discussion Sanders

[Guest]

This may sound like a crazy question however there is a serious point to it....

If a newcomer had £30 to spend on sanding materials, for plastic kits, and knew very little about the options and what to use, and when, what would you recommend please?

 

[eddiesolo]

I would get a Dremel type device. I use a Dremel for drilling, cutting and sanding, a grinding wheel set for shaping-plastic, wood etc, a cordless drill for drilling, sanding-wood using metal brushes-to create affects, also use loads of sanding paper-various and small modellers files.

Si

 

[Guest]

I would get a Dremel type device. I use a Dremel for drilling, cutting and sanding, a grinding wheel set for shaping-plastic, wood etc, a cordless drill for drilling, sanding-wood using metal brushes-to create affects, also use loads of sanding paper-various and small modellers files.Si

Hi SI

Isn't a dremel somewhat fierce on plastic

 

[Guest]

Aidan I would get a variety of sanding files of all gauges. Also the files with the foam in the middle sandwich. Also foam sandwich blocks which are very good for sanding & avoiding ridges when sanding roundish surfaces. The blocks are 30mm by 100mm. Used them with water.

Also the Scobra pencil file. Like a propelling pencil. Turn the top & a fibre shaft appears. Good for cleaning up difficult to get into parts.

Another Sanding needles.

Yet another Micro pads.

Flexi File. Best to have one for each grade of file tape. Very nice tool especially with all the different sanding tapes.

Those are all I have found great but simple sanders.

I fear "young man" that all your dosh has now dissipated into thin air. John I think stocks all these items.

Laurie

 

[eddiesolo]

It depends on how you use it Aiden and on the size of the kit and what for. It can be a useful tool for helping in creating damage, or removing stubborn lips etc if you intend to modify. As Laurie points out there are many sanding forms from light use to heavy use. I actually forgot to mention sanding tapes and sanding needles-I have used both and find them good.

Si

 

[Gern]

Spend a few quid at the cosmetics counter in your local pound shop on all the sanding/filing things they stock for ladies' nails. There's emery boards and sanding sticks and sponges of all kinds with grades from very coarse down to fine polishing.

A small set of needle files - similar to this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-small-needle-files-160-mm-long-various-shapes-/370526690750?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item56451c9dbe)

A selection of wet and dry paper from Halfords - they do a pack containing one sheet of each of 240, 600, 800 and 1200 grit

That should cover most of your needs. There are specialist sanding tools like micro files and flexi files and power tools like Dremels which are all useful but you'll go way over your budget getting sets of these. I'd only buy those if you find there are jobs you can't do with the basic stuff.

Gern

 

[yak face]

I reckon dave (gern) has it covered , I too use a combination of wet and dry from halfords , sanding sticks and nail files . The assorted set available from the scale models shop is a good place to start http://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/sanding-stick-value-pack-5-squadron-tools-squ30506.html and e-bay can be a great source of nail files , these are what I use http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-Premium-Straight-Nail-Files-Grits-80-100-80-180-100-150-100-180-180-180-/130798505831?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Nails_Manicure_Pedicure_CA&var=&hash=item64244436bf the dual grade 100/180 grit ones ., these 2 options combined with a pack of wet and dry from halfords should set you back well under £30 and is a good place to start from. cheers tony

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all who replied.

Laurie I cannot find a Scobra pencil file anywhere - it' sounds interesting.

Tony the sanding stick value pack from Squadron tools - are these to be used wet?

When does one use wet sanding please? I've never known this.

 

[Guest]

Wet sanding Aidan. Only use dry when there is a lot of plastic to get rid of.

Keep the surface wet all the time. Acts as a lubricant & you get a nice smooth finish perfect for the primer coat. I use a 1200/1500 grit for the final finish.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

O dear fooled you on that one Aidan.

"Ecobra". http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/1129-fibreglass-pencil-4mm-10191.html

Think you can get different diameters. Found they are good for getting into places other things will not.

Laurie

 

[stona]

I use a selection of wet 'n' dry and files. Everything from a full size file for reducing resin to little needle files. I must have about thirty in different shapes and sizes. Apart from that a few polishing pads and sticks.

I do have a Dremel, nothing against them, but I rarely use it.

Drilling I invariably do by hand and have a set of pin vices that will accept bits from ludicrously small to about 2 or 3mm. Power drilling plastic seems a bit over the top, but whatever works for you

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all who replied.Laurie I cannot find a Scobra pencil file anywhere - it' sounds interesting.

....................

Glassfibre Pencil http://www.select2gether.com/ecobra-glasradierer-760300.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Glasfaserstift-Glasfaserradierer-Glasradierer-Polierstift-/190897200967?pt=Künstlerbedarf&hash=item2c725c1f47

Very good.

I used one for some filled wing roots. I also use chemist's nail emery boards (cheaper than modelling ones), but I use Flory's sanding and polishing sponge because, with its spongy layer under the abrasive, the curve of a model can be preserved rather than a flat sander leaving a flat. I also use various grades of "Wet and Dry" emery paper (used dry).

 

[Guest]

Laurie/Steve - what's the grade of these glass fibre pencils please? Are they course/medium/fine or is that a naive question?

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Laurie/Steve - what's the grade of these glass fibre pencils please? Are they course/medium/fine or is that a naive question?Thanks

Medium. I needed to smooth with Wet and Dry afterwards. If the glass fibres are poked out only a little way they are stiffer so act more coarsely; if poked out a greater amount, they have a softer action.

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

If I need to get a glass like finish I use Alclads Micromesh polishing cloth set, it has 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12,000 grade cloths with a foam rubber pad.

Adrian

 

[Guest]

Adrian are the finer grades usable on canopy shining up ?

Laurie.

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Adrian are the finer grades usable on canopy shining up ?Laurie.

Oh yes, I used them to recover a huge cock up I made on a Hurricane canopy, went through the different grades and then applied a couple of coats of Klear and it was almost as good as new.

Adrian

 

[Guest]

Thanks Adrian. Been using the stick type polisher .This one looks as though it can go around bends much easier. Ordering now from John

Laurie

 

[yak face]

Thanks to all who replied.Laurie I cannot find a Scobra pencil file anywhere - it' sounds interesting.

Tony the sanding stick value pack from Squadron tools - are these to be used wet?

When does one use wet sanding please? I've never known this.

As laurie said , always wet for the final stages. I usually use the coarser nail files in the link dry for removing the plastic i want to get rid of ,then progressively finer wet sanding with the sanding sticks,to get the final smooth finish .If i need to get in a curved or awkward place then the Halfords 1200 grit rolled round a pencil or even just fingers is used. Dont forget the old trick for making finer grit paper-if you havent got any really fine stuff ,just take 2 pieces of coarser grit and rub them together it makes it roughly twice as fine ie. rub 2 pieces of 400 grit together and end up with 2 pieces of 800 grit (very approximate!) Also dont be in a rush to throw sanding sticks away , most of the time they dont wear out completely but just gradually get finer and lose the grit from the ends and edges, just cut off the bald bits and keep using as a fine one ( i am from yorkshire though!) cheers tony