Official Luthiers Forum!

I just got a barely used Jet 22-44 plus sander this weekend. I got to wondering if anyone has ever put velcro on the drum of one of these sanders so they would be able to use hook and loop paper. If you have tried it or know of someone who has I would really appreciate hearing from you , either good or bad comments are welcome. Thanks in advance for any help you can give on the subject!

Steve H.

Steve, do you mean on the drum? I think the drum spins too fast and the softer materials between the paper and drum would cause less than desirable results in the sanding.

I would not do it. That velcro is going to act as a heat insulator keeping the paper hot. Better to wic the heat into the drum, dc will vent it off. DC does more than remove dust.

First you need to ask yourself 'why' would you do this? The standard set up on the machine works perfectly without needing to add to the cost of abrasives for absolutely no gain. I imagine changing papers would become a real PIA if you changed to hook and loop. Much quicker to roll it on and clip it in IMO.

Cheers

Kim

That is never going to work and if it did it would wreck the perfection of the roundness of the drum.

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Hook and Loop abrasive works great on the Sand Flee and V-Sander style drum sander but they can't thickness to a preset precise amount. You have to make multiple passes and take off a little with each pass until you have the thickness you need. The are really good for finishing and removing old finish. The air space created between the abrasive and the drum when spinning (centrifigal force pulls the abrasive out tight ) keeps the abrasive cool.
http://www.rjrstudios.com/inthemedia.php
http://www.stockroomsupply.ca/shop/drum-sanders.html?cat=36

+1 on what all have said. The cost of H&L paper should (will) be high. Another problem I foresee is that harder areas of the wood being sanded will result in uneven leveling. Try using a ROS on a top with hardwood inlay (rosette). You will get an idea of what I mean. You don't want the drum surface "conforming" to the work piece. (ROS sanders typically have a soft pad)

hmmm .. well I guess I will be the dissenter in the group ... I use velcro backed paper, and used to have the mating surface on the drum, but a couple years ago took the drum portion off because as noted, getting the paper on straight is a real PITA. I replaced it with a layer of red rubber motor gasket material from a local source (shopbuilt sander, solid MDF drum, gasket is contact cemented on). The rubber cushions the paper just enough that the paper doesnt tend to burn (nor does the wood). I attach to the drum with a lock wedge at one end, band clamp at the other. I use Klingspor stearated paper from stockroom supply - this stuff is great because unlike alot fo other papers, it doesnt load - I hear a lot of builders complain about this when sanding resinous woods - with mine, it has to be really resinous for much to happen, and if the paper is fresh, it just eats ti up). This nonsense about not being able to properly or evenly thickness is just that .. nonsense. Mine does it almost every day. The drum needs to be levelled to the table, but thats about it.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"