Recommend a way to sand this easily?

[Tenson]

Hi Guys,

I am making this piece (a small speaker stand) and I need to sand it nicely. I can do all the curves by hand of course, but I need to do about 200 of them now.

I was thinking a flap wheel might be the way to go, but I've never used one and I've seen some say they are really for metal.

Any recommendations on method and specific tools?

Thanks,
Simon

[Wood Collector]

I would use a spindle sander. I or it you can use a template a flush cutting bit on a table router would be the other way to get a nice clean surface. Cheers WC

[RoyG]

Hi Guys,

I am making this piece (a small speaker stand) and I need to sand it nicely. I can do all the curves by hand of course, but I need to do about 200 of them now.
................................................

Thanks,
Simon

Simon,

A photograph would help a lot - otherwise people are having to guess what sort of curves are involved when they are trying to provide advice.

RoyG

[Xanthorrhoeas]

I would use a spindle sander. I or it you can use a template a flush cutting bit on a table router would be the other way to get a nice clean surface. Cheers WC

I agree with Wood Collector. A flapwheel might round your edges off.

[soundman]

a couple of thaughts ...... first you may wish to modify your design for efficient sanding.
In particular that inside narrow curve.

That done I would be looking as a stationary belt sander....... if that narrow curve is made larger than the end roller of the belt sander the whole thing would be a snack.


The other thing that will improve efficiency is pre snading and prefinishing at various stages ..... I would at least have all 3 pieces finshed to sanding sealer and sanded stage before assembly

I would not discount a flap wheel or flutter sheets in the final stages ...... something arround 180grit ...... will denib and smooth those edges without roiding the corners too much

AND defientely use a sanding sealer it will make getting a god finish much easier

[Hawgslogs]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1444484045.261817.jpg
This would be my preference

[Tenson]

Roy G, can you not see the photo I attached?

I can't make the small inside curve much larger or it will totally change the design. Certainly no way to make it fit the end of my belt sander. To give some scale the support plate is about 10cm square.

I need to do first sanding at about 120grit and finish with 220grit.

If I used a drum sander in my pillar drill, do you advise a hard or foam drum??

[Toymaker Len]

Pneumatic drum is what you need.

[soundman]

i'd stick with the belt sander for the majority and only use a drum for the one small curve.

Drum sanders have the tendancy to dig holes and because they don't have the area they go thru abrasive like its going out of style


cheers

[mark david]

Hi Would definitely agree with others,as you are making bulk quantity a bobbin sander is the way to go.
You can get decent oscillating types quite cheaply and do a good job.

Routing with a pattern bit is good too.

[Bob38S]

Drum sander in a drill press. Rubber or pneumatic, your choice, personally I would go with the rubber.

Attach a sacrificial timber base which sits on the drill press stage, drill a large enough hole in the timber base to allow the drum sander to sit into the hole. The work piece slides on the base while the drill press keeps the drum at 90 degrees to the work piece. The hole in the sacrificial base allows you to deepen the drum and expose fresh grit to the job.

If a router and template were used to initially cut the shape then there should be very little to clean up. Ply is good but can be hard on router bits so use a good quality bit.

[Wood Collector]

If you get yourself some cleaning sticks for the spindle or drum sander it will prolong the life of the sand paper. Cheers WC

[dinosour]

Have done similar type of work( not that quantity) but had great success doing the way Bob38s explained.
Good luck with the project