How Do You Know When to Replace Sandpaper?

[Otoe]

How do you know when to replace the sandpaper on an orbital sander?

Otoe

[Leon]

After about 6-10 minutes tops.

[Garage_Woodworks]

Only AFTER you turn it off. I made that mistake once. -ouch.

[Dave in Houston]

Would that be Norton 3X, Leon?

[Swingman]

"Otoe" wrote

[Curran Copeland]

When it stops sanding! I tend to be cheap so I leave mine on until it no longer cuts the way I want it to or the "sand" is rubbed off the paper which ever comes first.

[Leon]

No, he did mention any particular sand paper. I have yet to use the 3X stuff, I'd like to find it in PSA.

[Twayne]

Depends. And everyone has their own ways to decide when to change it. Some will only last ten minutes or so, some longer, some less. Brand, material, backing all make a difference. Best to use a search engine and do some research. If it's in good shape I'll often keep a few used sheets or each grit. A used 100 for instance can sub for a 150 in a pinch, a 60 for an

80, and so on. Never skimp on the final sanding grit though.

[Lew Hodgett]

RE: Subject

If you have to ask, "practices extreme frugality" is a phrase that comes to mind to describe you.

Lew

[Kate]

Depends. And everyone has their own ways to decide when to change it. Some will only last ten minutes or so, some longer, some less. Brand, material, backing all make a difference. Best to use a search engine and do some research. If it's in good shape I'll often keep a few used sheets or each grit. A used 100 for instance can sub for a 150 in a pinch, a 60 for an

80, and so on. Never skimp on the final sanding grit though.

[Otoe]

The operative word is "when?" Not how, I figured that out after using up all the bandaids.

Otoe

[Otoe]

Right now, the sandpaper is changed only when the hook and loop doesn't hold anymore. But seems to me that the paper wore out long before that. I haven't gotten to the point where is catches fire yet which is a sure hint.

Otoe

[Otoe]

Thanks for the advice on the final sanding.

[Puckdropper]

"Kate" wrote in news:ai6ij.50871$ [e-mail]:

*snip*

I tend to use sand paper for a long time... So I guess that's why I never need to go 120 - 180 - 220, the paper just wears down gradually for me! (Well, I also use primarily pine...)

Puckdropper

[Roger Woehl]

[John Horner]

When the sanding action becomes too slow for me to put up with, which rarely takes more than 5-10 minutes of use.

[Leon]

Sand paper will generally work for pretty long periods however after a point it looses its aggressiveness and begins to take much longer to accomplish the same thing. IMHO paper is cheap compared to my time. The more often I change it, the faster the job gets done.

[Twayne]

I don't recall anyone asking for a description; if you go OT, then say so in order that others may more easily ignore you until you at least recall your own origins.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Tight shorts?

[mac davis]

When it gets that hot, either change it or turn it over, you're probably not using the side with sand on it..

(No, I'm not really feeding a troll)

mac

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