Proxxon?

[underfoot]

I use mainly the small carbide discs and sanding discs .

Ah yes.. I forgot about those mini sanding discs and the distance they can frisbee when they detach at 12000 rpm..
FWIW...I have found that the optimum grit on a 100mm angle grinder (@12000 rpm) is 36 grit..any courser and they throw the grit and any finer and they set the wood ablaze

I . I do have that option with the air die grinder but for some reason the gennie noise is something that doesn't go down all that well with my belovedt. .

..
oops..I meant an electric die grinder...(you need a HUGE compressor to keep even a small air grinder running..(and bugger all torque)...I've just seen a few cheapies hit the market (makita??$125)...and which burrs you stick in them is important as well..

[Cliff Rogers]

...
FWIW...I have found that the optimum grit on a 100mm angle grinder (@12000 rpm) is 36 grit..any courser and they throw the grit and any finer and they set the wood ablaze....

Yup.

And even then, with some timber, there is a build up of resin(?) (gum, black gunk, the stuff that stick to saw blades,) on the rim of the disk & if you are not careful, it will leave dirty black/brown marks on your work as well.

[underfoot]

Yup.
with some timber, there is a build up of black gunk, on the rim of the disk & if you are not careful, it will leave dirty black/brown marks on your work as well.

Yup again....however, those black marks (from burnin rims of fire) are a great quick replacement for a pencil when you are re-sketching onto your piece

[Iggy]

Die grinders are good but definitely stay away from compressor powered ones, another option is the flexible shaft tool. I,m running a Foredom which takes up to a 1/4 shaft and the range of tools and bits is pretty good they range from carbide burrs to those new 3M sanding things.

[underfoot]

to those new 3M sanding things.

.There's a new sanding thing??..what is it?..I may not have one yet..

[movay_2008]

Its not the inflatable sanding pad is it?
I thought I'sd go one of these for the interem:


RIGHT ANGLE DRILL ATTACHMENT FOR TIGHT SPACES MEDALIST items - Get great deals on items on eBay.com!

[Iggy]

These are called Scotchbrite radial bristle brushes see them at CWS Store - Scotchbrite Radial Bristle Discs | Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies.

[movay_2008]

Thanks Iggy. I assume they're long lasting for the price.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawe...SevTSeSSSSSS--

I ended up finding a Makita grinder on ebay with 10,000 rpm, though only 375 watt (a carbon saver). It must be twenty years old with hardly a scratch on it - kept in mother's cupboard for ten years after the old boy died.

[Hardenfast]

I have two of the Proxxon long-neck mini grinders and find them excellent for fine carving works. The perfect carving disc for them is the 50mm Saburr Tooth disc which are a solid carbide wheel with small-ish spikes, and which are available in 2 different profiles (flat & donut) and three different grades (fine, medium etc). They cut surprising smoothly and are easy to control.
You can also get the Saburr Tooth wheels in 100mm and in the same configurations, as well as a range of rotary burrs etc. American Made and very good gear, and available in OZ from Carrols. In my limited experience they are superior to the Arbortec and the Lancelot cutters, and they seem to last forever.

Don't know that I'd be working the Proxxon mini too hard, but they seem to be a quality made item for specialised application. A bit expensive, but isn't everyting that's not from Chinasia?

[movay_2008]

They look to be only about 200 Watt. What's the specs say on yours?

[Hardenfast]

I'm living away from home at the moment Movay, and can't put my hands on the grinders right now. However, I think that they are even less than 200 watts - maybe only 100 watts.

Having said that, they do the job for fine work very well, but as I have said, you don't want to work them too hard.

[Carvin' Mark]

I find that, having gone thru a few cheap grinders with my arbortec mini, biting the bullet and spending an extra $50 on a better quality machine has payed off threefold at least.
I also find that a layer or two of sandpaper in a thin strip under the collar prevents any slipping.
Have found proxon rotary tools handy on the run because you can run them off 12v but they weren't anywhere near as good as an archer rotary tool (and this seems to bridge almost any gaps between a dremel and an arbortech). Just gotta try work out which of the available bits are going to be most effective for your job.....

[movay_2008]

The belts seem to snap more often when not on the arbortech grinder and its custom plate.
Have you tried the O-ring solution someone suggested here? I'm presently going with a 70ml by 3ml O-ring to replace the expensive belt.

[Drillit]

Hi Movay,
Just a couple of thoughts.
(1) You probably know thatyou can buy variable speed grinders so that you dont have to run at max. out all the time. I have found this helpful, with sanding where a lower speed is more effective, particularly when using higher grades for finishing.
(2) Carbatec (and no doubt others) sell carving miners. They are really aggressive and you need to be very careful. They screw directly onto a 10 mm shaft and are suitable with the 4" angle grinder. They have rods and a wheel. I use my woodturner's full face mask and make sure nobody is close by. Drillit.

[INVENTOR]

Movay, You can buy variable speed angle grinders but probably not worth the hassle and expense. Have you used the Kutzall or Carbrasive (at Sawtell NSW) 50mm discs ,fitted ti the Mini grinder. At one stage Arbortech sold them as an accessory. perhaps contact them, they may still have some? ( they even sold them in two different grits)

I find they are great for work that is in between cutting and sanding. Also, for a novice they are the way to go, as you cannot remove too much material.
The only downside is they can make the tool vibrate a bit more. ( probably as they aren't as balanced)
If you get the right grit on the Mini-sanders they can be great but $$$. I find it easy to glue on new abrasive, after you peel off the old grit. If you get past the idea of them wearing out, you can give them 'heaps' and they blend curves beautifully, just be prepared to replace them as they wear out.
Hope this helps.