Sanding disks

Glue a wood disk to a tenon block the size you want, put on lathe and true up surface. Glue sandpaper to the disk (I use yellow wood glue). Make several with different grit sandpaper (60, 100, 120 etc.) I use 4” roll sandpaper, but you can use PSA disk, or sheet paper. Heavy weight paper/cloth backed sandpaper is best. This way, you can run the lathe slow enough so as to not burn the wood while sanding. Build a table to go in the lathe banjo to support the work (drill hole in board the size of tool rest post, and glue in a hardwood post – make sure it is perpendicular to the board.) Use a rubber sandpaper cleaner often to keep paper clean and sharp.

Sanding disk - 3" Hook & Loop (Velcro)

There are two different 3” sanding disk shown above with how they are assembled. The top one I used a standard quick change sanding disk, removed the sandpaper, but left the backing and glued the hook (Velcro) to it. This way the loop disk can be attached to the fiber disk, which works best for the tight corners inside of bowls.

The lower sanding disk is made by gluing a ¼” rod in a disk. Then glue a sponge rubber pad to the wood and then the hook Velcro to the rubber pad. I put the disk in my Jacobs chuck on the lathe and true up the outside with and shape the wood. The works best on outside of bowls and other items. The same method is use to make the “Ron Browning” inertia sander shown next.

I get the foam rubber backing from several sources (garden kneeling pads, floor mats, thick computer mouse pads, etc.) I find that these can be cut to rough shape on the band saw.

Ron Browing’s sanding disk stick

Ron Browings plans for making this is on the following web site: http://www.browningwoodturning.com/browningwoodturning.com/browningwoodturning/Demonstration_Handout_Material.html

The handle is turned with two centers on one end to make the head (eccentric turning).

Sanding block (2x4) & Stick

Glue sandpaper to a flat board (2x4) or a stick will allow you to sand items flat, or other shapes. For the inside of boxes, and other hollow forms, a slit cut in a dowel to hold the sandpaper, or Velcro on the end of a stick to hold a sanding disk works great.