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I'm trying to get ready to finish for the first time.......and if you haven't already figured out I don't know what I'm doing......well, you aren't reading my posts!

I want to have everything I need on hand before I start the process. I've read where some folks finish out the final sanding by hand using Abralon in the 1500, 2000, and some even 4000 grit range. I've done searches and all I've found is Mirka Abralon Foam Grip Disks. Is this the same Abralon used to sand out the finish by hand? If not, what are they referring to? If so, are these pads placed on a block when used by hand?

Thanks for the insight!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

It looks like Homestead Finishing sell the Abralon pads alongs with circular blocks to use for hand rubbing out a finish. He is out on vacation this week so I will contact him on Monday and get the details. It looks like people do use the circular pads designed for ROS for hand sanding finishes. This is what had me confused. Will know more once I get to discuss with Jeff. Here is a link where homestead is selling the Abralon pads:

http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com/htdocs/Mirkaabrasives2.htm

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I use 3" diameter Abralon foam disks on a small ROS for the plates and by hand on most other surfaces. Works great. I use 2000 and 4000 grit. This makes the lacquer very easy to buff.

Hey Darryl,

last week I used the 6" Abralon Abrasive pads on a Festool ROS. They work like a dream. Must be some magic in there.
After using the 1000, 2000 and 4000 grit pads, buffing the finish (KTM 9) by hand was quick and easy. The pads are expensive, but well worth the money.

I have dry sanded the last 4 guitars with 3m and now Joest abrasives. I sand to 1500 then use medium then fine menzerna compound on a buffing wheel. I find that with a good buffer 1500 is fine enough. The last one I used a RO sander to power sand up to the l200 then hand sanded with 1500. I found a neat hand sanding block at Woodcraft http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005922/28629/Abranet-2-34-X-5-Grip-Faced-Vacuum-Block.aspx This worked well on the final 1500 sanding, pulls a lot of the dust off the surface so the paper does not load up so fast.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

This place seems a bit cheaper:

http://www.supergrit.com/products/produ ... bralon.asp

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

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