planing and belt sanding

[mrgrimsdale]

Been finishing off my sycamore table top.
The DavidC recommended trick worked - backing off the planer blade edge with a micro bevel. Or rather it was an improvement - there were still one or two tear outs but I filled them with brummer.
Now belt sanding, working through the grit sizes. Came up with a wheeze as follows:
It's difficult to be sure that you have completely removed the sanding scratches from the previous size (say 40 grit) when you are on the next one (say 60) and ready to move on to 80. So what I've done is last passes with the 40grit, at 45deg to one edge, then last passes with 60 grit at 45deg the other way. Then any 40grit marks are dead obvious as they are at 90deg to the 60 grit marks. And so on through the sizes.
Helps to have a torch and a lens for close scrutiny of the surface, as at 150 grit the scratches are barely visible.
Tried scraping but it's a big area and unless the scraper edge is perfect it also tears out. This seems to be a particularly flaky bit of sycamore!

cheers
Jacob

[paulchapman]

Do you use a sanding frame on the belt sander, Jacob?

Cheers

Paul

[mrgrimsdale]

Yes - it's a Bosch GBS 75AE. Too risky without the frame - too easy to gouge out a great hole as I've found from experience.
cheers
Jacob

[jfc]

Never used the frame on mine but then i am rough

[engineerone]

we know that but what about your woodworking?

paul

[Scrit]

Likewise never use a frame on mine, either - but then again it won't take one. I've spent too much time using a stroke sander to leave the sander still anywhere............ (Remember, rub tummy, pat head, rub tummy, pat head.....)

[nickw]

Ayup, Scrit's been on the jungle juice already.

[mrgrimsdale]

nickw said:

Ayup, Scrit's been on the jungle juice already.

Yers thats what I thought!
Its not the standing still of sander which is the prob - it's the occasional edge dig in, esp when distracted by dog leaping past in chase of dust motes, or mrs G stumbling by and standing on the flex.
With a frame on you can just sand away all day and think of nothing and it all comes out nice n flat.

cheers
Jacob

[Scrit]

You guys have obviously never used a long stroke sander :



where one hand slides the pad from side to side whilst applying pressure and the other moves the table in and out. Most entertaining, and a bit like "rub tummy, pat head". If you don't keep everyting moving then it just sands throughg, especially on modern pre-veneered boards

Scrit