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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Bill Little on September 28, 2006, 09:46:21 PM
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Thought I would throw this one out to those of you that have permanent building surfaces.
I know many of you are familiar with this, but for those not I will describe.
I use sanding belts in 1" and 4" widths secured to the edges of my surface with double sided tape. The 1" come in some long lengths, and if you match the angles up when you separate them, the lengths can be as long as you want (or can afford!). I have a 180 grit and a 80 grit side by side down the edge of my table. You can sand a 5' wing TE at one time, or the tops and bottoms of fuselage sides tacked together to keep them the same.. I use the 4' (by 30"?? long) wide strip to even up flaps and elevators.
Bill <><
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Thats a really good idea, Bill! I use a 36" piece of extruded alluminum with the strip sand paper too,works much like the old "T" bar sanders to true up sheeted LE,TE and capstrip joints. Ill have to give your idea a try.
Thanks!
RG
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Doh!!! Now THAT'S a great idea! Somebody has the thinking cap on! y1
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Hi People,
Any chance of a pic (says a thousand words!) - bit dim here..........
Cheers
Harry
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To add to what Bill said, you might try getting router pads, their about
1/4-3/8" thick. I use them when I'm carving, or hollowing out. The wood
doesn't slip/move around. I forget who told me about this, works well
when shaping flaps& evevators.
Walter
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Walter,
The router pads of which you speak are great for keeping material from slipping. They are over priced though. There is a carpet underlayment material that is the same thing for a lot less than half the cost. You have to know what to look for in the carpet store though.
The pads are too soft for what bill is doing as it would tend to round the edges of balsa if going for a square surface. They work great though for finishing off leading edges and the like. <=
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Everyone that bought a Playboy kit will find a length of sticky back 3 inch sandpaper included with their kit. I gave instructions to put it on a flat surface to finish the bottom of the molded turtledeck. I buy the paper in rolls from my NAPA dealer in several grits.
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T-Bar sanders come in very long lengths for fairly cheap dough... (Tower has a wide assortment) I regularly throw the 3 footer in my vise, paper upward, using 3M sticky back rolls of various grits, (of course you can use the PermaGrit stuff too) I can true up just about anything nice and straight! In a lot of cases it really is MUCH more precise to move the material than the tool.
:!
EricV