Fiberglass and Gelcoat guide is a valuable tool that includes knowledgeable terms and suggestions on grits and products.

The Solid Surface and Finishing Sequence Guide offers many helpful tips and tricks in order to make your solid surface installs perfect every time.

Safety First! Always remember to follow strict safety regulations when operating abrasive machinery.

Belt Loading Problems - A very easy and helpful solution to belt loading is a "rubber cleaning stick" (ask our sales rep for information). This rubber-based stick, generally 8" in length and 2" square, is held against the loaded belt as it is running. The rubber pulls out trapped sanding residue impacted between the abrasive grains, thus increasing the belt life. Note: This is not recommended for wide belt sanders. Hand Sanding Contoured Wood Shapes - This age-old problem can be easily remedied with KLINGSPOR's Mac Mop. This wheel consists of hundreds of small abrasive strips bonded to a strong epoxy core. Typical applications include the sanding of turned wood parts, scuff sanding of sealer coats, satin finishing of metal parts, mold sanding and sanding of virtually any profile. Mac Mops are available in two sizes: 10" x 2" and 10" x 4" and in grits ranging from 80 to 180. They are best used on a motor with at least a 3/4" diameter spindle and operate at between 1100 rpm and 3000 rpm. Shaping a Flapwheel - There are several ways to efficiently shape or profile a KLINGSPOR flapwheel. One method is to run the flapwheel backwards and hold a silicon carbide dressing stick against the flapwheel. These are the same type of dressing sticks used to dress a grinding wheel. Another method is to glue some 40 or 50 grit sandpaper to the profile of the workpiece, again running the flapwheel in reverse. Then hold the abrasive against the turning flapwheel creating the profile. Random Orbit Sanding - When using a pneumatic random orbital sander, it is very important that the air pressure, while the tool is under load, be maintained at 90 p.s.i. Maximum air hose length should be kept to 20 feet from the main feed line. 1/4" coupling and air lines will restrict the amount of air flow needed to run the tool at optimum levels. Most tools require an air volume of 15 to 18 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Ideal air line size is 1/2" line with 3/8" couplings. Achieving a #4 Finish - This is probably the most common finish in stainless steel fabrication. This finish can be achieved by using a 100 grit aluminum oxide belt followed by a medium grade non-woven material.

Tape or "Butt" Joints on Abrasive Belts - A tape joint, also referred to as a bi-directional joint, can help increase the life of an abrasive belt. As a belt becomes loaded from sanding residue, the belt can be removed and reversed so it is running in the opposite direction. This will help clean the belt of the residue and expose new abrasive grains, thus increasing the belt life and ensuring consistency of finish.