Drywall sander/convex edge

Mark Nelson

Mark Nelson

Joined
Feb 21, 2003
Messages
1,487
Check the attachment. I used one like this to touch up a couple of convex edges on a AK and a Becker BK9. I folded up several pieces of paper towels (put it on sander as you would a piece of sandpaper) then cut a piece of wet/dry sandpaper attach it also with the clips on the sander itself. Wet the whole thing and use it to stroke the edge of the blade. Like you are trying to wipe something off of the sander and onto the blade. Boy I hope this makes at least a little sense.I placed the handle on the kitchen counter with the blade hanging off of the edge and went to work. I may be able to post some pics. This might help out some people without a belt sander.I find this alot easier to use then a mouse pad especially if you are trying to put a convex edge on a blade for the first time.
 
Makes sense. Good tip. Maybe a piece of old mousepad in place of the paper towels? Or would that be too thick?
 
You may have to glue it to the face of the sander because the clips might not hold it. Alot of the sanders like that come with a soft surface to start off with, so you would not have to do anything but put the paper on.
 
Looks like a good idea. I like the idea of the handle. I'm with Firkin, I'm right partial to my finger tips. Even though I have damaged some of them at one time or another.:) :)
 
This is the sanding block I use 80% of the time:

































tt-hand.gif



:eek:


You'll have to get the CD to see what I use for the other 20%. :D



Personally, I think that the handle puts you too far away from the edge to really be in control of what you're doing. While it's true that the work goes faster with a sanding block, you can't get into all the pits and valleys that a hand-forged khukuri comes with. Sometimes I find myself using just the tip of my fingernail going back and forth in a 1/8" long spot just to get the job done right. Switching paper is a snap as well.

my 0.02

Dan
 
I haven't had a problem with cutting myself doing this. Which is saying something in my case. I am not pulling the block towards the edge itself (edge to spine) but from a spine to the edge motion.

pendentive
I want to get one of your CD. Are you ready to go on those? If so what is the way to get one please. I haven't had to much problem with control. You are correct about the dips and valleys. I did find that if I increased the thickness of the pad and put on a piece of sandpapaer that is only about 1/2 inch wide I am much better able to get those hard to reach places. Like everything it is a work in progress. It was just a idea I wanted to throw out there. Thanks everyone:)
 
Dan's got an excellent point. The ball of your thumb is a precision guided, contour following, variable pressure, sanding block. Even if modern science could replicate it, it would be priced out of most of our reach.:D

Sarge
 
Bura's thumbs are already in the blades I have that are marked with a crescent moon, and his hands and his heart too.:)

Sarge
 
I liked this idea, so I went and bought a drywall sander and some wet/dry paper. Gonna try it on one of the khrappy khuks that I bought for such experiments. I like the idea of some "standoff distance" from the blade, at least for now. I have no experience with this stuff, and, well...If I were Mexican, my name wouldn't be "Manuel Dexterity", that's for sure. :rolleyes:

I'll let you know how it comes out. Maybe I can even coax some pics out of my digicrapcam.
 
I have only ever cut myself once while sharpening khukuris by hand. As long as you sand along the edge and slightly over it, you won't run into problems. I also make sure the piece of sandpaper is folded, and I try hard not to use my thumb.

0.02
 
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