Couple disk sander questions

Barry Clodfelter

Barry Clodfelter

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 29, 2007
Messages
579
What do you guys use as a backer on the aluminum disk? What did you use to attach it? And last one for now...what do you use to make the paper stick?

I just put together a varible speed 9" sander and so far I have just used the cheap spray glue and it hold the paper down well...maybe a little too well. And I haven't touched a blade to the disk yet I have only used scraps but it seems like there needs to be some kind of backer on the disk. Ideas?
 
I use no backer but I buy self adhesive sanding disk. The ones I get are cloth backed and well worth it. They seem to hold the grit on better than paper. I dont know about the paper disk.
 
Wayne Coe sells the Nielsen Disc system. He sells a dense 1/8" rubber backer for the 9" disc. I have 2 underutilized 9" disc grinders.

I don't use it enough because of the pain of changing the discs all the time, BUT , after a day at Chuck Richards this last Sunday he showed me how easily he swaps disc sheets.

3M feathering adhesive on an old pad. Use it to evenly coat the metal disc. Allow to become tacky then apply the new sheet and trim to size. Use it, and when it's time for changing heat the back of the disc while spinning at 1 or 2 hz or slowly by hand until the disc easily comes off. I was not getting the disc warm enough.
No need to clean the adhesive between.

I watched Chuck changing discs as fast as you could change a cd in a stereo. Bam!

I went home and figured out how to do the same on mine.
 
Brian, I'm a bit unsure what you mean by "3M adhesive on an old pad"? The old pad part is what I'm unsure of- just an old block or something that doesn't mind getting sprayed with glue? I am about to start using an 8" that I picked up and was just about to look up other ways of doing it for this weekend.

On my 4x36" grinder I used a cork backing for the disc- is there anything detrimental to using this backing other than small sections pebbling off if the glue sticks too much?
 
Yes, the 3M feathering adhesive I use is in a tube. I had been cleaning it off far too often. When applying it I put some on an old sheet of paper or cardboard and smear it on the hub until it's even. When it's tacky apply the disc.

Apply the disc too soon and it might come off. I had one do that and it only came half off. Luckily it was a 220 sheet and it crumpled before it cut me badly.

I've never used a backing and only have a few hours on mine. I mostly used my 2"x72" and I put a Blaze 120 grit on it that cut forever and I didn't want to ruin it take it off because it was FIVE BUCKS...
 
Since I have been contemplating the same ideas, is reversible directions really that important?
 
TheWeatherman said:
Since I have been contemplating the same ideas, is reversible directions really that important?
Click to expand...

Yes it is. Some pieces, parts, guards, jigs, tools etc are best ground off the left side of the disc. Reversing the rotation keeps the sparks, dust and possibly lethal projectiles from hitting you in the face.

The downside to reversing motors on a disc grinder is if you step away a second and forget you just reversed it and you get a face full of dust or sparks!!!
 
I use 3M super 77 spray adhesive on my unbacked aluminum disc. Once you get several coats on there it basically becomes peel and stick. I clean it with lacquer thinner and a razor blade. Reversible is needed for grinding bevels easier.


-Xander
 
I bought some of the feathering adhesive from Wayne and it's good stuff. You can find it out there and on wayne's site.

It looks like this:
mediawebserver
 
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