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A Case For Sanding Mops


Scrappile

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There has been some discussing here lately about Sanding Mops.  I thought I would just share a little of why I like them.  I have three 7" X 2" ones, 120, 180 and 240 grits.  I mount them on my little Delta lathe when I use them.  I am working on a very fragile piece, of fretwork, 1/8" Baltic Birch.  I have finish cutting it, and I just finished sanding it with all three grits.  I was able to get a nice sanding finish, removed around 98% of the fuzzies, soften edges, and did not loose a piece.  I sand every direct of each piece, ending up sanding the final pass with the grain.  It took me less than an hour.  I just do not know of any easier way of doing it, no a way to get a better finish.  Yes, they are expensive, but they do last a long time.  Heck sand paper is expensive and I have never had it work as well nor last as long..

This is not glued or any thing yet, just laid out on a piece of glass.

Okay, I rest my case.... beat me up....

 

john 6 13.jpg

Edited by Scrappile
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3 minutes ago, new2woodwrk said:

That's an excellent piece! Thanks for sharing.

How long did it take to cut that?

 

Thanks, been working on it a couple weeks as I get time.

I'm really not trying to show the piece here, I trying to show how sanding mops work even on very fragile pieces.  I will show the finished piece in Bragging Rights when it is all completed. 

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I have used sanding mops for years.  I have one that is practically worn out that used to be a 220 grit but it is more like 1000 grit now and it makes very soft relief on the edges of what I cut.  I use an old fan motor with a very long shaft and on that I put a jacobs chuck on it.  The motor turns around 1000 rpm.  It's ugly but it works hehe.  I periodically add a couple of strips of 220 to the mix.  For sanding of fretwork and the like  with gentle care you get outstanding results.   If you do not have one it is well worth the expense to set up a dedicated unit for it in my opinion.

 

 

DW

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Superb looking piece.

I don't have the courage to hand-hold something like that while feeding it into a sanding mop - even with a backer!

Those larger, delicate pieces that I feel uncomfortable holding get (gently) clamped to the surface of my bench and I mount the sanding mop on an old cordless drill that spins only at 700 RPM.  The grit is 220 and that is all I have ever used.  Beyond that my routine is exactly the same as yours - 4-way passes to cover all directions - last two passes with the grain.

Thanks,

 

Jay

Edited by RangerJay
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16 hours ago, Gonzo said:

What a great piece to show an application. Must've been a little hairy using the mop on the piece. Did you have a backer board behind it while sanding? Very nice job by the way. 

Some times I use a "backer" but most of the time not. 

Do take some care though, a while back I was sanding a lot of small pieces, I think it was pieces for the Alex Fox jeep, and I actually sanded my thumb nails so thin that they are just not getting to where they are not sensitive to touch, do not break real easily and I had my skin down to where one thumb was bleeding.  I guess if a person was going to commit a crime, it would be a good way to sand down your fingerprints, so they could not be detected!!:lol:

Edited by Scrappile
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Thanks for posting this Paul. I use a sanding mop on my puzzles. I've always used it on the drill press. Been thinking g of switching to the lathe for some time. After reading your post I put it on the lathe. For some reason it seems easier to hold the pieces and the lighting is much better. 

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23 hours ago, Scrappile said:

There has been some discussing here lately about Sanding Mops.  I thought I would just share a little of why I like them.  I have three 7" X 2" ones, 120, 180 and 240 grits.  I mount them on my little Delta lathe when I use them.  I am working on a very fragile piece, of fretwork, 1/8" Baltic Birch.  I have finish cutting it, and I just finished sanding it with all three grits.  I was able to get a nice sanding finish, removed around 98% of the fuzzies, soften edges, and did not loose a piece.  I sand every direct of each piece, ending up sanding the final pass with the grain.  It took me less than an hour.  I just do not know of any easier way of doing it, no a way to get a better finish.  Yes, they are expensive, but they do last a long time.  Heck sand paper is expensive and I have never had it work as well nor last as long..

This is not glued or any thing yet, just laid out on a piece of glass.

Okay, I rest my case.... beat me up....

 

john 6 13.jpg

Paul, that is absolutely gorgeous. I can't imagine ever getting to this level of talent. I can only hope.

Ray

 

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