Shopsmith Forums

Any rules of thumbs or criteria used to determine that is time to change your sandpaper? Sounds simple but I am sure I am not the first one to wonder if it's time. I usually change based on feel of rubbing my fingers on the used grit vs. new grit but it's very subjective AND may be too soon, too late.

When you sand and all it does it shines the wood.

A million years ago, one of my exciting jobs was doing sand paper testing for Black and Decker. Measure the weight of the item, sand for a minute, measure the new weight, sand another minute. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

As I recall, after 10 minutes of use nearly all sanding/grinding paper/cloth are essentially done. You can get a little more from them, but not much. And they are the most effective during the first 3-4 minutes. During that initial few minutes, over 50% of the material removal would take place. Then the paper/cloth would dull, and remove much less material.

It's sort of a feel thing with me. If it feels like I am having to press to get the paper to do it's job, it's time to replace it. As long as just a very light pressure is required, it's fine.

Good questions and the answers are appropriate as well. I like using the Abrasive Cleaning Stick Item 753523 on all forms of sand paper Disks, Belts and even flat sand Paper. These sticks extend the life of abrasive paper many times. Well worth the price and they seem to last forever. fjimp

fjimp wrote:Good questions and the answers are appropriate as well. I like using the Abrasive Cleaning Stick Item 753523 on all forms of sand paper Disks, Belts and even flat sand Paper. These sticks extend the life of abrasive paper many times. Well worth the price and they seem to last forever. fjimp

How zit work Jim?

mickyd wrote:How zit work Jim?

Gosh Mike,

I don't have any Zits so don't know.

Oh were you wanting to know how I use it? On a disk I turn the equipment on and start in the center cleaning as the stick moves to the outside of the wheel. On belts while sander is running begin on one side and move slowly across. For sandpaper I place the paper on a rubber pad so it won't move and move the stcik back and forth until the grit is clean.

Trust me if it didn't do a good job of cleaning the grit so it is restored to a usable state I wouldn't mess with it. I guess than means I think it works well fjimp

If you happen to have an old dried up tube of silicone caulking, you don't need to purchase a special abrasive cleaning "stick." Simply strip off the cardboard and use it instead. It is the same material and works just as well (at least for me).

fjimp wrote:Gosh Mike,

I don't have any Zits so don't know.

Oh were you wanting to know how I use it? On a disk I turn the equipment on and start in the center cleaning as the stick moves to the outside of the wheel. On belts while sander is running begin on one side and move slowly across. For sandpaper I place the paper on a rubber pad so it won't move and move the stcik back and forth until the grit is clean.

Trust me if it didn't do a good job of cleaning the grit so it is restored to a usable state I wouldn't mess with it. I guess than means I think it works well fjimp

Glad to here you outgrew your zits Jim.

No...what I was asking is how zit work, not how well zit works nor how do you use zit?? Is zit little metal fingers that rub across the abrasive? Or is zit a sticky thingy that pulls the foreign material off? Or is zit cutters that reface the dull abrasive edges of the crystals? Or does zit just plan work and you never questioned zit??