What sanding tools do you find the most useful?

[jscottj]

I am planning to try intarsia here this fall/winter. I have the beginners book by Judy Gale Roberts for reference. I see what she uses to help shape her pieces. I will not be able to afford each thing all at one time. I have a couple of electric motors ( one with dual shaft, so 3 shaft ends to work with) and plan to but a flex drum to fit one of these. I have a dremel tool also. What items do you use most on your projects? Sanding mop, certain Dremel bits, pneumatic vs. flex drum?? What would be the most key item or items to focus on first? Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

Scott

[Clayton717]

For all my intasia project I use an oscilating spindle sander and my dremel with a flex shaft on it. I have a couple sizes of drums for the dremel. And of course a little hand sanding. These are the tools I had so they are what I use and they work great for me.

[Travis]

If you already have a drill press, I'd pick up some sanding drums. They hook into the chuck of your drill press and work well. I think I bought mine at Harbor Freight for pretty cheap.

 

I'd say your Dremel is probably the most useful. Equip it with some sanding drums. I'd say you can easily do most, if not all, the shaping with that.

 

I have a sanding mop that I really enjoy (again, hooked up to the drill press). It makes smoothing out the pieces much quicker.

 

Just plan on doing some hand sanding. The extra tools will help, but won't eliminate hand sanding.

[amazingkevin]

The drum sander in a drill press for quick removal of needed wood, then a dremil with the same item ,a drum sander only a 1/2" one for smoothing and detail.lastly a flutter wheel on a battery drill to finalize any irregulars.Home made flutter wheels are great joy to use as you make them your self from used cut up to size sanding belts .PLUS YOU SAVE 25 DOLLARS MAKING IT YOURSELF

[jscottj]

Thanks for the input. I am going to try it the way you suggest and see what I can do. I appreciate your time.

Scott

[Jim Finn]

I put the larger intartsia pieces through my round over bit in my table mounted router. I then use my Mastercarver flex shaft drive to further shape them and do all the smaller pieces with this tool. finally, I smooth out each piece with a sanding sponge.

[amazingkevin]

Sounds good to me JIM.Can you post a picture of your overhead router so i can hook up on too? thanks!

[Jim Finn]

I use a table mounted router not an overhead router.

[khmgb]

I use to sand these parts that you can stretch into the drill.

they are available in various dimensions.

[retmsgt]

I appreciate the comments and suggestions as well. I'm a novice at intarsia. Did one project (the simple whale) and plan to move on to another soon. The horizonal drill press sounds up my alley since I have one as well. The dremel too.

Thanks y'all.

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