clemmy Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 Okay, this is for those of you using a belt/disc sander for shaping. I'm thinking of getting one to speed up shaping, and am wondering what 2 grits to get initally. I'll be using it for m. hvy balsa, around 11-14 lbs. would 80 be too rough for the inital shaping? 120 better? For smoothing sanding marks, 280? 400? I use a self leveling epoxy basecoat, so it doesn't need perfect smoothness, and I'm trying this to decrease time per bait. That said, I don't want to go too heavy so that control suffers. Thanks! Clemmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoopa Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I use basswood and 120 grit does just fine for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I use a Dremel with a fine grit sanding cylinder for gross shaping and rounding. I think it's 120 grit. I use a disc sander with 120 grit for sanding blanks to the right thickness and to taper baits. It's not much use for roundng over though. Regardless of the undercoat I'm using, I go with at least 220 and more often 400 grit for final sanding. One thing that makes a huge difference in hand sanding is good sandpaper. IMO, the best is Norton 3X because it never clogs and lasts a long long time. I can fine sand at least 6 baits with one 400 grit finger size strip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I think my current belt is 120 grit, but didn't want to take it off to check. I bought a couple of new belts a few weeks ago, they are 80 grit. The 80 doesn't look too brutal, well once it has worn in a bit. I don't think you will need 2 belts, it will soon become a tiresome pain swapping them over. The main thing with balsa, is to look after the grain direction, or you will end up with a ball of fluff and you'll have to get the bic out. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Clemmy, for balsa I don't think you'll have any trouble using 120, 180 or 220. Balsa works quickly with 120 grit and I wouldn't go bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CL Rods Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I use a Dremel with a fine grit sanding cylinder for gross shaping and rounding. I think it's 120 grit. I use a disc sander with 120 grit for sanding blanks to the right thickness and to taper baits. It's not much use for roundng over though. Regardless of the undercoat I'm using, I go with at least 220 and more often 400 grit for final sanding. One thing that makes a huge difference in hand sanding is good sandpaper. IMO, the best is Norton 3X because it never clogs and lasts a long long time. I can fine sand at least 6 baits with one 400 grit finger size strip. ditto on the Norton. I switched from a generic who knows what brand to Norton and am MUCH happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamboni Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I would definitely go at least 120 grit for balsa, you can go even finer and you'll have less finish sanding to do, and it'll shape it just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
