WELL ALL I GOTTA SAY IS.....

[P Doug (WA)]

Sanding SUCKS  >  And I have just a little boat.  Been doing a lot of sanding the past 2 days.  My back hurts, my wrists hurt!  Can't breath, can't see!  BUT progress is being made!  Think I will fix a drink and go sit in the hot tub! :-X

[capt jake]

Sanding SUCKS  >  And I have just a little boat.  Been doing a lot of sanding the past 2 days.  My back hurts, my wrists hurt!  Can't breath, can't see!  BUT progress is being made!  Think I will fix a drink and go sit in the hot tub! :-X

See!  everybody take careful note now; I am NOT the only one who HATES sanding.   ;D

[Andrew_Butchart]

Depending on why you're having to sand, you may want to consider getting an auto body shaper.  It's a big rasp / cheese grater thing - like the small surform shapers.  It can get rid of mistakes almost as fast as you can make them.

[capt jake]

I recently bought one of the Porter Cable 6" RO sanders.  It cut the sanding time more than in half, compared to the 5" model.  This is the one that looks like an angle grinder.

Invest in a good 1/2 face respirator.  I like the 3M model, I think it is the 6300.  Go to the autobody supply house and get the dust pre-filters.  Take off the organic cartridge filter and use just the pre-filter.  It is way easier to breath with that as compared to a cheapo dust mask.

[Joel]

A good dust mask really does make a difference. The cheap disposable ones are a pain to use and always fog up my glasses. I us a single filter mask made by AO Safety. Its easy to clean and the filters are $1.25 each.

You can buy one at Sears or Amazon.com

http://www.messing-about.com/shop/shop.php?c=tools&n=541016&i=B0000BYE9Q&x=AO_Safety_Woodworkers_Respirator_95190

I am also thinking of getting a larger right angle sander like Jake has. The smaller palm type hurts my hand after a few hours.

joel

[Frank Hagan]

P Doug, you don't have the sander that attaches to the PTO on your tractor yet, do you? 

Sanding is one reason many of us like the phrase "workboat finish". 

[barryhill]

Love my Porter Cable. Bought it 20 odd years ago when it got rave reviews in Wooden Boat. The poor old disc came apart this summer and whacked me in the forehead. Only bad thing its ever done! Team it with 3M green 36 grit and it'll move some stuff.

Bob

[capt jake]

This is the one that I have...

[JeffM]

Now that you mention it, what should those of us with beards do about dust?  I've about decided that its a choice between shaving, and risking respiratory problems!

[Charlie Jones]

a new disc for the Porter Cable 7335 is 12.50 from Econo-brasives in Plano Texas. I've bought a dozen of them over the years. At least that's what the last one I bought cost me.

I find the 6 incher too large to get into spaces on the boats- I much prefer the 5 inch pads.

[Frank Hagan]

Now that you mention it, what should those of us with beards do about dust?  I've about decided that its a choice between shaving, and risking respiratory problems!

I use a Resp-O-Rator Jr. from Resp-O-Rator, which fits in your mouth like a snorkle.  You have to learn not to slobber with it, but after a while its very comfortable.  I think before my next big project I'll upgrade to the model that uses two tubes from the mouthpiece to position the filter behind your head.  Fine Woodworking did a write up of it at This Link.  That will solve the problem of the filter caking pretty quickly.

The only other options I've found are the ones where you have a powered respirator and a full face shield; filtered air is blown down past your face.  They are comfortable after you get used to them, but I know if its not quick and easy to put on, I'll never use it.

[Greg Luckett]

Now that you mention it, what should those of us with beards do about dust?  I've about decided that its a choice between shaving, and risking respiratory problems!

I have a full beard and do not have trouble sealing my masks.  I never had problems with OBA or NBC gas masks while in the Navy either.  The trick is to shave/trim the beard from the bottom of the jaw to the neck.  The side burn hair is not a problem with seal either.

Last year I went to a full face mask, which looks like a gas mask, to solve the fogging problems and to be able to lay on my back under the work when needed.  I can wear my glasses under it too.

[capt jake]

Now that you mention it, what should those of us with beards do about dust?  I've about decided that its a choice between shaving, and risking respiratory problems!

I use a Resp-O-Rator Jr. from Resp-O-Rator, which fits in your mouth like a snorkle.  You have to learn not to slobber with it, but after a while its very comfortable.  I think before my next big project I'll upgrade to the model that uses two tubes from the mouthpiece to position the filter behind your head.  Fine Woodworking did a write up of it at This Link.  That will solve the problem of the filter caking pretty quickly.

The only other options I've found are the ones where you have a powered respirator and a full face shield; filtered air is blown down past your face.  They are comfortable after you get used to them, but I know if its not quick and easy to put on, I'll never use it.

Hey, wait a minute, I saw that contraption on the History channel the other day.  I think it was patented back in 1845 or so.

That looks totally uncomfortable, at least to me.

[P Doug (WA)]

Just so you will know this is what I wear most the time when I'm sanding epoxy:

This is what I am sanding with:

I've made several of these boards (got the idea from people on this forum.  I made mine just the right size to cut a 3" X 21" sanding belt and attach it to the board.  I put a dab of contact cement at each end to hold the belt on.  I'm starting with 50 grid and will progress from there.  I have a ROS (Dewalt 5") I use also but the boards help me get a flatter surface.  Yes I took the pictures of the boards sitting on my new Steel City table saw.  I worked hard to earn that saw...

[Howard]

I now have a mask like the one Doug shows. I found that if I need a mask, I also need eye protection and the cheap paper masks always fogged my glasses.

I ALWAYS attach a shop vac to the sander. I have a 5" ROS Porter Cable and a 6" Bosch. The Bosch is a right angle, variable speed ROS beastie, but doesn't work well in tight spaces. The shop vac helps collect the dust, and also keeps the paper from clogging so it cuts faster/longer. For serious issues, get a high speed right angle grinder and put a flap sanding disc on it. Hang on and be careful! Don't even think about using that without the respirator and eye protection.

I've also found there are better sources of sand paper and tools in general than are offered in the home improvement box stores. We have a local store that caters to the construction trades. The carry the same brands of tools, but in industrial grades. A little more expensive but much better quality.

[Tom Lathrop]

a new disc for the Porter Cable 7335 is 12.50 from Econo-brasives in Plano Texas. I've bought a dozen of them over the years. At least that's what the last one I bought cost me.

I find the 6 incher too large to get into spaces on the boats- I much prefer the 5 inch pads.

Charlie,

I went through a couple of those but the last one failed at a bad time and did not have time to order another.  I made one from a piece of 1" thick closed cell polyurethane ethafoam, the same closed cell stiff foam used in thin backpacking sleeping pads.  I used epoxy to attach it to the old backing pad.  It's holding up really well. 

This is one that I made for my Makita 8" sander when it went bust.

[Charlie Jones]

Kewll Tom- I'll sure file THAT away.

I glued a disc of formica to one old pad one time- for those times when I wanted a pad that was REALLY flat!! Worked well for sanding flat stuff- not so good on boat hulls though.

[P Doug (WA)]

Ok, so after reading Ray's post above, I decided maybe I sanded enough for now and went ahead and put the first coat of epoxy on.  I will need a few more coats because the cheap plywood really is sucking it in (a good thing, I think).  Which mean I need to order more epoxy(my wife is not going to be happy with that).  Sure  feels good to make some progress after having to let it sit this summer.

[Frank Hagan]

Frank,  Is that a picture of you?

Only picture I have seen before you were very much much younger.

Under 12 IIRC.

Myself, I opt for holding my breath and sanding for a while and then going outside and breathing a bit and then going back in holding my breath.

It sure helps keep me in shape for deep water skin diving.

Nope, that's not me.  I think that's the guy who developed it.  I have the smaller one that is basically the mouthpiece with a single filter attached to it.  I couldn't find a picture of it to link in.  I'll have to find it and post a pic.

Latest pic I have of me and a buddy is below:

[Greg Luckett]

WOW Frank!!  You look just like Colin Powell.