Please, help

[Scrappile]

I recently for some crazy reason got interested in doing some intarsia.  I am working on a piece now, and really enjoying it, enough so that I would like to find some better sanding devices.  I an 79 years old so I do not want to spend a fortune on equipment because I will not even wear out cheap equipment.  I am wondering what you few intarsia do'ers use for sanding.  What do you do your contour sanding with... Been look at a variable speed grinder to attach flap/ drum sanders to.  They usually run at speeds 2K rpm to around 37K rpm?  do you ever use the high speeds?  That seem very fast to me. But of coarse I old love to have a Guinever or a Fordom set up, but really more than I want to spend.  Can you give me so suggestions/ pictures of your setups? 

[Sycamore67]

It would be good to know what other tools you have.   A small drill press would be great to mount sanding drums or sanding mops. 

[meflick]

I have a husband who is a hobby woodworker so between he and I, we have a wide variety of sanding tools.  After taking Judy Gale Roberts Intarsia classes, i got her flexible drum sanders and needed adapters to set them up on a variable speed grinder.  I can have two grits one on each side, or a wonder wheel on one side.  These are foam inserts for the sand paper so they eventually can deform some over time.  I later added the small Foredom setup with the small drums from Judy's classes/site.  In my dream world, I would like to add true large pneumatic drum sander like Judy has but space in the shop is an issue and I haven't been doing enough intarsia lately to justify it.  however, hubby does have another variable speed grinder sitting in the floor of the garage that I keep eyeing and thinking it could be used for that! Then I think, where would I put it!

Before I took Judy's classes, I had hubby get the Guinevere setup for the shop but I personally found it was way too fast for me and my needs.  It is not variable speed but just flat out high speed.  it does get some use, primarily from him.  I much prefer to be able to use the slower and variable speeds with the Foredom and the flex drum sanders.

Here is a link to Judy's site to see some of the tools I referenced.

https://intarsia.com/collections/hardware

this is the flex drum sanders that would be the primary tool:

https://intarsia.com/products/flex-drum-sander

There are further links there to a video or two

Then the small Foredom with the small drum sanders (used for really small tight spots)

https://intarsia.com/products/foredom-variable-speed-bench-lathe?variant=31902373806123

Edited April 12, 2023 by meflick
Typos

[Scrappile]

I have a good drill press, hate to tie it up with sanding. I have sand mops and mac mops been using on my mini lathe, but does not give me a lot of room to work sanding things on.  I would like to get some flex drum sanders, I think.  I have a nice disc/ belt sander.  I use a lot. and a spindal sander.  I've been thinking about a less expensive variable speed bench grinder, but really can't imagine using faster than the slowest speed one which is 2k rpm.  Is that is true why not a slow speed grinder (1750 rpms.  Or do you need the faster speeds?

[Scrappile]

Thanks Melanie,  I have been spending a lot of time and JGR" site and Kathy Wise's.  But I would never Use up the expense of their expensive stuff, except for the flex drums.  I have a local friend that does some intarsia, he started with a variable speed Harbor Freight bench grinder, and still has it.  Said he would not part with it but also has now added the Guinevere.  He loves it. I just too cheap to go that route.   I can get a Wen Slow speed grinder of $100.  

[Scrappile]

This is my current "shaper"  tool, I do have a foot peddle on it.

 

[don in brooklin on]

On a trip to Nashville we stopped at JGR studios and Judy her self gave me a tour.

I then bought the Instruction Book and the Wonder wheel and the flexible sanding drum kit.

I then went to Lowes and got the variable speed bench sander.  (6 inch). for around $100

I then made a stand and it worked out fantastic.  Don't do much Intarsia any more but I do use the Sanding station regularly and on the other end I now have a sanding mop there.  

 

[don in brooklin on]

Almost forgot I did a video for our club a number of years ago that describes the sanding station.

https://youtu.be/43HcrhpynsI

 

 

[Scrappile]

@don in brooklin on do you use different speeds or do you keep it on the slowest speed?  I can get a slow speed grinder just a little cheaper but the slow speed is a little slower also 1750 verses 2000

[Scrappile]

@don in brooklin on Okay you answered my question in the video.  Thanks, nice nice vid.

[Peter N White]

Hi  Scrappile.  Like you I am starting intrasia and  I just made my own. I took wheel oss slow speed grinder and bored to fit grinder shaft then turned blank approx 200mm

long to dia of inside of hot water pipe insulation foam offcut from a friendly plumber slid over blank ande made up sanding tube to fit over insulation .Am pleased how well it works. Would love a flex drum but cost $40 us.plus sand drums plus postage to NZ. plus exchange rate comes to nearly $100 NZ and log wait time. Only cost me about 1 hour to make I did put a grub screw through hardwood blank on to grinder shaft.

 

[don in brooklin on]

2 hours ago, Scrappile said:

@don in brooklin on do you use different speeds or do you keep it on the slowest speed?  I can get a slow speed grinder just a little cheaper but the slow speed is a little slower also 1750 verses 2000

I keep on 2000 most of the time. The only time I speed up is with wonder wheel

1750 would probably better. 

 

 

 

[scrollerpete]

I got a flex sander mounted on a furnace motor, they are cheap enough and I can move them around as I need them. I used this pneumatic sanding drums from Lee Valley, you can adjust how soft or hard and they do a good job.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/sanding/drums/45190-pneumatic-sanding-drums?item=68Z5030

 

[Scrappile]

Thanks all for the input.  So far, I have decided that I will purchase a variable speed grinder and I am looking at the Bauer from the local HF.  I know not the best but the only "name brand" I see is Delta, and from past experience I am reluctant to buy Delta.  I have a slow speed grinder I use to sharpen my lathe tools.  If I feel that the 2k speed it too fast I can turn one side of my slow speed grinder into a drum sander.  The VS will give me the option of using a wonder wheel some day if I keep at intarsia.  I figure I will purchase the JGR flex drum sander setup.  I could make them like @Peter N White  but I know often times I get caught in the "I can make that" and spend a lot of time making instead of using.  

If anyone has a reason why what I am planning is not a good way to start pleas speak.   This is going to cost me around $200 andI prefer to not waste money I probably should not be spending anyway.

[rjweb]

Sounds like a good plan Paul, I was looking at that HF grinder Bauer and noticed that the hercules was 10.00 cheaper for a variable grinder, RJ

[dgman]

54 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Thanks all for the input.  So far, I have decided that I will purchase a variable speed grinder and I am looking at the Bauer from the local HF.  I know not the best but the only "name brand" I see is Delta, and from past experience I am reluctant to buy Delta.  I have a slow speed grinder I use to sharpen my lathe tools.  If I feel that the 2k speed it too fast I can turn one side of my slow speed grinder into a drum sander.  The VS will give me the option of using a wonder wheel some day if I keep at intarsia.  I figure I will purchase the JGR flex drum sander setup.  I could make them like @Peter N White  but I know often times I get caught in the "I can make that" and spend a lot of time making instead of using.  

If anyone has a reason why what I am planning is not a good way to start pleas speak.   This is going to cost me around $200 andI prefer to not waste money I probably should not be spending anyway.

Paul, I have a slow speed grinder with the JGR flex sander. The grinder Runs at 1700 rpm. It works fine for shaping Intarsia pieces. I don’t have a Wonder wheel though. 

[Scrappile]

Will, while sitting on my mower mowing the lawn for the first time this year, I came up with plan "B". Not to buy the variable speed grinder,  I have another old grinder in my garage, that is a regular speed one.  The only time I use it is to use the wire wheel on one side.  I do all my other grinding on the slow speed.  If I decide to get the wonder wheel I will put it on that grinder.  So buying just the flex sander (which I just ordered) and not the new VS grinder I saves myself about $140.  And I get more use out of the grinder that now sits most the time. Hence more money to buy wood.  Not as much fun a a shinny new tool, but at my age, more practical.

[rafairchild2]

I am a little late to this party.  Like others, I use a Dremel on a flex cable. Of course, there is also my belt/ disc sander, palm sander (orbital) and always a little hand sanding with various twigs, sticks and blocks.

But I also use my drill press as a small barrel and mop sander too. My barrels range in size from about an inch to 5 inches, and I have two that are pneumatic, so I can adjust the softness/hardness, and get softer shaping.  I am still considering converting a grinder, so I have an even bigger sanding barrel. 

Edited May 16, 2023 by rafairchild2

[Sycamore67]

A lot depends on how shapely you are making your Intarsia.  If just rounding the edges, the thread has many good ideas.  Another way is with a small drill press with sanding drums. 

[planeur]

Hello Paul 

Using a lot of manual sanding, I also use this equipment on my drill press with an aspiration of the dust very near­ and some of the sanding  cylinder use a bearing , so not to much pressure on the drill press .

planeur

Edited May 26, 2023 by planeur

[Scrappile]

Well I changed my mind. I was going to buy the VS Bauer with a 25% off coupon.  Got to the counter with it and the checker read the coupon fine print not good on Bauer tools so I put it back on the shelf.  Went home and thought why buy a VS speed one that turned 2k when I have read several times that 1750 (slow speed) was even better.  So I started looking slow speed.  Grizzly had a nice one on sale, so  I ordered one. Free Shipping.

https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-8-slow-speed-bench-grinder-1-3-hp/t28523

Got it today. think I am going to be happy with it.  Says in the add, 1/3 horse, says on the grinder I received 1/2 horse.  

[rjweb]

Paul, that's funny i was looking at that coupon and thinking of picking up a Bauer sander but didn't get time to go there, keep us posted how it is working out, RJ

[Dave Monk]

First I had a Rikon variable speed.  A year later replaced it with a Rikon low speed. I like the low speed much better. I had an adapter made for the right side of the shaft that is threaded that I put a 3/8" drill chuck on. That was a bit pricey but I do enough shows to pay for all my shop toys. I really like it. 

[MarieC]

2 hours ago, Dave Monk said:

First I had a Rikon variable speed.  A year later replaced it with a Rikon low speed. I like the low speed much better. I had an adapter made for the right side of the shaft that is threaded that I put a 3/8" drill chuck on. That was a bit pricey but I do enough shows to pay for all my shop toys. I really like it. 

Dave I have that Rikon, could you please take a picture of what you did to your Rikon....I can't quite picture it in my brain ...Thank you.  mc

[Scrappile]

Back when I was going to make my own setup, with an old motor I had. I purchased this adapter and chuck.  I was going to use a 1/2" shaft to mount sanding mops on so this adapter is for a 1/2" shaft.  I can find where I go the adapter and I can get one for a 5/8"shaft to fit my slow grinder, but I cannot remember where I got the chuck.  I have searched for two days and cannot find one like it.  Got to be out there somewhere.  It is a nice keyless chuck. I must have purchased the last one ever made.  The adapter is for attaching buffing wheels to a shaft.