inside sanding

[Wes Ramsey]

I roughed out this piece over the last couple of nights from a holly stump. Was a booger to hollow as it was full of grit and would dull my tools in seconds, but I got it down to about 1/4" wall thickness. This is the first one I've done where the opening is large enough to get a hand inside it so I'd like to get a decent finish inside as well as out.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t3/wmramse/turned%20stuff/0032713B-713D-4E13-ABF0-C25EE91BCBFA_zpsrxbs1jwf.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/wmramse/media/turned%20stuff/0032713B-713D-4E13-ABF0-C25EE91BCBFA_zpsrxbs1jwf.jpg.html)

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t3/wmramse/turned%20stuff/9B74CB47-B0D2-4E28-A50E-69ADCD1C4679_zpsmsohthjn.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/wmramse/media/turned%20stuff/9B74CB47-B0D2-4E28-A50E-69ADCD1C4679_zpsmsohthjn.jpg.html)

Couple of questions - first, on pieces like this, how good of a finish do you typically go for on the inside? I figure if you can touch or see it it needs to be finished to the same quality as the outside, but I'm curious how others do it.

Second, how in the world do you sand the inside? My drill barely reaches the bottom and won't touch the sides running a 2" sanding disc. I thought about making a jointed arm with a rounded end that I can stick some sandpaper on, but I'm struggling with the design. Was hoping some of y'all could share some insights or pics of your inside sanding rigs.

[John K Jordan]

...Second, how in the world do you sand the inside? My drill barely reaches the bottom and won't touch the sides running a 2" sanding disc. I thought about making a jointed arm with a rounded end that I can stick some sandpaper on, but I'm struggling with the design. Was hoping some of y'all could share some insights or pics of your inside sanding rigs.

Wes, I don't know if it will help in your case, but I tend to use small hand-held scrapers instead of a lot of sanding, especially power sanding, then finish up by sanding by hand as needed.

Also, there are tiny angle attachments made for screwdriver bits that might fit on an extension and let you get the walls inside with your drill, or better, a random orbital sander. (I've far prefer the Grex pneumatic ROS over rotary sanding where power sanding is needed - in case you feel the need to buy a new tool!)

JKJ

[Thomas Canfield]

I have a 12" drill extension for 1/4" shaft that I use with a piece of 1/2" PVC as handle and to protect the opening. That allows use of the 1/4" sanding pads, and I also have bought a 4" or so flap sander that allows getting up on the sides or walls of a hollow form. A form like you have there looks like it needs to be sanded with lathe off for sure to avoid a catch. I also have a Trent Bosch stand to hold a chuck to get a better angle on sanding.

[Wes Ramsey]

I tried doing a bit of hand sanding, but it is hard to get much done with the irregular hole. I can sand the bottom well enough with my drill, but the rest may have to be done by hand. Still may build a contraption to sand on the lathe. If I do I'll take pics.

How smooth do y'all normally do the inside? Should the sanding and finish job match the outside?

[Marvin Hasenak]

I would make a few of these in different grits with long 1/4" arbors. https://youtu.be/UFHPbZff9Eo Using the 44T handle of the Foredom with the flex shaft.

[Wes Ramsey]

I would make a few of these in different grits with long 1/4" arbors. https://youtu.be/UFHPbZff9Eo Using the 44T handle of the Foredom with the flex shaft.

I do like that idea. Consider the idea stolen :cool:

[Brice Rogers]

At Harbor Fright, I bought a round sanding ball. It seemed to look like a 3M scotch-bright type of material. But it was fairly fine, perhaps like 150 grit (but that is just a guess). It came on an arbor and if it could be squashed through the opening might offer some alternatives.

The irregularity of the opening in Wes's hollow form could present some challenges with sanding. On some of the hollow forms that I've done, I tightly wrap a sleeve of sandpaper around a cylinder shaped piece of fairly stiff foam and then grab it with a pair of large locking hemostats. I saw this at a presentation by the hollow-form artist, Mike Jackofsky.

I sand the interiors of my hollow forms, but I don't bother trying to get them as smooth as the outside. Just smooth to the touch. After all, only a few other wood turners would ever notice.

[Marvin Hasenak]

Here is another idea from David Reed Smith. http://www.davidreedsmith.com/articles/foamballsander/foamballsander.htm

[Olaf Vogel]

for such a small access port, I prefer something like this:
http://www.katools.com/shop/guinevere-flexible-shaft-p-77.html?osCsid=korc60dr43g4coboo25la8fqc2

with a ball tool on the end.

Also, these are easier on the hands, quieter and can run all day if you hook them up to a bench grinder or small motor.