Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

Hi,

I don't think this is a crazy idea but...

I'm having a heck of a time finding someone with a drum sander to a 42"
wide table top I've glued up. You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders. My understanding is that they're
not very aggressive (although more so than the big square orbital
sander)

Why wouldn't this be a good way to sand my table top? Has anyone tried
it? The material is white oak.

Thanks.

Mat

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

wrote:

I don't think this is a crazy idea but...

All crazy ideas are initially described that way. ;)

I'm having a heck of a time finding someone with a drum sander to a 42"
wide table top I've glued up. You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders. My understanding is that they're
not very aggressive (although more so than the big square orbital
sander)

Why wouldn't this be a good way to sand my table top? Has anyone tried
it? The material is white oak.

It'd probably work. Not sure how dead flat it would get it and how dead
flat you really need it.

In my situation, having to drive to rent the sander, lugging it back,
sanding the table top, returning the sander, paying the rental fee and
buying however much paper I'd used...well, I'd be more likely to use
planes and scraper planes. It's more work, but I'm cheap, I like
planes and the exercise is good for you (at least I'll believe that
until next week when they'll come out with a new study saying
otherwise!). I doubt the sander would save you enough hours to
compensate for the travel, rental and gym club membership unless your
glued up top isn't very flat to start with.

R

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

You get extra points if you can get your wife to sand it while it's
installed in the house, clothing optional...


wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I don't think this is a crazy idea but...

I'm having a heck of a time finding someone with a drum sander to a 42"
wide table top I've glued up. You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders. My understanding is that they're
not very aggressive (although more so than the big square orbital
sander)

Why wouldn't this be a good way to sand my table top? Has anyone tried
it? The material is white oak.

Thanks.

Mat

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

On 5 Dec 2006 15:04:46 -0800, wrote:

Hi,

I don't think this is a crazy idea but...

I'm having a heck of a time finding someone with a drum sander to a 42"
wide table top I've glued up. You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders. My understanding is that they're
not very aggressive (although more so than the big square orbital
sander)

Why wouldn't this be a good way to sand my table top? Has anyone tried
it? The material is white oak.

Thanks.

Mat

The last time I had to do this, I glued up the top in halves (to fit
the sander), put 'em through said sander and then did the final glue
up in my studio. It worked pretty well and the effort to correct any
misalignment was minor.

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

wrote:

You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders.

I've never seen one. Now I'm not disputing that these exist, but if
they're any use on a floor then presumably they're nuclear-powered and
just as powerful as the usual floor drum sanders. I wouldn't want to
use anything of that power (and fondness for cutting divots) on a table
top.

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

Tue, Dec 5, 2006, 3:04pm (EST-3) waves and writes
this message in orange crayon:
Hi,
I don't think this is a crazy idea snip

I would "not" stand on top of the table while doing it. Other then
that, I don't know if I'd want to try it or not - never used one of
those sanders - mostly it'd depend on how much disposable funds I had
that I could to waste. I'd want to see one demonstrated first. What I
might try instead is a nice flat piece of timber, with sandpaper glued
on, like a real long sanding board. It'd be preferred to have someone
on the other end too.

If you do try it, be sure to let us know if it works well or not.
So the rest of us will know to it's OK to try it - or if we should send
a get well soon card..



JOAT
I am, therefore I think.

Table top sanding with floor sander?
 

On 5 Dec 2006 15:04:46 -0800, wrote:

Hi,

I don't think this is a crazy idea but...

I'm having a heck of a time finding someone with a drum sander to a 42"
wide table top I've glued up. You can now rent floor sanders that are
essentially 4 random orbit sanders. My understanding is that they're
not very aggressive (although more so than the big square orbital
sander)

Why wouldn't this be a good way to sand my table top? Has anyone tried
it? The material is white oak.

Thanks.

Mat

I believe that version of floor sander is for finer work than the drum
type. For example a new floor where the surface is more or less flat.
The old drum types are used when a significant amount of material
needs to be removed.
If your table glue-up is flat and you have a good match from borad to
board then the orbital type might work but then again why would you
need it?
I assume you have some difference from board to board...?
If so, I think it is either a drum sander or planes, etc.
If you do try the floor sander I might build a simple box that fits
just over the table top so you have something to guide (or stop) the
sander at the edges.

Good Luck