Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Dec 22, 2008 01:22am | #1

   No illusion,  I've noticed it too.   You will find the Mirka Abradnet discs very short on nap.  But they sell a special loop pad to remedy that.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 22, 2008 08:24pm | #2

   Try ordering from Klingspor, you might find their quality (if you get the good stuff) better, and the price is excellent.  Bruce's mention of Abranet is notable, I love the Abranet discs, but you must get their pad/adapter.  The Abranet lasts almost forever (slight exaggeration) and the dust collection is great.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   BruceS | Dec 23, 2008 01:32am | #3

   FG,  About the Abranet.  It is super for using on the lathe.  Unlike other abrasives it stays very cool in your fingers and won't get hot at all.  Found that out by accident.  And the finer grits are a great bonus and won't leave a black dust like silicon carbide.  I just use old scissors to cut it up into strips.Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 23, 2008 05:29am | #4

   I'll keep that in mind, Bruce.  I discovered it after building a couple of cupboards out of poplar (to be painted).  The first one I used OTC sanding discs.  For the 2nd and 3rd ones, I used Abranet discs.  Could not believe how much longer those discs lasted.  It may be especially true for softish wood??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   pharmachippie | Dec 29, 2008 09:36am | #5

   Hi Guys & Guyesses

   Only just caught this one and unfortunately your brand names are all different,but I'm V annoyed that long before the discs [ & triangles ] are exhausted,the @#$%*y hooks let go and the paper fires out across the room :-(

   Should write a stinker to "The Times" or some such!

   Have tried a few brands,but all seem the same!

   Perhaps it's the Southern hemisphere's weather that does it

   Robin

1. 
   BruceS | Dec 29, 2008 04:03pm | #6

   Chinese engineering??  Try Mirka !!  Made in Finland and they hold up great.  Jeff Jewett can't say enough about Mirka.

    

   http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/abrasives.htmWork Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

2. 
   pharmachippie | Jan 02, 2009 11:46am | #8

   Thanks Bruce,  certainly looks the goods..all I've got to do is find a local agent!

   We seem to have 2 options,that Chinese mob,and Norton!

   Maybe I should look at importing a bunch,and set up shop.:-)

   Robin. 

3. 
   ted | Jan 05, 2009 04:11am | #19

   Can't say I'm a raving fan of Abranet. Especially when it comes to sanding waterbased lacquer between coats. The special pad tends to "ride the waves" and I get less than a flat surface. Never used anything less than 220 grit in the Abranet so I can't bear witness as to how the product performs on bare wood. All I know is that I spent over $100.00 on a bunch of 220, 320 and 400 grit discs and was extremely disappointed in the mottled surface I got from the product. Ended up putting klingspor on the sander to flatten everything back out.

4. 
   forestgirl | Jan 05, 2009 09:09am | #20

   I've only used it to sand bare wood, and it easily outperformed the other discs I've  used (Klingspor HD, Norton, 3M), doesn't clog, dust collection is excellent, and discs last a very, very long time before needing to be switched out.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

5. 
   dgreen | Dec 30, 2008 12:25am | #7

   Perhaps it's time to replace the pad on the sander. If it has touched the surface of the work even for a matter of seconds without a disc on it it is ruined. 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

6. 
   pharmachippie | Jan 02, 2009 11:53am | #9

   D,    Appreciate your tip,but a bit unlikely,I think. It's only a new machine,and as far as I can remember [THERE might be a problem!], I haven't committed that blunder.

   Will do it anyway though,hang the expense,give the cat the canary! :-)

   Robin.

7. 
   dgreen | Jan 02, 2009 12:15pm | #10

   If nothing else you'll have a good spare, they don't last forever!

   I'll leave you with another tip you may not need, let the weight of the sander do the work, bearing down on it will damage the pad. 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

8. 
   pharmachippie | Jan 03, 2009 06:12am | #13

   Thanks D,          This did make me smile a little and I must say it....I was lightly sanding a ceiling after a particularly extensive repair program.The sander was in fact,pressing down on me! :-)

   But I do take your point.

   All the best for the New Year from Bowral, OZland.

   Robin

9. 
   dgreen | Jan 03, 2009 06:23am | #14

   I don't envy you that job!

   Best for the New Year to you and yours too. 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

3. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 03, 2009 03:28am | #11

   Several years ago I purchased a Bosh sander and purchased a lot of Klingspor disc because their price was right. Well none ever lasted more than a few minutes before they flew across the room. I then switched to Mirka and now I wear off all the grit and the disc still stays on the  sander. Have a bunch of Klingspor I will sell cheap> actually flying disc.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 03, 2009 06:52am | #15

   The comment above about the possibly worn pad aside, there's more than one grade of Klingspor disc.  I  haven't had to order from them for awhile, but I know there's always a decision to be made about what weight paper and quality of disc. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 03, 2009 07:02am | #16

   This was about 6 or 7 years ago and as I recall the thin flyer I got in the mail from Klingspor did not give any choices but grit and type of abrasive, silicon-carbide vs something else. Thats as I recall it. Still like Mirka, cann't wear them out.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 03, 2009 07:12pm | #17

   Mirka's great stuff, no argument there -- I use their Abranet, amazing stuff.

   "the thin flyer I got in the mail...."  Hmmm, mystery solved.  Their catalog is quite extensive.  I know you're a Mirka guy, but just for fun and clarification, click here to see types of 5" holed discs they carry, or here for the 6" x 48" belts.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 04, 2009 07:25am | #18

   Thanks for the info, very informative.

4. 
   RDNZL | Jan 03, 2009 05:31am | #12

   Discs flying across the room GENERALLY indicates a worn pad. One need not try to sand w/o a disc in place to accomplish this peccadillo; excess downward pressure will rapidly accomplish the same thing.

   FWIW