Replies

1. 
   mvflaim | Nov 18, 2007 07:18pm | #1

   I've used the old style ones a couple of years ago and they didn't work well. Since then, they have redisgned the hole pattern but I have no idea if they work any better. So basically, my post is useless. sorry : (

    

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 18, 2007 11:44pm | #2

   I've used them a couple of times and wasn't really impressed.  Originally purchased it for just hogging off material on an uneven board.  If you want to save money on regular sanding and get a great surface to boot, check out Mirka's Abranet sanding discs.  Those are worth the money and then some!!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   knothole | Nov 19, 2007 07:21am | #3

   And where do you find these Abranet sanding disc ?

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2007 09:35am | #4

   Sorry, I usually provide a link for such things, but my sources have been kinda odd -- the first trial was a sample pack from a woodworking show, the next purchase was to buy out some from a local hardwoods dealer who had them on sale.  I first heard about them from Tom (tms), a local woodworker who does virtually all of his sanding using them.

   So, if you click here, you'll get a Google page full of Abranet stuff.  Jeff Jewitt's Homestead Finishing carries it, you can find it about 2/3's of the way down this page, but I have no idea how prices might vary among retailers.  NOTE:  If you simply order individual packs, be sure and get a "Pad Protection Disc" for your sander, to interface between the ROS pad and the Abranet. If you order the sample pack, that disc is included.

   The darned stuff lasts a really, really long time, leaves a great surface, and if you have a vacuum hooked up to your ROS, you'll get really good dust pick-up using the Abranet.  Often the sanding surface will outlast the hook and loop.  On a poplar project that I recently made 3 units of, where the first unit was sanded with regular sandpaper discs and the other 2 with Abranet, one Abranet disc lasted easily as long as 5 of the sanding paper discs.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   knothole | Nov 19, 2007 03:40pm | #5

   Thanks, I'll give it a try.

2. 
   xmike | Nov 24, 2007 06:04am | #9

   Forestgirl,

   How do you protect the Abranet disks from tearing?  I just started with the system and am mightily impressed with the speed and greatly improved dust collection. 

   However, I keep tearing the edges of the disks as soon as I pass over a joint with a protruding edge, as in smoothing out those little joint discontinuities that a Kreg pocket-hole jig, inexpertly applied, leaves.

   Mike D

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 24, 2007 07:30am | #10

   Ahhhh, sorry, I forgot about that issue.  Yes, you need to be very careful when you get to a sharp edge.  One of the accessories helps prevent the tearing problem, and I think it is the backing pad <click> (the last one on that page is for Abranet).  They also have "interfaces" for sanding contoured surfaces.

   Since I'm rarely in a super-hurry, I just am very careful when I'm sanding to stay away from sharp edges.  However, now that I'm sure I want to keep sanding with Abranet, I'll probably fork out for one of the backing pads at some point.  Jeff Jewitt sells them, don't know who else, haven't checked.

   If you hit a sharp edge just right, I'm told, the Abranet disc will fly through the air like a Frisbee!  Have you hit the sweet spot yet? ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   xmike | Nov 24, 2007 04:57pm | #11

   Well, I bought the backing pad when I got the system, and perhaps it helps - but .... I'm tearing up the disk with contact with sharp edges anyway.  Perhaps it's a technique thing.

   It does make a huge positive difference with the dust issue, though - hardly any escapes with the shop vac connected to my PC orbital.

   Mike

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 24, 2007 07:34pm | #12

   "Perhaps it's a technique thing."  Probably.  You want to be sure the edge of the disc doesn't bump right into that edge that's sticking up, especially the "edge of the edge" -- in other words where the raised portion is at the very edge of the frame, making two edges that it hits simultaneously. 

   I tore the first disc I used, trimmed it down to get the tear out, and have been tear-free since then.  Be sure you're not pressing down much as you sand -- that would exaccerbate any problems (with regular sandpaper too -- overheating).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   BruceS | Nov 20, 2007 03:15am | #6

   Microplane discs are not on favorites list, especially for an applied finish(paint,varnish lacquer, etc)  Ditto FG on the abranet thought for raw wood.. BUT  If your sanding any sort of applied finish I would stick to some sort of very opened coat sanding disc.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 20, 2007 08:23am | #7

   "If your sanding any sort of applied finish I would stick to some sort of very opened coat sanding disc."  Lemme meake sure I know what you mean -- are you referring to sanding between finish coats?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   BruceS | Nov 20, 2007 06:44pm | #8

   No, Just refering to stripping off old finish.  For sanding between finish coats I like to start with Norton 3X  (320) or (220) at most, and thats done by hand.Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S.