How to hold thin stuff to the disk sander?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
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Spacers and the likes. To get them flat, the disk sander is very nice but thin stuff is hard. Stuff that is not magnetic like stainless, brass, copper and thinner than 1/8.

How do you guys do it?
 
I have little "C" shapes in my fingernails from my hands getting to close. The up side is I rarely have to clip my nails:D
 
I use gorilla tape. Just tear off a few strips and make yourself a couple of "handles"

This stuff sticks like mad, comes off without leaving sticky crap everywhere, and I've held bowie blades with it in this manner to get the sides flat before.

zgorilla.jpg
 
You can use double sided duct tape. It will just stick to your finger (good quality stuff), no handle needed. Just make sure to keep the piece cool enough to handle or else you might get burned.
 
Patrice Lemée;9126268 said:
Spacers and the likes. To get them flat, the disk sander is very nice but thin stuff is hard. Stuff that is not magnetic like stainless, brass, copper and thinner than 1/8.

How do you guys do it?
Click to expand...

I know this is NOT the answer your looking for, but I just use my fingers.

Todd


.
 
Patrice, the cheap magnets from discount hardware stores (e.g. Harbor Freight in the US) are pretty strong and work OK for this application.
 
The two discs used the most in my shop are variable reversing but as Todd said above its hard to beat your fingers. Not hard to burn them though.
Ken.
 
Thats why I recommended Gorilla tape. It seems to resist moderate heat. It wont come off if you have to dunk the piece in water, it's super thick so you can hang onto it without getting burned. I've ground the flats on all my knives in this fashion, vertically on the platen. Works on the disc too. I prefer this over a magnet.

This tape is super thick, strong and sticky. You can pull it right off without residue too. Most times I'm able to pull it off, and re-stick it on the other side with no change in stickiness/strength.

Its like duct tape on steroids. I've tried masking tape, regular duct tape, double sided tape.....all have left me screaming cuss words with burnt fingers.
 
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Tait, I tried the magnet but I am having a hard time making it stick to the materials I've mentioned. ;)

I'll see where I can find that tape around here psycho, thanks.
 
Pat, I have used epoxy to bond small items to a stick to shape overnight or the shortest time period that it will hold and not let it cure to much. It is not the same brand I use for knife scales as it tends to fail with heat. So cool the piece often to keep heat from building too high while shaping and such.

The trick is using the smallest amount that you can. Then for clean-up. I usually heat very hot from a heat gun. When it falls from the stick I know I have reached the failure point for heat with this epoxy. Wipe off the excess while still warm and clean with acetone or a stronger cleaner.

Hope it helps!:D
 
Patrice Lemée;9131298 said:
Tait, I tried the magnet but I am having a hard time making it stick to the materials I've mentioned. ;)

I'll see where I can find that tape around here psycho, thanks.
Click to expand...

Patrice, Gorilla Tape is very common these days. You can get it at HomeHardware, Rona, CDN Tire, Walmart..... It's black. I used it to patch an 8" tear in my ALICE pack. One strip held for the rest of the trip in sub-zero temps. Good stuff.
 
A couple of drops of super-glue CA onto steel then use the magnet


The super-glue comes off with a bit of torch heat.
No prying it off and bending what you just got straight
 
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