Lee Runbeck

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

06/11/2010 12:54 PM

On 11/6/10 12:27 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>
> I finally said "screw this" and sharpened up the scraper, which made
> short work of it, not to mention taking out the little swirly marks.
>

I love using a scraper.

> It's a limited sample and anecdotal I admit, but from my viewpoint it
> will be a cold day in Hell before I buy any more "Gator Power" sanding
> disks. It's worth the gas to drive down to Coastal if I can't get
> anything decent from the big box stores anymore.

If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
least.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

LB

Larry Blanchard

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 5:50 PM

On Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:09:01 -0800, Lew Hodgett wrote:

>> Then again, there are those who insist on running today's modern
> engines on regular gas just because the on-board computer allows the
> timing to be dropped back far enough to 'keep it running'. </troll>
> ----------------------------
> Oh RUBBISH! !
>
> Snake oil guys hooked another one.

I'll have to agree with you there Lew. But I did run into a problem with
today's gasohol. Seems the alcohol gradually dissolves tank liners, at
least the ones used on motorcycles years ago. I'd lined a tank about 15
years ago to fix a small leak and eliminate rusting and it worked fine as
long as alcohol was used only in the winter. A few years ago they
started putting alcohol in year round. I looked in the tank one morning
this year and there were pieces of liner floating loose in the gas!

I talked to several vintage motorcycle nuts and they all confirmed, as
did some web sites, that it was the alcohol causing the problem.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 8:11 PM

On 11/8/10 7:56 PM, Kimosabe wrote:
> On Nov 6, 12:54 pm, -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
>> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
>> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
>> least.
>>
> I was in Lowes today. They had it in narrow sheets, but I was looking
> for 5" discs for the random orbit sander. Do they exist?

I doubt it. They are designed for drywall plaster and I don't think too
many folks are using power sanders on mud. They may make those screens
in disc format, but I doubt it's a stock item at most home stores.

Fair warning, again.... the black stuff of which it's made will get all
over whatever you're sanding and even embed itself in some open grain
woods, like oak. Just letting folks know to test it out first. I'd say,
great for removing a finish, but not so great on bare wood.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

08/11/2010 10:24 PM

On 11/8/10 9:58 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:56:44 -0800 (PST), Kimosabe
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Nov 6, 12:54 pm, -MIKE-<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>> If you have a way to deal with the black powder that results and it
>>> won't ruin whatever you're working on, those mesh drywall sanding sheets
>>> work great for removing lots of stuff from wood. In my experience, at
>>> least.
>>>
>> I was in Lowes today. They had it in narrow sheets, but I was looking
>> for 5" discs for the random orbit sander. Do they exist?
>
> I buy 5" 8-hole Norton pads from Harbor Freight. They last pretty
> darned well, as they should for a buck a pop.
>

I didn't know Norton made a drywall screen disc.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

RN

Roy

in reply to "J. Clarke" on 06/11/2010 1:27 PM

07/11/2010 11:42 PM

On Sat, 6 Nov 2010 14:11:46 -0400, "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] says...
>>
>> On 11/6/10 12:27 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
>> >
>> > I finally said "screw this" and sharpened up the scraper, which made
>> > short work of it, not to mention taking out the little swirly marks.
>> >
>>
>> I love using a scraper.
>
>I used to but my thumbs get distraught with me these days. Only thing
>worse than getting old is the alternative.
>


Josh,

A man who uses a 100 year old keyhole saw to carve pumpkins must surely have a
Stanley 112, 80, 12 or even an 81 in his stash.

The April, 2003 issue of Popular Woodworking had plans for a DIY card scraper
holder in the tips section. I built one of those a few years ago for a total
cost of 29 cents and some scrap oak. It's not fancy, but works just fine to save
thumbs from heat and pressure.

I could find the article in their index, but not on the site. If you don't have
that issue,drop me a note off list.

Regards,
Roy


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