Sanding across different materials.

For the things that don't fit neatly into the other categories.
Post Reply
User avatar
bvartist
Posts: 463
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States /Missouri
Contact:

Sanding across different materials.

Post by bvartist »

I've worked with woods a lot, never gave much thought about how to sand pieces with two different materials joined together. And never had much of a problem. 8)

Working on this tamper was a major PITA!
Image

I normally sand my tampers using strips of sandpaper while they are spinning on my lathe. But this one didn't work so well. When I was done, the maple was higher than the bubinga! :shock: So I had to hand sand to get the different materials smooth and even.

I guess that old rule of sanding from the harder material to the softer material really is necessary! :lol:
User avatar
Nick
Posts: 2171
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States/Connecticut

Post by Nick »

Yep, harder to softer. I find that with grits of 400 and higher, its OK to go back and forth. But lower its best to go only one way.
User avatar
StephenDownie
Posts: 228
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by StephenDownie »

Using a hard sanding stick can help out a lot too.
Stephen Downie
www.downiepipes.com
User avatar
bscofield
Posts: 1641
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States/Illinois
Contact:

Re: Sanding across different materials.

Post by bscofield »

bvartist wrote:I've worked with woods a lot, never gave much thought about how to sand pieces with two different materials joined together. And never had much of a problem. 8)

Working on this tamper was a major PITA!
Image

I normally sand my tampers using strips of sandpaper while they are spinning on my lathe. But this one didn't work so well. When I was done, the maple was higher than the bubinga! :shock: So I had to hand sand to get the different materials smooth and even.

I guess that old rule of sanding from the harder material to the softer material really is necessary! :lol:
how exactly do you do those joints?
User avatar
bvartist
Posts: 463
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States /Missouri
Contact:

Re: Sanding across different materials.

Post by bvartist »

bscofield wrote:
how exactly do you do those joints?
The easiest way I know is to cut strips of the woods, in this case maple and bubinga. Glue them together using wood glue, clamp and let dry. Then cut the blank diagonally out of the glued block(shown below by the bold lines).

Image
User avatar
Frank
Posts: 1341
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Southern California

Post by Frank »

You'll get less material wastage with a taper jig like this: http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.as ... t&ID=80605

I do it regularly for hidden tang knife handles. It should work on a bandsaw too.

Alternatively, you can use your adjustable mitre gauge.
Regards,
Frank.
------------------
Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett
User avatar
bvartist
Posts: 463
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States /Missouri
Contact:

Post by bvartist »

Frank wrote:You'll get less material wastage with a taper jig.....
Unless I'm missing how you are using the jig, isn't it difficult to glue and clamp the diagonal joints??? I've tried something like that but it was a b*tch to clamp without the joints sliding.
User avatar
Frank
Posts: 1341
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Southern California

Post by Frank »

bvartist wrote:Unless I'm missing how you are using the jig, isn't it difficult to glue and clamp the diagonal joints??? I've tried something like that but it was a b*tch to clamp without the joints sliding.
Yep, it's a bit fiddly, what with lateral bracing & all.
Mind you, since a pipe tamper is so small, I guess there isn't all that much wastage. [Stuffs sock in mouth :twak: ]
Regards,
Frank.
------------------
Grouch Happens!
People usually get the gods they deserve - Terry Pratchett
User avatar
bvartist
Posts: 463
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States /Missouri
Contact:

Post by bvartist »

There is a bit of waste even for a small tamper. But it is the easiest method I've come up with so far. Now if I had a drill press, I could cut the diagonal pieces, drill them for a dowel and glue them up that way. Or if I wanted to do a lot of these I could make a clamping jig, but for a few I'll stick to a little waste. :wink:
Post Reply