9" sanding discs?

[Randall Clark]

I have a combination freestanding belt sander and 9" disc sander. I am wondering if, instead of ordering the self-adhesive sanding discs, I could use regular sand paper and spray the back with adhesive. I know it would be cheaper, but I wonder if there are any downsides? Maybe, gumming up the metal disc surface? Any body customize their own sanding discs?

[Paul Atkins]

I've got a 10" disc sander I built in college that I use only 'custom' sanding discs on. Regular sand paper is not big enough so I get ripped wide belt sander belts and cut my own out and use spray adhesive - cheap and works great.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Here, central NC, Klingspor has a retail shop. I go to sandpaper bin, and get material that is 12"+ wide, and cut my own disks. Spray them with disk adhesive and off to the races. Costs less than $0.50 each this way.

[Randall Clark]

Do you use paper or cloth backed . . . or does it matter?

[Eddie Darby]

When you go this route, and you use a paper backed sandpaper, you will save money, but you will be changing the sandpaper all the time.
Spending money on a solid performing disc, and then using a crepe block to keep the sandpaper clean, makes for the best performance, and hassle free long life, along with a good bang for the buck.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=20192&cat=1,42500

[Bruce Wrenn]

Do you use paper or cloth backed . . . or does it matter?Cloth backed. These come from the ends of rolls of paper, or belts that failed at the joint in their quality control testing.