Sanding detailed 3d projects

[Brintintin]

Hi All,

I love some of the 3d scenes and other fine detail projects that can be cut on a shopbot with 1/8 or even 1/16 ball nose bits, but how do you go about sanding a piece like this to prepare it for finishing?

Is it just a suck it up and get a small piece of sandpaper, or are there other types of surface prep machines (maybe a type of light sandblasting) out there to do this quickly and efficiently? Or is this a matter of speed and feed and chip loading?

Thanks. I have a client that would love me to make a fireplace mantel with one of the Vector art scenes, but I don't know how to prep it for finishing.

Mark Brinson

[myxpykalix]

do a search for "sanding mop" you'll see it is just a bunch of small strips of sand paper that goes on a mandrel and you attach it to your drill press and hold your carved piece to it while it spins. It does a fairly decent job.

You can get different grits but it doesn't get everything.:D

Mark where are you in Virginia?

[Brintintin]

Hi Jack,
Thanks for the info about the sanding mop. How has it performed on detailed projects. Also, for large projects, how would it perform in a hand drill?

This just might fit the bill!

I'm located just West of Charlottesville. I have a new PRS Std with PC router and love it. Very much a newbie but learning fast.
Mark

[COBOB]

Merit Industries makes a product called a Sand O Flex. I have been using one for years on hand carvings so naturally grabbed it for carvings on the Bot.

I used to use it on the drill press for caricature carvings but find it much easier to handle on a hand drill. It may not get it all but it gets most, without ruining details. I use 320 grit paper on it and gave the strips a few extra cuts.

They sell the Sand O Flex at Woodcraft but not the cartridge refills. It comes with something like 80 grit, way too coarse for me. I order the 320 grit refills directly from Merit. You can also buy the tool and refills from Klingspors site:
http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-bin/F272E285/mac/additmdtl.mac/showItemDetail?item=MA3200&qtyA=0&phsO=N&desc=SAND-O-FLEX%20320%20GRIT%20REPLACEMENT%20PAPER&drpshp=N&alOrd=Y&iQty=.000&oQty=.000&initQty=1&assortParent=N&itemForSale=Y&styleName=&fixD=&face=.00&gftc=&stck=Y&prefS=&calledFrom=DS&ordInfo1=&ordInfo2=&ordInfo3=&ordMan1=N&ordMan2=N&ordMan3=N&persCode=&persReqd=&persLink=%20&shipRemaining=0&daysBetween=0&daysBetweenFix=0&monthsBetween=0

I am sure there are others and I wish someone would put a name on them, but this one works for me.

I just found Sanding Mops that Jack was talking about ( at least I assume these are the ones he was referring to) and ordrered one from Klingspor. I will try anything once. Thanks Jack.

[gc3]

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8050&hilit=sanding+mop&start=30

[srwtlc]

I like to use one of these from Klingspor in a hand drill. I usually get the 180 pack and once it's broke in, it does a pretty good job of buffing out carvings. There's still some hand work to be had and I'll also use a sharp exacto knife at times to get some of the stubborn fuzzies.

http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-bin/0E524B13/mac/additmdtl.mac/showItemDetail?item=FS36000G&qtyA=0&phsO=N&desc=2%20X%206%20GOLD%20SANDING%20MOP%20REFILLS-%2048PK&drpshp=N&alOrd=Y&iQty=.000&oQty=.000&initQty=1&assortParent=N&itemForSale=N&styleName=SEE%20LIST%20OF%20GRITS&fixD=&face=.00&gftc=&stck=N&prefS=&calledFrom=DS&ordInfo1=&ordInfo2=&ordInfo3=&ordMan1=N&ordMan2=N&ordMan3=N&persCode=&persReqd=&persLink=%20&shipRemaining=0&daysBetween=0&daysBetweenFix=0&monthsBetween=0

[cowboy1296]

is there ever a day i dont learn something on here. i have been using a pick and steel wool, but the mop is the next tool for me to order.

[harold_weber]

If you have access to the March 2011 Vectric newsletter, Michael Tyler suggested tooling for his "Paradise" carved box. He mentioned that he used miniature 3M Abrasive bristle discs. See McMaster part number 4494A52 and other grits listed on that section of their catalog. I tried them for a few 3 by 4 and 6 by 8 inch carvings and was pretty happy with them. They lasted longer than I thought they would if I didn't bear down hard on them.

I was using them on soft maple carvings. Your mileage may vary.

[gc3]

http://www.quickwood.com/abrasives/flap-wheel-sander/

[Brady Watson]

http://www.quickwood.com/abrasives/flap-wheel-sander/

X2...Or a Fladder brand. Scotch pads work better than leaf sandpaper - which tends to shave off sharp details.

-B

[myxpykalix]

Mark!
email me your phone number as I am in Charlottesville, i'd like to come and check out what you got!! myxpykalix@hotmail.com

[phil_o]

I've made my own detail sanders from Scotch brite pads. I use a hole-saw, 1" or 1 1/2", to cut out discs. Then I mount them on a Dremel tool. Stacking two or three of them together works better than one at a time. I like the red pads best for this application.

[cnc_works]

My favorite sanding mop. Maybe not for very large surfaces, but it will peel the fuzz off of most anything without changing the profile.

1/4" shank arbor, 1/3 sheet maroon scotchbrite. Fold in half, push through center, put the nut and washer on and you are good to go. You don't have to, but I trim the corners to speed up it wearing to round. I use mine on a foredom, but it should work on most anything...probably faster rpm would be better than slower.

Donn

[Brintintin]

Thanks all for the replies. Donn, your idea with the scotch pads is another I am going to try. I read and saw in the folder that you fold it over. Have you ever tried with only one layer, maybe to get into tight places?

Thanks again everyone for the replies!

Mark Brinson:D

[cnc_works]

Never found the need, Mark. Seems to conform the way it is. I'll keep that suggestion in mind, though.

Donn

[chairguy]

Arbortech recently released it's Contour Random Sander. I like that it wont leave directional sanding marks, but it's definitely better for smooth contours like a bowl or chair. Shipping from Australia is pretty hefty though. Would be great if they got US distribution. http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking/contour-random-sander/

[chiloquinruss]

http://stockroomsupply.ca/shop/sanding-mops.html

Nice folks, ship quick and a variety of goodies. I also built one of their 30 inch drum sanders. Russ

[mtylerfl]

My favorite sanding mop. Maybe not for very large surfaces, but it will peel the fuzz off of most anything without changing the profile.

1/4" shank arbor, 1/3 sheet maroon scotchbrite. Fold in half, push through center, put the nut and washer on and you are good to go. You don't have to, but I trim the corners to speed up it wearing to round. I use mine on a foredom, but it should work on most anything...probably faster rpm would be better than slower.

Donn

I make my own miniature sanding mops too (I'm using green Scotchbrite pads). I sharpened the end of a short length of metal pipe to "punch out" rounds from the pads. See this link for details:
http://carvebuddy.com/paintingandfinishing.html

But, by far, I rely primarily on the 3M radial discs for final detail sanding. They clean up the crevices like nothing else I've tried. The price has crept up for those over the years, but a set of three on a mandrel will usually get me through several projects. I mainly use the 80-grit (yellow discs) almost exclusively now and not the 220-grit, since I've developed the "feel" for using those without gouging the wood. For REALLY tight crevices, I will put only one or two discs on a mandrel.