Sanding Pad Questions

Hello Swaylockians,

I am new to all of this and need to sand hot coats on 2 boards and do not have ready access to a PowerPad or Flexpad. I have a couple of the stock 7 inch backers from Harbor Freight, plastic with about 1/2" of foam plus hook and loop for the sandpaper. How do these compare to one another in hardness?  Is it worth trying to soften a HF backer with additional foam or should I just wait until I can get a ‘real’ one?

Thanks!

Thanks Gents! I appreciate all the suggestions, comments, and offers to help.

Larry, PM Sent.

You can get equivelents ANYwhere in the world.  Check Auto Body supplies

Thanks, I appreciate the tip.  One of the auto parts houses has a 3M 05779, 8" medium Hook-It style at their warehouse 30 miles away.  Is the 3M medium like a Flexpad or PowerPad medium?

I know you are in a hurry to get these boards done and see the fruit of your labor,  but---------  If I were you I would have already ordered a Power Pad or Flex Pad from any of these suppliers;  Fiberglass Hawaii, FoamEZ, Fiberglass Supply, or Greenlight on the day you started this thread and you would have had it in your posession by now.  3M Automotive pads are not the same and you wont be happy with a substitute for the  “real deal”.  3M maybe a quality product but will most likly cost you considerably more and in the end you’ll wish you had purchased a Flex pad or Power Pad.  $35 or $40 for a Flex Pad or Power Pad seems like a lot but 3M will cost you more.  The foam used in the construction of Flex Pads and Power Pads is fiberglass specific.  All of 3M’s products are high quality, but high dollar. Never run a pad at a higher RPM than specified, never store it face down or drop it, always use a blow dryer or heat gun to remove the old paper from the pad.  Never just rip it off.  Do those things and you’ll have that pad for a long time.

i tried using the harbor freight pad once. Do yourself a favor and get a better pad. Once i got my powerpad my sanding jobs turned out much nicer, and they are also a whole lot easier to use.

 

Thanks McDing / Drifter2.

Do I need a couple different ones to start or can I get one for the first two boards? Medium? Soft?

Lke McDing said “Flex or Power pad” red pad (medium) and some “tacky glue” good stuff!!! 

EZ to get on line.

Anyone hear of a sanding block and a little elbow grease?   Seriously - on 2 standard shortboards with decent lamination/hotcoats it shouldn't be a big deal at all.  You'll end up with a flatter (better) surface.  Some shapers prefer their boards to be hand block sanded.

John ----No Doubt!  Elbow grease works well.  If you've done a decent glass job and hotcoat, a few grits of 3M, Norton or Mirka and plenty of time;  It can be done.  Just trying to get him set up to do it not necessarily the "right" way but the "proper" way.( If according to Sways there is such a thing) 

O- Shaper is right;  a "Medium" is probably the best all around for a board builder who is just starting out. Use it on the flats and hand sand the rails until you gain some experience and confidence power sanding. You'll also be able to do ding repair with it.  Eventually add a "Soft" to go with it.  Use an adhesive like "Tacki"',  3M feathering disk adhesive or one of the 3M spray adhesives.  I usually apply the adhesive to the pad and paper, stick my paper to the pad and then trim it up with the scissors. Good luck with it.  Post up some pics if you can. Let us know how it goes.   Lowel  

 

Hi jrandy, This Larry from Power Pad. Send me a PM and I will help a fellow Swaylockian Bro out. Yes the Med Power Pad would be your best bet. Mahalo, Larry