aJ

[email protected] (Jeb Sawyer)

22/07/2003 10:50 PM

Roller Coaster Sanding Sequence

This is probably a simple question, but I've been sanding a table top
for a couple of hours and I keep having to regress on sand paper (that
is, I keep finding scratches the current grit will not take and have
to return to a previous grit). I'm starting around 50 and going from
there. Can someone recommend a sequence that will help to alleviate
this roller coaster sanding job?
Thanks,
Jeb

I'm using both a belt sander and a finishing sander, I can't help but
wonder if a 100 grit on belt sander isn't coarser than a 100 grit on
the finishing sander. Is there any credibility to this thought?


This topic has 5 replies

WW

"Woody"

in reply to [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer) on 22/07/2003 10:50 PM

23/07/2003 3:56 PM

50 seems pretty coarse to start off with on a 'finishing' job?
Any reason?

I usually start with 120 or even 160 depending on the wood and go from
there...


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"Jeb Sawyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is probably a simple question, but I've been sanding a table top
> for a couple of hours and I keep having to regress on sand paper (that
> is, I keep finding scratches the current grit will not take and have
> to return to a previous grit). I'm starting around 50 and going from
> there. Can someone recommend a sequence that will help to alleviate
> this roller coaster sanding job?
> Thanks,
> Jeb
>
> I'm using both a belt sander and a finishing sander, I can't help but
> wonder if a 100 grit on belt sander isn't coarser than a 100 grit on
> the finishing sander. Is there any credibility to this thought?

TW

Traves W. Coppock

in reply to [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer) on 22/07/2003 10:50 PM

23/07/2003 2:46 AM

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 15:56:02 +1000, "Woody" <[email protected]>Crawled
out of the shop and said. . .:

>50 seems pretty coarse to start off with on a 'finishing' job?
>Any reason?
>
>I usually start with 120 or even 160 depending on the wood and go from
>there...

DFTT

Gs

"George"

in reply to [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer) on 22/07/2003 10:50 PM

23/07/2003 10:57 AM

Belt sanders heat and harden the surface of the wood. Also, by their
design, they lay all uncut fibers down in the same direction. Use of a
cabinet scraper or plane is best, though scrapers don't work well on stringy
softer woods, followed by sanding with a Random Orbital Sander or an
orbital.

For now, I would recommend you break the surface hardening by wiping with a
damp rag. Allow to dry, then use your finishing sander.

See what I told you about pressing the uncut fibers down?

"Jeb Sawyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is probably a simple question, but I've been sanding a table top
> for a couple of hours and I keep having to regress on sand paper (that
> is, I keep finding scratches the current grit will not take and have
> to return to a previous grit). I'm starting around 50 and going from
> there. Can someone recommend a sequence that will help to alleviate
> this roller coaster sanding job?
> Thanks,
> Jeb
>
> I'm using both a belt sander and a finishing sander, I can't help but
> wonder if a 100 grit on belt sander isn't coarser than a 100 grit on
> the finishing sander. Is there any credibility to this thought?

CM

Christopher Mooney

in reply to [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer) on 22/07/2003 10:50 PM

23/07/2003 6:17 PM

I don't know about the rest of you, but I usually try to start with
just inside the station, then move up to the lift/launch, and then
tackle the rest afterward. Only takes a few days on a smaller one, but
up to a week on the really big ones. Slap on a fresh coat of paint,
and the rails are usually good to go for another season.

Oh...wait a minute! This is the woodworking newsgroup, not
rec.roller-coaster! My bad :)

Chris Mooney

On 22 Jul 2003 22:50:11 -0700, [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer)
wrote:

>This is probably a simple question, but I've been sanding a table top
>for a couple of hours and I keep having to regress on sand paper (that
>is, I keep finding scratches the current grit will not take and have
>to return to a previous grit). I'm starting around 50 and going from
>there. Can someone recommend a sequence that will help to alleviate
>this roller coaster sanding job?
>Thanks,
>Jeb
>
>I'm using both a belt sander and a finishing sander, I can't help but
>wonder if a 100 grit on belt sander isn't coarser than a 100 grit on
>the finishing sander. Is there any credibility to this thought?

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to [email protected] (Jeb Sawyer) on 22/07/2003 10:50 PM

23/07/2003 11:09 PM


"Jeb Sawyer" writes:

> This is probably a simple question, but I've been sanding a table top
> for a couple of hours and I keep having to regress on sand paper (that
> is, I keep finding scratches the current grit will not take and have
> to return to a previous grit).
<snip>

You will keep chasing your tail until hell freezes over.

Find a commercial sander in your area and have them run it thru their 48"
wide sander.

$20-$30 and it will be flat, smooth and ready for finishing.


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures


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