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  1. #1
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    Default Suitable sandpaper to use with a Rupes orbital sander, removing old varnish

    Hi Folks,

    I am using up quite old sandpaper 60grit and wish to upgrade to a suitable new paper.
    Am resurfacing old pine timber which has an old orange coloured varnish onit. I also do remove paint from used timber as well.
    Presently varnish clogs up my old paper (Al oxide I think {white}) seemingly quickly.

    Any suggestions? to Grit, Bond/paper and or make? Sander is a half sheet size. Should I perhaps be thinking a roll of abrasive paper?

    Many Thanks

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  3. #2
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    If you can use a paint stripper, it might make the job easier - varnish and paints will clog up sand paper relatively quickly. Just have to keep changing paper as it gums up. You can try using a sandpaper cleaning stick but in my limited experience paint and varnish once heated up stick pretty well to the paper. I've used sia, Norton, and Diablo and all are pretty good. Make sure to get the ones that are made for paint/varnish as these will have a zinc stearate coating to lessen the clogging.

  4. #3
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    Thanks Alkahestic,

    I still have some old paper to uise up. I will look for paint/varnish type of paper.

    Cheers

  5. #4
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    Default

    Is your sander a plain orbital (rectangular) or random orbital? Plain orbital sanders are not very useful for rough work in general and have relatively poor dust extraction, so no matter what paper you use it will clog.

  6. #5
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    Hi Elanjacobs
    Sander is a plain rectangular unit, not random orbit.
    Thanks for the info.

  7. #6
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    These are the very worst to clean up. The paper gums, the varnish is horrid and its messy.

    Perhaps try a flap brush, flap paper wheel or soft wire brush on a drill?

    3m-cf-fb-scotch-brite-finishing-flap-brush.jpg

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grahamross View Post
    Hi Elanjacobs
    Sander is a plain rectangular unit, not random orbit.
    Thanks for the info.
    Yeah, basically the wrong tool for this job.

    You can use stearate coated papers but the varnish is still going to stick like poo to a blanket.

    You would be better off using stripper first, as suggested by Alkahestic, then following up with sandpaper to finish the preparation.

  9. #8
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    woodpixel has reminded me of a 3M wheel sold by Bunnings, it's this one and worked really well removing paint from mouldings and small contoured parts of doors. Got rid of the paint without scuffing up the wood and it resists clogging quite well.

  10. #9
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    Alkahestic, those disks are incredible.

    I did a trailer with a rusty floor a while back. It ripped off all the paint and rust and left a lovely polished surface in absolutely no time flat.

    Thinking about it, I did the entire insides of the tray with only one disk.

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alkahestic View Post
    woodpixel has reminded me of a 3M wheel sold by Bunnings, it's this one and worked really well removing paint from mouldings and small contoured parts of doors. Got rid of the paint without scuffing up the wood and it resists clogging quite well.

    Thanks for the link to the scotch brite wheel. good.
    Cheers

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Hobart
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    A bit late, Graham, but yachties with traditional wooden boats have an addiction to varnish, argue endlessly as to whether you need eight or ten coats, and then regularly strip it all off and start again.

    They all almost always use a paint scraper to remove varnish - most use tungsten blades - a few insist that steel blades give a better finish ....

    The Uni-Pro Tungsten Scraper is a popular choice - available from most yacht chandleries, paint stores or hardware stores. I find them easier to use if you add a wooden broomstick handle about 4-500mm long. Tungsten blades are replacable, or can be sharpenned with a diamond file.

    Tungsten Scraper.jpg

  13. #12
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    I’m currently stripping finish off floor boards and am using a skarsten scraper.
    Few different sizes and replaceable blades which are sharpenable with a small mill file or if your slack on the grinder.
    Scrape off the bulk with or without stripper then sand.
    H.
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    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  14. #13
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    Stripper
    tungsten scraper
    wash down
    sand

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by riverbuilder View Post
    Stripper
    tungsten scraper
    wash down
    sand

    Agreed, but try scraping dry first. Varnish will often come off real easy without a chemical stripper.

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