Hoping this is a good place to ask - I have to make an oval sign ou of 3/4 MDF. I am using a jig saw to cut the basic shape. M question is what is the best tool to sand to the finish shape? If use a belt sander or orbital sander, I can get the shape, but th edges are not perfectly 90 degrees to the surface. Is there a too that I could use ( or a jig for a tool) that would finish the edge t a 90 degree angle
This is what disc sanders are for. I'm talking about the stationary machines with a table.
One trick you can do is jury-rig the same thing using your belt sander. Clamp it on its side to a workbench. Then clamp a piece of plywood to the table. Make sure it is 90° to the belt. Turn the belt sander on and use both hands to move your oval sign against the sander.
Dan
rec. woodworking might be better. If you cut with a trammel point you should get pretty good circularity. A bandsaw with a jig would do better, as would a router. If you know someone with a good disk sander, a circle jig similar to the bandsaw jig also works. Does for me, anyway.
In addition to a stationary disk sander, you can also do this with a spindle sander or a sanding drum chucked in a drill press.
~Mark.
i would suggest using a drum sander, you simply put in a pillar drill and sand away. Good luck
Router?
Hi there-
Using a sander to do this is not the easiest way to go... If you've got a router, the best thing to to is to cut the oval out of 1/4" plywood or mdf (even thick plastic can work) and get it to the size and shape you like (it's a whole lot easier than the full 3/4" piece) and then use that as a template. Rough cut your MDF as you already have, leaving 1/8" or so all around, and then clamp or screw your template to the finished piece(and the edge of a workbench) and use a flush trim (straight bit with a bearing on the bottom) or pattern bit (straight bit with a bearing on the top) to finish the edge of the MDF. Just set the router so that the bearing rides on the template you made from the thinner material, and the cutting edges are shaving the MDF. This should give you a very nice finished cut that is perpendicular to the surface of the material, and there isn't any trial and error or need to develop a "feel" for it on a sander.
The added bonus to this approach is that if you need to make more than one, either now or later on, you'll be able to make perfect duplicates as long as you have the original template.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for your responses. The piece is 5 feet by 3 feet s working with the piece is very difficult, expecially with the smal equipment I have. I used my belt sander manually and got a decen edge
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