Sanding

hjlssfor1 · Post by **hjlssfor1** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:32 am

I have the basic 510 model, so I do not have (1) the belt sander, (2) the conical sanding disc, and (3) the inflatable contour sander. I will buy the contour sander, and from watching some of the Nick Engler videos, it looks like the conical sanding disc would be handy to have.

I also watched the video in which Nick demonstrated use of the conical sanding disc on the headstock in the upright position for thickness sanding. The workpiece was on a 4/5 degree tilt sliding jig that was pushed under the revolving conical disc.

My question: How important is it to a new woodworker to have a stationary belt sander? My initial projects will be finishing out my garage/shop with cabinets. When I am more confident, I eventually will build out the interior of my retirement project, a (now gutted) 1956 Airstream trailer.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Hank

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:47 am

hjlssfor1 wrote:I have the basic 510 model, so I do not have (1) the belt sander, (2) the conical sanding disc, and (3) the inflatable contour sander. I will buy the contour sander, and from watching some of the Nick Engler videos, it looks like the conical sanding disc would be handy to have.

I also watched the video in which Nick demonstrated use of the conical sanding disc on the headstock in the upright position for thickness sanding. The workpiece was on a 4/5 degree tilt sliding jig that was pushed under the revolving conical disc.

My question: How important is it to a new woodworker to have a stationary belt sander? My initial projects will be finishing out my garage/shop with cabinets. When I am more confident, I eventually will build out the interior of my retirement project, a (now gutted) 1956 Airstream trailer.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Hank

I consider having a belt sander almost an absolute necessity. However, having said that, there is nothing you can do with a belt sander that cannot be done by hand sanding. The time required to complete the sanding task is simply different.

In your initial project of finishing out your garage/shop, the only time I believe you would benefit significantly by having a belt sander would be doing face frame joints for your cabinets/shelves and that job might be better served with a flat disk sander on the Mark V.

As for the Airstream project - if, after finishing that job, you can see back and say that you are truly proud of what you have accomplished then you will have become a true "craftsman". The interior curves (basically no straight lines and no square corners and no vertical surfaces) will be a challenge. I have done one and I wish I had it to do over again. I know now that I could have done a much, much better job.

I would also make more use of pop-rivets and use far fewer sheet metal screws than I did. The rigors of the road are too much for sheet metal screws.

mrhart · Post by **mrhart** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:22 am

From an affordability standpoint, the belt sander is one of the most common spt's I've seen for sale and one of the cheapest. A decent used belt sander with some new paper (cheap as well) outweighs alot of hand sanding in my eyes. My opinion only.

hjlssfor1 · Post by **hjlssfor1** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:21 pm

dusty wrote:I consider having a belt sander almost an absolute necessity. However, having said that, there is nothing you can do with a belt sander that cannot be done by hand sanding. The time required to complete the sanding task is simply different.

In your initial project of finishing out your garage/shop, the only time I believe you would benefit significantly by having a belt sander would be doing face frame joints for your cabinets/shelves and that job might be better served with a flat disk sander on the Mark V.

As for the Airstream project - if, after finishing that job, you can see back and say that you are truly proud of what you have accomplished then you will have become a true "craftsman". The interior curves (basically no straight lines and no square corners and no vertical surfaces) will be a challenge. I have done one and I wish I had it to do over again. I know now that I could have done a much, much better job.

I would also make more use of pop-rivets and use far fewer sheet metal screws than I did. The rigors of the road are too much for sheet metal screws.

Dusty, thanks for the information. Using the flat disc sander for a face frame joint: would that involve using the disc in the horizontal position and the workpiece on the table?
The Airstream will be a big challenge, but it also will be fun to do and satisfying when I finish it. The plan: drive it on the AlCan highway to Alaska, and then bring it back to Seattle area on the car ferry.
Hank

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:33 pm

hjlssfor1 wrote:Dusty, thanks for the information. Using the flat disc sander for a face frame joint: would that involve using the disc in the horizontal position and the workpiece on the table?
The Airstream will be a big challenge, but it also will be fun to do and satisfying when I finish it. The plan: drive it on the AlCan highway to Alaska, and then bring it back to Seattle area on the car ferry.
Hank

Yes, all you are really doing is sanding what was a saw cut to make the facing surface of a joint (a 45° as an example). The sanded joint is supposedly a better glue joint. This also allows you to fine tune what might not have been a perfect interface.

I agree that the Airstream project will be a lot of fun. Like I said, I wish I had another one to do.

If cash flow was not an issue, I would have one sitting in the drive way to renovate right now.

I have never driven the AlCan so I do not speak with experience. I have heard some great stories though and I have heard a couple nightmares. I think proper preparation might be the key to avoiding the nightmares.

BTW I just spent about an hour using the belt sander. I am preparing to make another stack of ZCIs. I use the belt sander to do the rounded end of the ZCI.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:52 pm

The belt sander may well be the most frequently used tool in my shop. Every time I desire a change in shape of any item or smoothing of joints I switch on the belt sander. I should not admit that I have a free standing shopsmith, two different sizes portable belt sanders and another belt sander on a work bench that also sports a sanding wheel. I use them all as the situations present themselves. I will add that I decided on a separate stand and motor for my belt sander immediately after bring it home, due to how often I use it. Jim

hjlssfor1 · Post by **hjlssfor1** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:09 am

Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I will be looking for a used SS beltsander.

Hank