Sanding and Burnishing

[Garno]

When going through the grits whilst sanding how hard do I need to be pressing the sandpaper into the blank? and do I need to keep the same pressure when sanding with the lathe running as what I do for when it's not running? (I hope that makes sense)

I suppose the same question applies when burnishing.

I will probably be answering the same questions to new turners next year :wink:

 

[Dalboy]

No need to press hard especially when sanding with the lathe running as it can cause too much heat and possibly produce small heat cracks. When sanding on the lath I sand under power then stop the lathe and then sand along the grain before going to the next grit that way you can see the sanding marks disappear from sanding under power.

 

[flexi]

As Derek says, I sand with the lathe spinning (the same speed I use for everything) then sand along the blank "WIPE" just with a cloth/ blue roll.... Then next grit

 

[Garno]

Thank you [MENTION=449]Dalboy[/MENTION] and [MENTION=626]flexi[/MENTION]

I've been going at the blank, armed with sandpaper, Like a man possessed

 

[alpha1]

No you don't need brute strength let the sand paper do its job. I sand with the lathe running then stop the lathe and turn the chuck by hand while sanding length wise then move on and do the same with the next grit size.

 

[Phil Dart]

In addition to the comments above, it's important to keep the abrasive moving - by which I mean, don't just hold it in one place, move it laterally backwards and forwards in small increments whilst you're sanding. That will keep down any tendency for heat buildup and will also help to prevent a build up of sanding dust between abrasive and workpiece

 

[Bill Mooney]

It’s all been said. Light sanding both when the lathe is running & when ifs stopped for lateral sanding. Heat is the enemy. I tend to use a little more pressure when burnishing but don’t press to hard. When you see a shine on your blank stop burnishing.