Shopsmith Forums

I am old school and always used the stick on sandpaper.

Are the velco, hook and loops, worth the extra cost?

TIA

IMHO, Yes.

curiousgeorge wrote:IMHO, Yes.

could you expand on that, please?

I know that the velcro is incompatible with the sharpening fixture.

what things are the velcro version especially good for?

does the velcro cushioning tend to round over the edge towards the on-coming disk?

iclark wrote:could you expand on that, please?

I know that the velcro is incompatible with the sharpening fixture.

what things are the velcro version especially good for?

does the velcro cushioning tend to round over the edge towards the on-coming disk?

I don't use the flat disk for hardly anything anymore. I prefer the belt sander and conical disk, but that said, I used only velcro sandpaper on the flat disk.

Now to your questions:
The velcro version is good for everything the adhesive version is used for - EXCEPT SHARPENING.

The velcro version does not round over edges.

My addition: It is magnitudes easier to change sandpaper grits on the velcro version.

I agree with everything Chuck has said, and I wood like to add that changing back and forth between grits without destroying your disks is very helpful to the budget!!!

a1gutterman wrote:I agree with everything Chuck has said, and I wood like to add that changing back and forth between grits without destroying your disks is very helpful to the budget!!!

I think there is an implication here that changing self adhesive paper damages the paper. While this is sometimes true, it is not always. I hardly ever damage the paper when changing it but then I don't leave the paper attached after I am through with a project. Also, I leave my disks in the sun to warm up before I pull the paper. Warming them with a heat gun or in an oven should have the same positive effect. The heat makes the adhesive a bit more friendly.

I have two disks: one has the adhesive paper for sharpening and the other has the velcro for sanding.

BPR

In a word, Yes. The velcro backed paper permits a quick change without storing multiple discs. I have two discs, one for stick on, used for sharpening and for things that would tear the softer backed paper, and the other disc for the velcro paper.

I use three disks. One set aside for metal sharpening, one with stick on paper and old with velco. I also have a concal sanding disk I rarely use.

I do believe that velco tends to soften edges (roundoff corners), while not significant more than I will tolerate in some cases.

WhileI love the velco system, it is more expensive, the disks don't last as long and you can damage the velco if your not very careful. The self stick disks are fantastic but every time I change a disk I know I have reduced it's useful life to some extent.

Ed in Tampa wrote:...I do believe that velco tends to soften edges (roundoff corners), while not significant more than I will tolerate in some cases...

Sorry - I've never witnessed softened edges. I feel the need to post a contrasting view.

The only way this can happen is if there is too much pressure applied to the operation. Correctly done, ANY sanding should only be done with enough pressure so that only the thickness of the grit is used. Using dull sandpaper could be a major factor causing one to use too much pressure.

If not too much pressure, then the piece had to be tilted somehow.

Didn't really want to admit this, but my very first sharpening of my SS lathe tools was done on a velcro backed disk. The tools came out sharp!! Then I read the safety warning>