sanding a band saw box

[Lloyd Brown]

What tool do you use? Besides hand sanding. I want to kill electrons!! I hate hand sanding but if I have to , I have to! Please tell me there is a sander that can get into those tight curves.

[Betsy Yocum]

Depends on how tight those curves are. I have a spindle sander that has a 1/2" spindle - so you can go pretty small - but not much more unless you want to use a dowel rod wrapped in paper. I also set mine in a vise (before attaching the bottom and use a 5-gallon paint stick with the appropriate grit paper glued to it and use it like a file. Works great.

Hope that helps. :)

Betsy

[Carole Valentine]

I hate sanding too! Guess that's why I have slowed down on the band saw boxes. I use a spindle sander and try to make stuff that doesn't have any curves it can't handle. I have been known to cut a piece of vinyl siding or other flexible plastic, stick sand paper on it and bend it into the curve I want. Best thing to do is use a good sharp band saw blade and practice your sawing so you don't get any really bad saw marks. Those are the devil to get out in tight places.

[Alan Tolchinsky]

I do the bulk of bandsaw box sandiing with the Boss spindle sander. You can see them at Lowes and elsewhere. This made them a lot more fun to do. Alan in Md.

[Perry Holbrook]

If your bandsaw can be fitted with a sanding belt, it makes the sanding a lot easier. When I replaced my old Sears 12" BS with an 18" Jet, I converted the 12" into a permanent ribbon sander. You can but custom sanding belts from someone like Klingspor that will fit any saw. Buy then in regular X weight (not J weight it is too flexible) cloth at least 6" wide and just tear them into the width you need. You may find it necessary to rig up a small platen for a backing of the belt.

Perry