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sanding pads for power sanding

Nick Boyd

Nick Boyd

Joined
Feb 18, 2015
Messages
49
Likes
11
Location
Pensacola, Florida
The velcro gets sloppy too fast for the pads I have last purchased. Very frustrating to have the sand disc spin off when in the otherwise sanding is going perfect - please recommend the best power sanding pads in your experience. I do like a bit of give, not hard.

Hopefully , I will be happy with my next purchase and maybe my cutting skills will continue to improve.
 
It sounds like the sandpaper might be overheating from using too much pressure or running the lathe or sander too fast when power sanding. My guess is that it isn't the sandpaper, but the hook fasteners on the disk have probably partially melted or broken and are no longer able to grip the loops on the sandpaper. Most likely you will need to replace the sanding disk, but I haven't noticed any significant difference between brands. Light pressure and slow speed will help to keep the sandpaper cool and extend the like of the sanding disk, but they do eventually wear out anyway.
 
I agree with Bill. I have sanding pads that are years old, on some, the foam degrades and falls apart before the velcro is shot.
One of my little tricks is to sand off the first 16th or so of the hooks around the edge of the sanding pad so I can hold down the edge of the velcro with a fingernail when changing disks. This helps to keep the velcro from getting peeled off the pad.
 
3M Dual Lock Velcro product is one of the better products on the market for securing sanding pads for hard use applications.
 
All good sound advice on lighter pressure and slower speeds. In addition, I've noticed a recent decline in the quality of velcro on pads. So far this is a one off thing from a single order, so I don't want to make any statements about a particular vendor. I've also seen a decline in the arbors as well from a couple vendors. I'm hopeful this is just a fluke and temporary, but I'm interested to hear if anyone else has experienced anything similar.
 
Mike Johnson said:
3M Dual Lock Velcro product is one of the better products on the market for securing sanding pads for hard use applications.
Click to expand...

Does 3M make sanding pads and sandpaper disks with Dual Lock Velcro? I have seen 3M Hookit pads, interface pads, and sandpaper disks, but I haven't seen the name Dual Lock on anything except the rolls of Velcro tape at the local hardware store. I did a quick Google, but came up empty handed.
 
3M has some industrial products that they do not market to the retail sector. I will see if I can find the part numbers at work.
 
You can repair worn out velcro pads by sanding off the nubs and adding adhesive backed velcro. I buy 2 inch wide strips at JoAnn Fabrics. You can also use 3M spray adhesive to attach a Velcro layer. Also, I want to put in a good word for the sanding pad system sold by Woodturners Wonders (Ken Rizza). I have been using the system for 3-4 yrs now and they are holding up great.
 
Turningwood,com sells the Tim Skilton sanding mandrels and they are the best I have ever used. I bought several but am still using the first one that I bought at least 10 years ago.
 
Overheating is probably the main issue. The best thing I ever did was to buy a pad and mandrel for every grit. That way I don't have to change the grits as much which helps save the Velcro, and they all have a chance to cool down since I'm grabbing a new mandrel as I step through the grits. It was a little expensive at first but the best money I ever spent. I haven't looked at all the different mandrels that are out there now but I purchased some from Vinceswoodnwonders in 3" size a couple of years ago and really like those.
 
I had trouble years ago with separation on several brands of disks. It stopped when I went to Mirka disks. There are sold by Steve at Turningwood. The are the longest lasting, highest quality disks I have found.
 
all good info, i will proceed by amking sure i dont heat up as much (not as much pressure,etc) and shopping for various recomendations above. thanks
 
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I have these on all my mandrels .Like John said I have mandrels for each grit but I made most of mine myself just could not see spending 140 for something I could make. I use the hex screwdriver bits, a small piece of wood, a piece of kazen foam and some velcro pad.
 
I would say they are in between Nick. Yes they are not the cheapest you can find but hard pressed to find a mandrel that lasts longer than 10 years. I mainly use the 3" and my cost so far for the one I'm still using is around $2 a year. I have probably gone through more than a few hundred dollars of 3" disks with this mandrel, Also a fan of the Mirka Gold sanding disks that Steve sells. Also if you notice on the site it tells how to replace the velcro on these mandrels, I have never replaced the velcro on the one I'm using.
 
Nick, I think some of us talking about two different items for sanding. I’m not very clear on what sanding pad you are referring to.
  • The sanding mandrel that secures in the drill chuck. This has velcro and a foam pad of some sort with a shaft out the “back” to go in the chuck.
  • There are “interface" pads that some/most of us use between the above mandrel and the sandpaper. These are intended to save the velcro on the mandrel and to provide different degrees of foam cushioning and edge profiles for sanding details.

I have found the yellow foam mandrels do not last that long for me — not the velcro but the foam attachment to the drill shaft part. I guess the flexing I do to the foam is just too much for it. I’ve bought about 1/2 dozen of them over the last 3-4 years and they’ve all failed in the same way. The single white latex rubber mandrel I bought 15 years ago is still going strong and I just received some more and am repurposing the yellow foam mandrels. (www.2sand.com) It’s a firmer cushion than the yellow foam.

The backup pads I generally use are from Vince’s (http://vinceswoodnwonders.com). I use all three firmnesses depending on the grit and details. Vince has an informative video up on YouTube for how to use these as you progress through the grits. (I believe the link is on his webpage somewhere.) My problem with these has been that the velcro holds so well that it occasionally pulls the fuzzy side off the sandpaper or pulls the velcro hook part away from the interface foam. I have to stick my fingernails between the hooks and loops to separate them so as not to stress the glues.

I’ve purchased from both 2sand and Vince (AAW member); they ship quickly and are cost effective alternatives to mainstream outlets.
 
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john lucas said:
Overheating is probably the main issue. The best thing I ever did was to buy a pad and mandrel for every grit. That way I don't have to change the grits as much which helps save the Velcro, and they all have a chance to cool down since I'm grabbing a new mandrel as I step through the grits. It was a little expensive at first but the best money I ever spent. I haven't looked at all the different mandrels that are out there now but I purchased some from Vinceswoodnwonders in 3" size a couple of years ago and really like those.
Click to expand...
Does that mean you're using 5 drills or 6, John? 🙄
 
john lucas said:
Overheating is probably the main issue. The best thing I ever did was to buy a pad and mandrel for every grit. That way I don't have to change the grits as much which helps save the Velcro, and they all have a chance to cool down since I'm grabbing a new mandrel as I step through the grits. It was a little expensive at first but the best money I ever spent. I haven't looked at all the different mandrels that are out there now but I purchased some from Vinceswoodnwonders in 3" size a couple of years ago and really like those.
Click to expand...
I know I am replying to an old post - but John, I took this recommendation and it is fantastic advice. Turning is more fun with this setup - having a mandrel/pad for each grit I use. I bought mine from turningwood.com.
 
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