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Im getting tired of running downstairs to my drum sander feed belt to sand things flat! I want to buy some thing I can have
mounted to the top of my work bench. What do you guys use for a good flat sanding surface? and where did you get it?

I have a flat sanding dish 1-1/2" thick MDF, was an extra from making radius dishes. I put sandpaper on that for any flat sanding.

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Did you true it up with anything? or is mdf generally flat enough?

depends on how big you are talking. I have some thick tempered glass that I use for smalls. I use spray adhesive to join the paper as it has almost no effect on the flatness and I can change over to various grades really easily.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

I check it often with my straight edge. It's been highly stable over the past 6 years since it was first made.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Im just talking about small stuff.. Where did you get your tempered glass? although rod makes me feel like i may have a solution sitting in my scrap box...


Thanks for the quick replys guys!

8x3" extra-extra-coarse DMT diamond stone, from Lee Valley Not only extremely useful for flattening blades and grinding bevels, it also makes a great sanding surface for wood, and can be washed off if it gets clogged up instead of having to scrape sandpaper off and glue on a new sheet. Too small for flattening long planes, but great for little stuff like heel blocks and headstock scarf joints.

It's pretty fine by wood standards (I glue directly off of it), so you might still need something with 80 grit to start. But then you don't need ultra-flat for rough work, so just your bench surface should do for that.

Have you thought about 1) a plane and/or 2) a plane?

1) Most things wood come up flatter by using a plane of suitable choice (hi/lo angle, small/large size)

2) An old flattened plane sole with sandpaper glued to it can be used on wood or non-wood jobs, either as you would use a plane or by rubbing the job on the sandpapered sole.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

I have small pieces of granite. They are about 8"square. They were samples from a counter top company, they change their samples on a regular basis so I got them for free. I went through the pile with my straight edge and kept the winners.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

+1 for granite... I have a 24"x 24" Piece that sits on top of my workbench. It usually just gives me a good flat surface to work on, but I am forever using it to sand things flat.

I work next to a granite counter top shop. They have stacks of sink cut outs that they sell for cheap but they're expensive to ship.

I have a couple of pieces that I use for flat surfaces & weights to put on top of backs/tops when joinining.

Kevin Looker

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I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Granite, like others. I use a scrap granite window seal I found under my house. Actually I think it's marble. Anyways, It's about 20"x6"..about the perfect size for flattening necks at the fretboard mating surface, flattening soles of planes, and numerous other small sanding tasks. I use double stick tape with 80 grit on it. I also bought a piece of glass at a custom glass shop that I sit on top of it with 120 grit double sticked to it.

If you have one, the in/off feed tables of a jointer work really well.

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

I use MDF as well, a piece large enough for 4 squares of 60 grit paper. It's great for fast rough shaping of nuts and saddles, sanding bridges flat, and a whole lot more.

I use 80 grit removed from my sanding drum spray-glued to a ceramic tile 12"X24" for flat sanding.

Bob

I have several granite plates, from one like Jaybirds to a 24x18x2" slab an artist friend gave me that was left over from one of his projects. The accuracy varies but all are close enough. I still don't hesitate to use the bed or table of a machine, a flat piece of cast iron, even have a 6" square x 1" chunk of steel plate. They all work.

Tim

So lemme get this straight.....you have a 2 story workshop with a drum sander?? Wish I had your problems

no... I have a one story house with a trap door basement where all my power tools are, workbench is in my living room....hah!

the way you said it just made it sound to great! had to clarify

Cheap surface plate , Todd? ...they only come along once in a lifetime,and you have to be in the right place at the right time.. (unless of course we are talking about Chinese surface plates 24" x18" (which still aren't cheap IMO))

I count myself fortunate to have scored a British made (Crown) 60"' x 36" x 6" granite surface plate some years ago, and this plate has been an absolute godsend in all sorts of ways.

btw Todd, given your current "kiltic" signatures, would I be correct in assuming that you are familiar with the Mike Cross composition "The Scotsman's Kilt" ?

If not, then search on Youtube ...the version by Bryan Bowers is incomparably the best ...

If it's small pieces, you can usually pick up an End or Backsplash in granite from most of the big box lumber stores.
Also, yard/garage sales and/or flea markets and look for outdoor tables as a lot of them hand a granite insert in the top.

If you are in the Chicago area and are looking for free granite cutoffs;
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/zip/4140827259.html

I have no connection with these folks so can't comment on the quality.

Kent

i got a chinese marble or granite surfacing stone awhile back and i love it. i think i got it at rockler or woodcraft; they don't seem to carry them anymore. milled to 0.001" tolerance i think, which is plenty good enough for me to get crisp bevels on my chisels, etc
also: kfish, thanks for the craigslist tip, i am definitely going to check that out !

edit: or maybe it is 0.0001" tolerance, i can't recall

Wow, that's huge!! Must weigh a ton. Sure those dimensions are correct?

I bought a 24"x18"x3" thick granite surface plate new for $75 that is accurate to .0005" across the entire surfact (not that that much accuracy is really needed. I use it a lot. Very handy to have a reference that I know is flat for checking things (straight edges, etc.) ,sanding and clamping. I also use it as the base for my go-bar deck with 1.5" thick MDF radius dishes on top of it.

I built a frame to hold it out of 2x4's at seating height with 4 legs with locking swivel casters on them. I can easily move it around. Only supported on the outsides edges by the frame. VERY heavy but does not sag It is a rolling work table, reference plate, sanding surface, clamping table, and go-bar deck base. Well worth my money.

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