Last epoxy I did (actually all epoxys I’ve done) as most poeple know sanding is a pain in the ass.
In Oz, we can’t get Gregs RR epoxy (I couldn’t find any) and the next best thing is kinetics
Their guys told me not to put any addative in it for a sanding coat.
While sanding with my sander/polisher I had the usual problems.
I sand the rails on all my boards with a palm orbital sander and I found that it sands really well compaired to the sander/polisher.
I was thinking of buying a random orbital sander form bunning but I dont want to go and spend $100 on a sander without getting some feedback first.
Has anyone had experience with a random orbital sander as opposed to a sander/polisher for sanding epoxy and will adding some addative help out even know the manufacturer doesn’t recommend it.
I have some addative that I made up after talking to “entity” but never used it.
Expensive, but your best bet would be Festool. I don’t know if they are available in OZ though. I think one of the models (called “Rotex” here in France) can sand either in rotary mode or in random orbital mode.
I used standard 3:1 epoxy lam resin on my skimboards. I wet sand out my bottom hotcoat to 600- 1200. It makes the skimboard ride so much faster. I start with an air powered Dynabrade orbital sander with 80 grit. By the way, I love my Dynabrade.
1: hotcoat
2: wash with water when dry (I got this tip from another sways thread, works great)
3: completely dry all water
4: go to town with the 80 grit sanding pad that was used from sanding the previous board. Try to scuff the entire board as much as possible. You know you are done when that pad is clogged full of junk. Sometimes the junk can be blasted off the sandpaper with an air compressor. Throw the pad in the trash when no longer usable (duh).
5: Use a new 80 grit pad and finish the sanding. Save this pad to scuff the next board.
Yes I uas a random ordit sander on my epoxy boards, it works great, I’ve had it for about 3 years now and it only cost aboyt $60 from pro-tool I think.
Sander polishers generate to much heat which softens epoxy and clogs the sand paper. Random orbit do a better job not so much heat. Yes wash the board before sanding. I start with 60 grit dry for feathering. Then work my way through finer grits wet sanding. A good job with 80 grit to get rid of all the blemishes after the 80 you are sanding out the sanding marks of each grit. I don’t throw out my clogged 60 and 80. I spray it with easy off oven cleaner let it sit for 5 minutes then brush it off with a stif brush and water. Let it dry and use it again. Ahui hou - Wood_Ogre
Random orbital sanders are the way to go for finishing. If you are only going to do a couple of boards a year a cheap one is ok. If you use it every day you will be shaking like M.J. Fox.
Thats where the expensive ones come in, perfectly balanced and almost a joy to use.
I’ve got a mate who just started a boat repair business and found the Bosch Gex 125 at Bunnings for $179 it was on sale for $249 but he asked for the floor model.
The sander I use is the Bosch GEX 150 pro series and its the best sander I’ve used I think its even better than the $700 Rupes.
I use a canvas faced velcro attachment and cut up and glue on the paper from sheets.
Kinetix doesn’t clog up your paper when it’s set.
The additives help it flow a little better and make sanding a little easier but it still sands well with out it.
I use #100 grit with the sander polisher then use the random orbital from then on.
That ryobi is a great tool for the money. Well balanced and has a great trigger control, been using one for a while on ding repairs etc , really good for feathering patches and sanding around fins and other detail work .
Use a xylene/wax additive for hotcoats. It will prevent fisheyes and minimize orange peel. Your hotcoat will be flatter and sand much more easily. My paper never loads at all, just wears out on the hard-ass epoxy I’m sanding. I’ve never used a random orbital for any part of sanding a surfboard. Those I learned from don’t use them and I’ve never felt the need to do more than get better at using the tools I was taught on. Just suggesting a different direction here. Something to consider. I’m a pro who learned from pros, and we are nothing if not efficent at maximizing results in the least time, with the least tools/steps. This is NOT a hobby for me.
That’s what I use – but after reading this thread, I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something without a random orbital sander. I have a random orbital from Home Depot that seemed to work like sh***, so I’ve never gone back…
Its not so much the machine I use to use a orbiter but not since the right paper was found.I can sand my epoxy hotcoat with a piece of 220gt.if anyone wants to buy the good paper(I am not giving source) pm me.no more orbiting just an 8" pad and that’s it. It is all in the pad and paper…
Howzit oneula, Have you tried Bosh hook and loop paper, lasts as long as the Norton champagne and if you buy the 25 pack it's not that expensive. Aloha,Kokua