Thread: Sanding Discs

The Sandpaper Man

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Buying discs is convenient, but the most expensive. Consider buying your sand paper in bulk by the sqm or per roll. This what I do and have done so for many years and if you cut them square it will protect the sanding head from wear and if required its very easy to cut the square off the head as you go.

What is the best method of cutting the loop backed sheet?

Originally Posted by Badger

What is the best method of cutting the loop backed sheet?

Any way you want, a pair of scissors, tinsnips, a Stanley knife or use an old holesaw and sharpen the edge. But look for holesaws that have a reinforced back as they will have a HSS on the cutting edge.

Originally Posted by hughie

Any way you want, a pair of scissors, tinsnips, a Stanley knife or use an old holesaw and sharpen the edge. But look for holes that have a reinforced back as they will have a HSS on the cutting edge.

That is what I use if I am cutting my own.

Use an angle grinder to take the teeth off the hole saw while running in chuck on lathe or in drill, so will need a mandrel to do that but then remove mandrel before punching out discs.

Re-sharpen the toothless hole saw punch with bevel on outside by putting back on mandrel and running in drill against bench grinder.

Hit with a mallet from the backing side on an engrain block of wood.

Poke out discs through holes in hole saw when too many collect inside.

If I'm sanding a run of bowls I will the keep the used 2"/50mm discs from sanding the insides the bowls so I can punch out some smaller diameter discs from the centre of those as there is usually still quite good abrasive left in that area... said McNeil...

Originally Posted by NeilS

That is what I use if I am cutting my own.

Use an angle grinder to take the teeth off the hole saw while running in chuck on lathe or in drill, so will need a mandrel to do that but then remove mandrel before punching out discs.

Re-sharpen the toothless hole saw punch with bevel on outside by putting back on mandrel and running in drill against bench grinder.

Hit with a mallet from the backing side on an engrain block of wood.

Poke out discs through holes in hole saw when too many collect inside.

If I'm sanding a run of bowls I will the keep the used 2"/50mm discs from sanding the insides the bowls so I can punch out some smaller diameter discs from the centre of those as there is usually still quite good abrasive left in that area... said McNeil...

lol I do the same and work down the diameter to match my sanders.

I have a cup like thing.

One puts it on the paper, to an end-grain block and wonk it with a mallet. BANG... out it comes.

Though I do like NeilS's idea of using a hole saw and butchering the poor tool. That would work too

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Though I do like NeilS's idea of using a hole saw and butchering the poor tool. That would work too

Hughie also uses those and probably as long as I have...

Below is a couple of pics of cutters/presses from this page "Expression of Interest - U-Beaut ROTARY SANDER business"
Top press is used to cut the heads for Rotary Sanders and the cutters for 2 sizes are made from hole saw blades. The cutters are sort of self ejecting as both have a thick wad of closed cell foam in them which forces the cut pieces out. Been using them for around 12 years with only one sharpen after cutting the teeth off.

Bottom press was used to cut abrasives, the 2 cutters are made by a tool maker and self eject the cut abrasives.

Anyone who's interested can have them both for $10.000 and because I'm racing towards retirement, I'll throw in the entire Rotary Sander business for free along with the 2 presses.
More details without a price in the link on top line of this post.

Cheers - Neil

Sorry about the size of pics, just took them at full size from the Expression of Interest page

I presume you mean for "orbital sanders" or hand sanding - then yes - everyone mostly uses random orbits- for good reasons. Have heard of people with punches that match their sanders and then yes get Velcro backed by the roll.