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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Forwardhandle on January 29, 2018, 10:53:00 AM

Title: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 29, 2018, 10:53:00 AM
Hi Fellas Im working up a riser for a kennym style bow & the fade tips will be made out of Mozambique wood never had working a glass bow riser I figured I would practice on the last wood bow I made so I pre tappered the riser and tried to get the fade tips paper thin on the end ,I used my oscillating spindle sander and 36 grit tube and a backing peace of wood but ended up with some minor tare out on the ends of the fade so I was wondering what grit everybody uses to tapper there fades or any other tips ?
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: monterey on January 29, 2018, 11:57:00 AM
I use 80 and even 120.  Use the largest diameter spindle that you have.

Even with some wood the 120 seemed a bit coarse.  I messed up a wenge riser with 120 because it was so porous.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: fujimo on January 29, 2018, 12:14:00 PM
i use 50 to 60 grit- but the oscillation does more damage than anything else- i "de-oscillated " mine    :D
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: kennym on January 29, 2018, 12:51:00 PM
You will get a little tearout . I use from 36 to 60. A backing block and working toward thin tip helps.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 29, 2018, 01:00:00 PM
Kenny is your sander oscillating ?  I have a sanding head for my drill press but I see a lot of fellas using the oscillating one ?
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: on January 29, 2018, 01:27:00 PM
I use 60 grit...  I have about a 9"dia sanding drum that I made...  Works great...  

   Yeah learn how to use that backing block... The Backing Block is your friend...    :)       :)     True up your table best as you can then true up your block to the drum...  And if you are flipping your riser to sand it, you better make sure that your riser sides are dead parallel to each other when looking at the end of the riser...  If not perfect you can somewhat fake it in with your backing block as long as one side of the riser is 90* to the back of the riser...
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: on January 29, 2018, 01:34:00 PM
Don't forget to go long and lean...  1/16" thick at the 1" mark...
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 29, 2018, 01:50:00 PM
I was just thinking about seeing how to true up that sander I think I will just do the ruff sanding close with the 36 grit and switch to 120 grit to get final thinness dont want to glue up a footed riser and botch the fades   :rolleyes:
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: mikkekeswick on January 29, 2018, 01:52:00 PM
60 grit.
Use your sander to get close then switch to hand sanding.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 29, 2018, 01:56:00 PM
You know Mike thats a good idea Im turning into to much of machine head these days , cant see the forest due to the tree's....lol
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: monterey on January 29, 2018, 02:18:00 PM
I do the hand sanding too.  Lay the riser on.a piece of thick glass or other hard, flat surface and sand with a flexible sanding block.  A piece of .08 lam with 60 grit glued to it works and will also get any minor waves out of the ramps.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Bvas on January 29, 2018, 02:44:00 PM
36 grit spindle in the drill press to get close. Then finish by gently pressing the fade on a hard flat surface and hand sanding with a block and 60 grit.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: arachnid on January 29, 2018, 04:32:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by fujimo:
i use 50 to 60 grit- but the oscillation does more damage than anything else- i "de-oscillated " mine     :D  
I also use an oscillating sander. Can you explain why the oscillation makes more damage?

And how did you de-oscillated yours? I might give it a shot too.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: fujimo on January 30, 2018, 12:34:00 AM
i use a backing block like said above- but when i am trying to get down to that transparent feather on the ends of the riser, i find the up and down movement can damage that fine wood at the ends.

when i worry about the sleeve wearing in one place- i either flip the sleeve- or i have a few pieces of nice smooth birch ply, that i put on the deck of the sander- and my piece can contact a new area on the sleeve.

i had to take my sander apart- and figure out what was causing the oscillation- and then remove those parts-
required me to turn up some metal bushings as spacers to replace the oscillating discs that i removed.

mine had two discs one was static the other rotated-the sleeve was connected to the rotating disc.
 and the two discs had hills and valleys on them- so when the hills ran over the other hills- that moved the discs further apart, and the sleeve moved up- and valley to valley the sleeve moved down.
 i removed the rotating disc- and put a spacer in there- now shes just beautiful!!
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 30, 2018, 07:07:00 AM
Here is another way if you have a profile sander.
60 grit.
 (https://i.imgur.com/ftEPAXY.jpg?1)
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: C. Johnson on January 30, 2018, 08:38:00 AM
I have an oscillating spindle sander with a 3" drum.  I like 50 grit sleeves for pretty much all of my shaping needs.

I use a 2" square rubber belt cleaner block as a backer to feather out my fades.  Works like a champ.
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 30, 2018, 08:52:00 AM
I wish I had a profile sander the only thing I have is a so called flush trim sanding drum for my drill press its really not flush trim but gets you with in 1/32 probably would work fine for a radius like the riser , Im probably over thinking it like I do most things but you guys have given me some good ideas Im trying to get my form and riser done together so I can get a good fit on the form , defently different project from a self bow  :p
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: on January 30, 2018, 09:51:00 AM
Pretty Slick there Mike...
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 30, 2018, 10:48:00 AM
Crooket stick what are you using for your profile sander ?
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 30, 2018, 08:09:00 PM
I have the 6 x 80 Grizzly. with a table and guide roller at the bottom of the drive drum.
 (https://i.imgur.com/K6pNXkt.jpg?1)
Title: Re: What Grit for thinning riser fades ?
Post by: Forwardhandle on January 31, 2018, 06:33:00 AM
Man that is a nice set up you got there Mike the name here is Ritchie ,I have a cheap generic 2 in sanding drum with a guide wheel on it the bearing is starting to ware so I ordered the 3 in. Robo sander drum and guide yesterday, figure I will make a guide templet that I traced off of Kennys blue print to get to ruff dimension after the band saw and do the rest by hand,  I would love a set up like you but my 2 car garage Town home shop is out of room and my wife says Im out of money for more tools....lol !