WELL ALL I GOTTA SAY IS.....

[capt jake]

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.

On the big grinders like that as Devlin's shop, we use a piece of 3/4" plywood.  Screwed to the backing, stick a piece of 36 grit on something flat (tablesaw, etc) and the run the ply disc over that to true it up.  The you have a dead nuts flat grinding pad.  We use it for finishing scarfs and grinding large flat areas.  It takes a good hp unit (like you show) to push it though.

[JeffM]

Frank, your friend is a good guy, even if he is a Republican!

[Frank Hagan]

Well, Gen. Powell doesn't sand anything (but he still works on old Volvos for a hobby).  I met him at a company function (the old company), which almost made the 10 years with that company worthwhile!

The big right angle sanders are just used for hogging off a lot of material at once, right?  Or are the "random orbital" like the smaller ones that won't create swirl marks?

[capt jake]

The big right angle sanders are just used for hogging off a lot of material at once, right?  Or are the "random orbital" like the smaller ones that won't create swirl marks?

Correct.  Or, working on a large relatively flat area with convex and not a concave surface.

I should add, the ones that Devlin uses are the big Fein units, not sure of the model.  We were warned to NOT let anything get tangled in the pad, like a shirt, etc!  They have so much torque and power that they will not stall!  I was working in a large bilge compartment when I caught the edge and the unit spun out of my hand.  I had one leg in the compartment and that 36 grit ate a large patch of my lower leg, right through my heavy work pants.  No real damage, but I still have a nasty scar there.

[Tom Lathrop]

The big right angle sanders are just used for hogging off a lot of material at once, right?  Or are the "random orbital" like the smaller ones that won't create swirl marks?

That is a difference in the plywood pad and the "soft" pad that I use.  When you learn to use this 8" variable speed sander, it becomes the sander of choice for big jobs and can do fine work on flat or convex surfaces.  The ability to guide it on only one part of the disc means that there are few cross grain scratches to sand out with finer grit.

[Greg Luckett]

I finally remembered where I bought my Full-Face Respirator.  Lab Safety Supply, 38014 3M Spectacle Kit for 6000 Series

[Charlie Jones]

I use an air helmet. It has a powered filter that hangs behind you and feeds air across your face and down. I still wear a mask under it though.

One small tip- DON"T have tamales for dinner and then go sand in a very dusty boat The filter hangs BEHIND you as I said :o

[Greg Luckett]

LOL Charlie.

Seriously, does the air flow tend to have a cooling effect on the face?

[Charlie Jones]

Yep- and since it's fresh air it prevent fogging of the face plate.- Also , it's a positive pressure inside, so tends to keep dust outside the face plate and the  tyvek screen that runs under the chin. You can see it in the picture.

[Greg Luckett]

I tend to wear a sweat band made from soft cotton cloth to keep my eyes clear of the sweat, but when wearing the mask I cannot do that.  Instead I have to take frequent breaks, remove the mask, then wipe off the sweat.  This is only a problem in this climate for a few months but it is also in the time that the work is non-stop....pre-season and early boat season.  Charlie, I think I will try your method and have seen them on the Rockler or Woodcraft sites. 

Incidently, those paper towels that come in the square boxes make good sweat bands too.  I just pull out 3 of them without detaching each, then twist into a loose rope, then wrap around the head and tie off with a double overhand.  I can wear my safety glasses and ear protection this way and the sweat stays clear of my eyes.  Those have made great shop towels for me and I usually buy several boxes at a time.

[Steve Day]

Charlie,

That comment about the rear mounted air intake and filter was a jewell! ROFLMAO!! That one comment made it worth my while coming on the forum tonight.

All kidding aside, any idea where a guy might get one of those??

I use a respirator all of the time, but is not a full-face type and my eyes don't need the exposure to the dust.

Thanks,

Steve

[capt jake]

Most safety supply houses and autobody shops carry a full line of those products.  We used the 3M version at the shop.  I am considering getting one for myself someday (the full face).