Sanding inlay work?

[Rolf]

I was wondering how many of you have one of the "Sand flea" sanders. If you have one do you like it.?
I just did an Inlay piece and sanded it on my bench top 4" wide belt sander.
That is ok for small stuff what do you use for sanding bigger delicate items.
I am looking for something less time consuming than a random orbital and more controllable than a belt sander.

[Forester21]

We have a sand flee ~ If I could keep the sandpaper on it I would use it more.
Theresa E

[minowevie]

Originally Posted by Rolf

I was wondering how many of you have one of the "Sand flea" sanders. If you have one do you like it.?
I just did an Inlay piece and sanded it on my bench top 4" wide belt sander.
That is ok for small stuff what do you use for sanding bigger delicate items.
I am looking for something less time consuming than a random orbital and more controllable than a belt sander.

Ralf, there was a topeak on flea sanders a while back. and Sharon had one on how to make your own.
But, I am confused on why you would use shuch a lardg sander on you inlays. seems like alot of dust flying to me. and not to mention breaking parts. I guess I just don't understand the project you are trying to do. how thick is the wood. ? personaly I don't use any big sanders on my big fragile projects. only palm sanders. in differant grits. am i missing something here. sorry if i am. I will be learning here too. and thanks for you post. your friend Evie

[Rolf]

Evie,
Bottom line is " I am lazzy" and always looking for an easier way to do thigs.
I do all of my sanding now with a Random orbital.
I am looking for a more gentle and faster way to sand things like my Jeff Zaffino train, or my delicate ornaments.

[sawdustus]

I don't know what a sand flea sander is but I find it easiest to presand all my work to 220 or 320 grit before I even put the pattern on. Using reverse tooth blades of thin or delicate work reduces the amount on bottom or back sanding you have to do to remove the fuzzies that occasionally still show up.

Hope this helps.

retirement is not for the weak or lazy.

[Rolf]

I do the pre-sanding also. The sand flea is an interesting design using a rotating drum.

[minowevie]

Originally Posted by Rolf

Evie,
Bottom line is " I am lazzy" and always looking for an easier way to do thigs.
I do all of my sanding now with a Random orbital.
I am looking for a more gentle and faster way to sand things like my Jeff Zaffino train, or my delicate ornaments.

Hay Rolf, its my understanding , that Jeff , tourches hes projects. he does all the sanding at first, then does hes stacking, correct me if I am roung group, then cuts it out. then , uses, a small torch to burn the fressies off the back. I have tryed this , and it works great. it does burn the back , but no one sees that anyway. have you tried that. just wondering. be carful. don't burn your project. just pass it back and forth. Your friend evie

[minowevie]

woops I read back, did you say inlay work , well maybe i was roung in the last reply. I have never done inlay work. but the same apleys with the other stuff. sorry. your friend Evie

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Hi Rolf,

I don't have a "Flea sander", but I am thinking about making my own V-sander. Same principle, except you build it yourself.
To see it in action: http://www.onlinewoodshow.com/demos/...drumsander.php

The supplier: http://www.stockroomsupply.com/Products.php

I have heard good things about them, but they require that you learn how to use them properly (as any tool requires): pressure needs to be equal, feed constant.

I'm not sure how delicate fretwork would do on one though, but I would definitely make a scrap piece and try it out.

The advantage, if you have the room, is that you can build the 30" model for not much more that a 18" model and you can put 3 different grades of paper on the roller and do multiple passes without changing the paper, going from rough to fine. (The same can be done with a sandflea)

As far as inlay is concerned: no problem!

Regards,
Marcel

[Gill]

Hi Marcel

I need enlightenment! How does the V-sander produce a level surface without an adjustable out-feed table?

Gill