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I've been wondering about a flap sander for sanding inside the sides after bending and maybe for heels if it works. The only time I've ever used one was about 30 years ago and seem to remember not being impressed. Anyone have any experience?

Anyone have this Grizzly model?
http://grizzly.com/products/G8749

At least it has the drum too which I know I would use.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I have that sander, and it works well. You'll need to be very careful sanding sides on it as it can put a lot of pressure on your workpiece or grab; think of it as the world's angriest buffer. The amount of wind it puts off is quite impressive, and the sanding dust flying off will give you a good 'moon tan'. I never used the drum as the drum on the one I bought was broken (so they gave me an extra flap wheel instead).

Before your take apart the flap wheel to change the paper, drill some holes through the aluminum ends into the wood brushes to help index them with pins (and write which goes where on both the brush and the metal part) or you'll never get it back together (which means you'll need to buy another wheel instead of changing the paper!).

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Hmmm, the worlds agriest buffer. My buffer already has the broken off end of a nicely bound fingerboard screwed to the front of it as a reminder of it's temperment. Ripped the neck right out of my hand and threw it against the wall. Heels and buffers don't get along well.

So I take it I shouldn't plan on sanding heels with this then?

What do you use yours for?

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Hey Kent,
No first hand experience, but a buddy of mine was trying to make a sculpture a couple weeks ago and was getting frustrated with his minigrinder and beltsander being to slow. He got a flap sander attachment and said it removed material way faster than anything else he tried. So, I'd proceed with caution.

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Mike Lindstrom

Kent I have one that I don't use. Used about 6 times and it's collecting dust in my basement. No time to build. If your interested PM me.

BobC

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
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(716) 874-1498

I don't think heels would be a problem: you'll have a really good grip on your work!

I used it for sanding 1100 wooden high heeled shoes, though I've given it a go on a couple necks just to see and it worked alright. I find my General sponge sander is the real ticket for necks, but it is not at all a cheap toy and there will definitely be a skill-acquisition phase with one as they're extremely aggressive.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Thanks Bob. I think you saved me some money. I'm really looking for finish sanding, not hogging off meat. And the last thing I need is a "skill aquisition phase", aka expensive kindling.

Thanks for the offer Bob C but it looks like it's going to have to collect more dust for awhile.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

1100 wooden high heeled shoes? A guy can only wear 2 at once! (Hesh, I know you could take this one places, so I bow to the better man!)

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I've got a big double head one that doesn't get used nearly as much as I'd hoped. Good thing that I bought it used. I can see that the drum part would be very useful. You can see in the photo how useful it is for me. I'm trying to make it more useful by having it set up to always be ready, always plugged in and connected to the dust collector.

It doesn't really do any final shaping the way that I needed, but its more of a surface conditioner.

If you think that it might be a good tool, you can buy small ones as a drill or drill press attachment, and see how it works for you.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
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I meant the sponge sander with the 'skill acquisition'. The problem with the flap sander is that you'll lose all the time you saved on sanding the first time you have to spend an hour or more changing the paper...

The sponge sander http://www.general.ca/pagemach/machines/15125a.html is very fast, very effective, very unforgiving, and very expensive. Plus side is you can change the belts in about 45 seconds and you can get an awesome finish on a neck in 30-45 seconds once you get the hang of it. You'll probably ruin three getting the hang of it, though

If you look at the production setting, there are generally two ways it's done. They either have one person (who must be very skilled) on a sponge sander, or they have a few people with pneumatic random orbits. If you make less than 20 guitars a year, I'd say the learning curve/risk/cost factors come together to make a really good ROS your best investment. I use a Mirka Bulldog 3.5" for all my non-sponge-sander sanding, if you're wondering.

I have a client that swears by these things and gets great results from them: look under 'Flap Mops' http://www.superiorabrasives.com/findbyapp2.html. I think they'd be a great complement to an ROS for things like heels and headstock transitions.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

This flap sander came from Klingspor - I just had a glance at their new catalog, and they have added a lot of sizes and configurations since I bought this.

A good use for this tool, and the only one in my shop, is removal of hot iron marks and waterstains on the inside face of bent sides. It's good to remember that no matter how aggressive your version of flap sander is, it's at it's best refining existing surfaces - that is, if you start with a lumpy, uneven surface, you will progress to a somewhat smoother lumpy surface. This thing does not refine and fair surfaces in a predictable, reliable fashion, at least for me. Might do ok on a heel where 99% of the shaping is accomplished, and you just want to reduce coarser sanding scratches.

Dan

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com

Thanks again Bob. The mop sanders look worth a try. And affordably so.

Dan, that's exactly the idea! If my sides are not perfectly flat, I don't want to remove material to make them flat on the inside. Just make them clean. Thanks.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I have the sand rite version (which I believe is the original). It's called a "brush head". I use it for sanding trim and moulding before painting and finishing, and occasionally on furniture parts before they're assembled.
I have never used it in guitar making, and would not consider it. They're too crude, and tend to round over and blur details. Fine for carpentry, but IMO not instruments.
They are dandy for cleaning up surface rust on tools. Leaves a nice brushed finish on metal.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Bob,

That General is an awesome sander.

For small use, these sanding stars are very good. Actually, they're excellent. I prefer them over the drill mounted flap sanders. Think of it as a bunch of sandpaper fingers. Each one wraps around what its sanding. You can mount several on a mandrel. As many as will fit.


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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/