Thread: A Better Palm Sander Sanding Pad Retention Method

I have an old B&D 1/4 shet palm sander that uses the 'wire clips' to hold the sand paper onto the oscillation pad.

It works fine, but the pad sand paper retension system is pretty average and it appears that alot of other brands use the same system.

I have been looking at it to see if I can improve on it at all. Its not very easy.....

I was going to make a new pad, slightly larger so there was room to fit clamps to either end, but that got too complicated, real quick...

The only way I can see to do that is to make a jig so I can cut the new sheet to a slightly larger size and differnt shape, to maximise the holding power.
I'm thinking of cuting v channels in it so I can score the sand paper at the correct fold lines to improve the fit.

I've not tried it yet as I am still working through it but I was wondering if anyone else has gone throught this senario and have success?

Mine is *similar* to this one....

s-l1600.jpg s-l1600 (1).jpg Sander Cut Out Jig.jpg Black and Decker Sander Pad Cut Out 3.JPG

Steve