Power sanding help please

Some things to try...

Most folks sand in the 1:00 to 3:00 position. You need to experiment with the drill rotating in both directions -- depending on your technique one direction will work better than the other.

I use a drill with a 45% angled head -- the Milwaukee made by Sioux. This allows me to hold it with my elbows against my body which gives pretty good stability.

Run the lathe slowly -- this will also help. Let the sander do the work rather than the lathe. Don't use too much pressure which just creates heat.

Bill

Richard wrote:

Richard, When I power sand, I usually have the lathe on the slowest speed possible, sometimes even turning the bowl by hand. I green turn to finish thickness and allow the bowls to dry. This causes them to warp, so I can't have the lathe speed up very high. The softer foam pads work best for me as they conform better to the inside of the bowl. Also, the disc isn't as grabby with the soft pads. It is also cheaper to replace the pad, than it is to replace the mandril. When sanding the inside, I like the lathe in reverse. When sanding the outside, I like the lathe in foreward. I don't think that I ever sand with the disc flat on the wood. In the inside of the bowl, it tends to be more on the edge, than when sanding the outside of the bowl. This has more to do with it fits the inside better that way. I also usually have the drill going counter clock wise, especially on the inside. robo hippy

Why not concentrate on the middle of the pad when sanding the convex outside, thus making use of what you normally throw away?

At worst it's the equivalent of hand sanding at the speed of the lathe. In reality, it's faster.

Tougher to do without support for the sanding device, of course.

Richard, I have been using the selfsame method for more years than I care to remember.

For what it is worth I always slow the lathe and keep the pad immediately oppsite me at about 3 o'clock but at an angle so that the pad literally takes up the slack. As others have said do not press too hard and try not to let the whole pad come in contact or it WILL be thrown out of the bowl.

Using this method bowls from just over 2 inches upwards can be sanded safely and memorably for the right reasons!

Regards, Peter Charles Fagg Freshwater, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.

I thank you all very much for your help. This is exactly what i needed to know. Cheers.