AARGGH! Another Broken Piece!

[new2woodwrk]

I have found my nemesis, and it's name is PENGUIN!!!!

I have now cut 4 Penguin puzzles of variable sizes and on EVERY single one I have either:

• Broken a piece (2 puzzles)
• Made the nibs incorrectly ( they don't hold the puzzle together) (1 puzzle)
• Ruined the Finish (1 puzzle)

The broken pieces are my current issue as the other 2 I know what I did wrong or know how to alter my technique to fix.

The broken pieces however always happen during sanding.

My current sanding process involves using my Guinever to smooth some rough edges or get a little fuzz off the cuts.

Problem is the Guinever is not variable and if I don't hold the piece just right it will send it sailing into oblivion, never to bee seen again until I vacuum the shop

Anyone have any inexpensive ideas on how to correct for this problem?

I'm thinking of setting up an extra Dremel and using it as a variable sander.

Thoughts?

Thanks as always in advance - you guys/gals always have great ideas and alternatives!

[Bill WIlson]

Though I don't have one, I've always thought that would be the perfect application for a sanding mop

[new2woodwrk]

2 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Though I don't have one, I've always thought that would be the perfect application for a sanding mop

I have one on the Guinever

[Bill WIlson]

How many RPM's does the Guinever run at?

[new2woodwrk]

13 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

How many RPM's does the Guinever run at?

I believe: 115 Volt, 60 HZ, 1/2 HP (300 Watt), 3.0 Amp, 3600 RPM

[Bill WIlson]

Sounds to me like the RPM's are pretty high for a sanding mop.  Can you use it on a drill press and slow the speed down some?  Try different speeds to see what gives you the best combination of sanding effectiveness and control.

[new2woodwrk]

22 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Sounds to me like the RPM's are pretty high for a sanding mop.  Can you use it on a drill press and slow the speed down some?  Try different speeds to see what gives you the best combination of sanding effectiveness and control.

Thanks Bill,

I thought of this however, I have a Wen drill press and the chuck does not always stay seated, specially when using hole saw bits.

I'm afraid if I put too much side pressure on the chuck I'll ruin it permanently. It's not the most robust of drill presses - it works for the most part for what I use it for though

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by new2woodwrk

[grandpuppies]

I use a Dremel for smoothing edges or I have  a sanding mop I use when the pieces are  3/4 thick. With the sanding mop, It's mounted on my cheap bench top drill press and a cardboard box is taped to hang over the back of the drill press to catch the pieces if they are snapped out of my hand. I just approach the mop slowly and keep at it until the feel is good and smooth. Most of the time the 120 grit is good for the sanding mop. 

Any time you are sanding something small with a sander that can grab it it is a good idea to use a cardboard box big enough to put your hands and the sanding tool to catch anything that attempts to get away.

[new2woodwrk]

7 minutes ago, grandpuppies said:

I use a Dremel for smoothing edges or I have  a sanding mop I use when the pieces are  3/4 thick. With the sanding mop, It's mounted on my cheap bench top drill press and a cardboard box is taped to hang over the back of the drill press to catch the pieces if they are snapped out of my hand. I just approach the mop slowly and keep at it until the feel is good and smooth. Most of the time the 120 grit is good for the sanding mop. 

Any time you are sanding something small with a sander that can grab it it is a good idea to use a cardboard box big enough to put your hands and the sanding tool to catch anything that attempts to get away.

Agreed - in fact, my Guinever is enclose in a box but the pieces still fly all over the place!

I'm thinking the dremel may be the cure.

[DME72]

a while back steve good had an article about making a homemade sanding mop. i made one and it still works good, i use it in my drill press.use only light pressure and it works great.but it will fling pieces if i am not careful. might want to check the taper on the drill chuck and make sure there is no oil or debris on either part and reassemble it. i have never had one come loose.put it on and give it a tap with a dead blow mallet to seat it.

doug

[new2woodwrk]

10 hours ago, DME72 said:

a while back steve good had an article about making a homemade sanding mop. i made one and it still works good, i use it in my drill press.use only light pressure and it works great.but it will fling pieces if i am not careful. might want to check the taper on the drill chuck and make sure there is no oil or debris on either part and reassemble it. i have never had one come loose.put it on and give it a tap with a dead blow mallet to seat it.

doug

Thanks Doug,

Yeah I have cleaned it, smacked it, whacked it ad infinitum LOL

I also read that article just never got around to making one, bought one instead.

[spirithorse]

Greetings!
I think the inexpensive and simple alternative method is a cheap palm sander.
You can easily and inexpensively change the grit of sandpaper you need and
rather than apply pressure from the palm sander, I usually hold the sander in a fixed
position and rub the smaller pieces of projects over the sander with what-ever pressure is required.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-2-Amp-Palm-Sander-1-4-Sheet-Corded-AQ20035G/846774525?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222222279794372&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=74560746648810&wl4=pla-4578160292345561&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=& wl10=Walmart&wl12=846774525_0&wl14=palm sanders at walmart&veh=sem&msclkid=cd034a1d1c0e12e56485154502f89c05

God luck and God Bless! Spirithorse

[new2woodwrk]

1 hour ago, spirithorse said:

Greetings!
I think the inexpensive and simple alternative method is a cheap palm sander.
You can easily and inexpensively change the grit of sandpaper you need and
rather than apply pressure from the palm sander, I usually hold the sander in a fixed
position and rub the smaller pieces of projects over the sander with what-ever pressure is required.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-2-Amp-Palm-Sander-1-4-Sheet-Corded-AQ20035G/846774525?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222222279794372&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=74560746648810&wl4=pla-4578160292345561&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=& wl10=Walmart&wl12=846774525_0&wl14=palm sanders at walmart&veh=sem&msclkid=cd034a1d1c0e12e56485154502f89c05

God luck and God Bless! Spirithorse

Huh, I have a Palm sander and 5 puzzles needing sanding. I'll try that first and see which works best for me - the palm or the dremel

Thanks for the suggestions @spirithorse

[BadBob]

I have multiple palm sanders because I found that changing paper on the sanders wore the paper out fast. Mostly, the hook and loop papers would get to the point where they would not stay on the sander.

[JustSomeOldDude]

Beware the Penguin 

 

[barb.j.enders]

I have glued sandpaper to a ceramic tile and then just rub the wood over the sand paper.  I have a couple of tiles with different grits glued to them.

 

[NC Scroller]

Maybe it is the wood and not the process.  What kind of wood you are using?  Can you provide any pictures of the broken parts?

[new2woodwrk]

1 hour ago, NC Scroller said:

Maybe it is the wood and not the process.  What kind of wood you are using?  Can you provide any pictures of the broken parts?

I've been using Poplar.

I'll have to find the piece I broke, I know I have it as I'm missing one of the stiles for the 'U' and I know it's in the shop somewhere

Also, the dremel didn't work very well for me and the palm sander vibrates way too much

I went back to the Guinever and am trying to be very careful but I can tell it's going to happen again... soon LOL

Edited September 10, 2020 by new2woodwrk

[new2woodwrk]

14 hours ago, NC Scroller said:

Maybe it is the wood and not the process.  What kind of wood you are using?  Can you provide any pictures of the broken parts?

Here's the break and a re-cut - I'm not good enough to make a re-cut that fits like the original

So even though I re-cut this,I won't be using the re-cut

 

[Denny Knappen]

If it happens on sanding, I use a Mac Mop installed on the drill press.  I purchased from Klingspor about $40.

[new2woodwrk]

1 hour ago, Denny Knappen said:

If it happens on sanding, I use a Mac Mop installed on the drill press.  I purchased from Klingspor about $40.

Yeah, it happens when sanding on the Guinever I have 2 mops on the Guinever.

[ike]

I made a mop useing 150 grit sandpaper. I use it on my benchtop drill press, next to the slowest speed. when I sand puzzzles I use my mouse , and then the sanding mop. on the part that you showed I am very carefull when sanding with the mop. no on it getting away from you it happens but I have a sheet of cardboard sert up so The part will hit the Cardboard.. I haven't broke a part since. blut with me saying that my next one will probably be broke, and that is part of the business but not on a regular basis. Ive used this ;mop for the past 3 years and it still looks good.

IKE

[carl1]

I have one of those old fashion machinist vices with wood grips replacing the metal ones, I clamp small parts, and sand by hand. that may work.  Carl

[NC Scroller]

If pieces like that are breaking while using a mop sander you might be pressing too hard.  You really should just we touching the mop with the wood and not pushing.  I also support the piece with my fingers or a small piece of scrap wood.

[BadBob]

The Klingspor sanding mop is a great tool. I learned real quick the t I needed to run it at slow speed. I use it so much that it is almost always on the drill press.