My Home Made Thickness Sander #7: The Sandpaper

It was finally time to add the sand paper to the drum. Having decided on a Velcro (hook and loop) system, it was off to Super Grit http://www.supergrit.com/ . Their store is only a half an hour drive from here. The hook portion required 5 feet of material. This PSA stuff is 4” wide and is $2/foot. Also bought 3 different grits of the 3” wide loop paper. Their minimum purchase is 3 yards but at between $1.50 to $2.00 a yard it is reasonable. It took about 73” to wrap the drum but I think I can get it down to 72” and be able to get 2 applications from 4 yards.

The first step was to clean the PVC drum; started with mineral spirits then denatured alcohol. Next, carefully wrap the hook material, press it down, and allow it to “rest” overnight to get maximum adhesion.

The above pictures also show the cross members added to the bottom of the frame- for stability; also, another view of the table’s rear support/adjustment bracket as well as the screws holding the table front to the height adjustment.

Next, wrap the paper- this is 40 grit. Anchor BOTH ends. We have dust!

All day, I had been working from the rear of the sander. When it came time for the live fire test, I had anchored what I thought to be the leading edge of the paper- Wrong! As soon as the drum got some speed, the paper lifted and re-wrapped backwards around the drum. Fortunately, it did not tear but it did knock off some of the grit. (Note to self- anchor both ends.)

Had to buy the hook and loop system.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!