Sanding Kit

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A couple of weeks ago, my brother came over and I had him bring his end-grain cutting board with him for a tune up. I ended up sanding it down a bit and oiling it up for him, but it took me way too long and got me to thinking about sanding kit and equipment.

I used to live a lot abroad so I never was able to accumulate wood working tools, but I would like to get some basic materials to handle knife-related chores.

Here are some of the tasks I would like to do:

(1) Re-surface cutting boards that may be damaged, old etc.
(2) Round the spine on blades
(3) Buffing/polishing/refinishing scratched or abused blades

Does anyone have suggestions on some good sanding kit/equipment, micro-meshes, paper etc. to get these jobs done.

I have nothing, so all ideas are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

k.
 
As far as the blocks go scraping plans work the best.
To round spines belt sander like the 1" one sold at H.F. Would be my #1
 
For rounding the spine I always use a wet/dry sand paper grit progression starting at 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2000.
As for buffing? I would also like some insight in that one.
 
For rounding the spine I always use a wet/dry sand paper grit progression starting at 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2000.
As for buffing? I would also like some insight in that one.

I know there are tons of places to buy sandpaper, but I was reading somewhere that you should avoid cheap sandpaper. Are there some brands/vendors that are better?

k.
 
As far as the blocks go scraping plans work the best.
To round spines belt sander like the 1" one sold at H.F. Would be my #1

Thanks Chef Niloc for the advice. I am going to add a belt sander to the list. I see H.F. has two 1" sanders: one is a combo with disc sander and the other isn't. Would a disc sander be useful?

Also, by scraping plane do you mean a cabinet scraper or a scraping plane such as this one:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000574/10397/KUNZ-Scraping-Plane--No-112.aspx

The search goes on (but it is getting closer). I have been doing some other research. And I think it was in some old Marko post that I saw the Caswell compounds noted below. I might ask him how they worked out.

k.

Anyhow, here is my list so far.

* 1" x 30" belt sander from Harbor Freight ($40)
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-x-30-inch-belt-sander-2485.html

* Caswell compound bars ($27)
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffing.htm

* Micro-mesh Kit ($25)
http://www.micromark.com/Micro-Mesh-Finishing-Kit,7601.html

* Random-Orbital Sander ($62)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018Z8D64/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

* A couple felt blocks ($20)
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2184

* I am still looking at planes. Maybe a card/cabinet scraper.
 
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Thanks Chef Niloc for the advice. I am going to add a belt sander to the list. I see H.F. has two 1" sanders: one is a combo with disc sander and the other isn't. Would a disc sander be useful?

Also, by scraping plane do you mean a cabinet scraper or a scraping plane such as this one:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000574/10397/KUNZ-Scraping-Plane--No-112.aspx

The search goes on (but it is getting closer). I have been doing some other research. And I think it was in some old Marko post that I saw the Caswell compounds noted below. I might ask him how they worked out.

k.

Anyhow, here is my list so far.

* 1" x 30" belt sander from Harbor Freight ($40)
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-x-30-inch-belt-sander-2485.html

* Caswell compound bars ($27)
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffing.htm


* Random-Orbital Sander ($62).

I use both types of plans. The one you posted for lots of deep scratches. Cabinet plane will give you a supper smooth finish. I also set up a dough knife/ bench scraper
http://www.google.com/images?q=doug...bmE8qDtwej-ujqDg&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=981&bih=661
Like a cabanet plane I.E. I run it down a mill file to create a nasty bur. I use this every day at work ( old butchers trick ), it keeps a your block from getting to bad to quick plus it gets the nasty stuff out.

I don't like to use power sanders of any kind on a block as it's very easy to make the board unleveled, a very bad thing!
When you are refinishing a board you need to do the whole board and keep it flat and even. Carpenters use plans to level wood not sanders. They do make power planers like
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-inch-industrial-planer-39860.html
That would make quick work at the job, but to handle a 18+" board you would need one like this
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000223LW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Would be cheeper to buy a 100 new boards, but maybe you know a shop that has one you could use?

I like the HP sander with out the disk b/c it's smaller and easier to store on a shelf & such. If you have use for the disk and don't mind Spending a little extra then I would get the grizzly
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017K8W3E/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Or better yet the delta 1x42" there are lots of " how to's" & parts on the net to modify the delta for knife sharpening. But I don't think they make it any more??? May be eBay?
 
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The best sandpaper I have found and always have in my shop is from my local auto parts store. It is 3M with the yellow back silicon carbide paper. I use it in 400, 1000, and 2000 for various tasks. I usually buy the 50 packs of the 400 and a few sheets of the others. The 400 I use for sanding handles and blades alike.
 
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