Subject: Re: baidarka Angle grinders
From: Barbara and Saul (marcusb@vaniercollege.qc.ca)
Date: Thu Jan 11 2001 - 10:39:24 EST
John,
I own both a 7" and a recently acquired 4" angle grinders. The 4" is
easily the
better choice. There are more attachments for both metal and wood sanding and
grinding; it is much lighter and less tiring to use; can be easily used with
one hand; and generally does a better job in every situation where I've tried
both units. I hardly ever use the 7" grinder any more even though I have a
variety of attachments like a wire brush, grinding wheel and rubber sanding
support. Sometimes I use the 7" as a sander when I use the 4" with a grinding
attachment. This allows me to avoid changing from grinding to sanding and
back
to grinding. If your going to own only one then the 4" or 4 1/2" is the
way to
go. The 4" grinder can do any job that the 7" can and it can do it faster and
be less tiring.
As for using the 7" for faring as Davidson did, forget about it! I
remember the
article well because I believed it when I read it. I was working on
restoring a
20" wooden sailboat. Almost immediately gouges occured. I found it
impossible
to do a decent job with the grinder and resorted to a belt sander.
Davidson was
(is?) a pro and had alot of experience.
John Gerlach wrote:
> Doug,
>
> I've done a bit of web research on angle grinders and it looks like they are
> considered angle sanders when the finger guards and grinding wheels are
> removed. The metal working folks use them to grind and woodworking folks use
> them to sand. The one I've got my eye on is the DeWalt DW493 7-8 inch model
> for $146 that runs at 5000 rpm - I'd use 7 inch discs. I know you use a 4
> inch grinder that probably runs at 10000 rpm. My rationalization for the
> bigger machine is that I could practice on a number of different projects in
> my fixer-upper house to hone (sand?) my skill. Given your experience is this
> a foolish or delusional thought?
>
> It's funny about how little information is available on the use of these
> machines. None of the woodworking or homebuilding magazines consider them. I
> did remember an article WoodenBoat ran and I found it in issue number 39.
> The article is an interview with a guy named Dudley Davidson who used a 7
> inch Black and Decker disc sander to fair planked wooden hulls and strip
> paint for over 35 years. Davidson made the statement that he was hired to
> fair freshly planked yacht and fishing boat hulls because he could do in a
> day what it took a whole crew a week to do using hand planes and sanding
> blocks. From the looks of the guy and the photos of his work I don't think
> he was blowing smoke. The article devotes a lot of ink to his techniques for
> stripping paint but says nothing about how he faired planked hulls.
> Essentially, he said that the trick is to keep the pad flat while working
> and not tip it on edge. He also lamented the switch from sisal fiber backing
> pads to rubber backing pads. Apparently, the sisal fiber pads had just the
> right amount of flex.
>
> Jumping ahead a few years, the current issue of WoodenBoat (158) has an
> article describing "The virtues of Australian commercial craft
> construction". In the article the builder describes fairing the eucalyptus
> planked hull of his 48 foot schooner with a disc sander and orbital sanders
> but he doesn't give details. The boat looks real fair to me and I for one
> sure wouldn't want to tackle a eucalyptus planked hull with hand planes and
> sanding blocks.
>
> Seems like some current information about the use of angle sanders in boat
> building would make a nice alternative methods article in WoodenBoat. I
> think I'll write the Australian builder and ask him if he would be willing
> to share his techniques. Would you be willing to do the same and perhaps
> recommend others who might also be willing? I would be willing to put the
> article together and submit it unless you would like to take on that task.
>
> Since I am already way out there as far as subject matter for this list, I'd
> like to add that while researching angle sanders I stumbled across a really
> cool web site about tools and a few other things. Check out
> http://www.tdl.com/~swensen/ .
>
> John Gerlach
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-baidarka@lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Douglas Ingram
> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 8:45 AM
> To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: baidarka Angle grinders
>
> John,
>
> I use a grinder when I am building with cedarstrips. It works great to
> knock down and even out the high spots and glue squeezout before going on to
> hand planing. I particular, it works great evening things out on the
> inside. Use a VERY light touch, and a not too aggresive grit. then go in
> woth a random action orbital sander. You can also use the discs by hand,
> they get into lots of odds spaces. Use a glove to proctect your
> fingerprints.
>
> Making a paddle or two, or more, will be good practice.
>
> Douglas Ingram
> Red River Canoe & Paddle
> Lorette, Manitoba
>
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