Carbide Mandrels

If you don't mind me asking, do you use a wood sanding block, a padded sanding block, or a strip of sandpaper for sanding the joints at the mandrel? I use wood sanding blocks but don't know the standard approach.
I put on a carbide sanding mandrel .......... I sand to about .001 or .002 over size then put on a smaller mandrel and finish with the finer papers............. until it's at size.............. I do not use a block......... I sand by hand
 
I like the butt mandrel angled.
I like wet sanding by holding the sand paper at an angle to the carbide while spinning medium fast.
No block.
 
Interested in sanding mandrels also. If my finished joint size is .840 3/8-10 modified.
I'd buy a .840 for finished size and what size to sand to before?
 
Interested in sanding mandrels also. If my finished joint size is .840 3/8-10 modified.
I'd buy a .840 for finished size and what size to sand to before?
It depends on how thick you want your finish, but 5 thou difference seems pretty common. So .835"
That's what I use and it seems to work just fine.
 
Interested in sanding mandrels also. If my finished joint size is .840 3/8-10 modified.
I'd buy a .840 for finished size and what size to sand to before?
it depends on what finish you are using............ I do an epoxy base coat and solarez over it................. so I would say go down to .830 to .825.........................

Kim
 
Interested in sanding mandrels also. If my finished joint size is .840 3/8-10 modified.
I'd buy a .840 for finished size and what size to sand to before?
My suggestion, keep your final size before finish at .840 and final size at . 845 to . 847 if you spray a nice finish.
 
If you don't mind me asking, do you use a wood sanding block, a padded sanding block, or a strip of sandpaper for sanding the joints at the mandrel? I use wood sanding blocks but don't know the standard approach.
I just sand by hand with a 1/4 sheet of 400 wet until I am about 1 or 2 thou over size.......... then I change to a smaller dia mandrel........... finish sanding and buffing.................... 600, 1000, 1500, 2000,,,,,,,,,, then cream polishing compound

Kim
 
I use a padded sanding block, I try to use as little preassure as possible and just let the sandpaper do it's work. When I get past 2000 grit I use 3M Trizact pads up to 6000 grit.
I use trizact at 3k and then buff. I have found any scratches 3k or smaller will buff right out. Actually 2k will too with a little more work. Those damned pads must be mined with gold.

I sand .006 undersize with an .844 mandrel then round the sharp edge ever so slightly with 1500 grit before applying the finish. This way after applying the finish and sanding to final size with an .850 mandrel I can round the edge again with 2k grit wet and have uniform finish thickness right around the corner, small as it is since it's shaped just like the underlying joint edge.
 
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My suggestion, keep your final size before finish at .840 and final size at . 845 to . 847 if you spray a nice finish.
seeing that your finish is 5-7 thou thick diametrically for spray, would you suggest using those numbers also for epoxy finish, eg. old joey conversion methods.
 
seeing that your finish is 5-7 thou thick diametrically for spray, would you suggest using those numbers also for epoxy finish, eg. old joey conversion methods.
I just keep one mandrel now with .855 OD
Some of those conversions were thinner than .850 pre-finish.
 
Not sure if you saw this...

That's an old post those were gone a day or so after he listed them here, not Dickie, but the gentleman that sold them here
 
Might try Cuefits.com as well. I have ordered from him in the past without issues. However, delivery is slow boat from China. A couple-three weeks last time I ordered.
I use them too and if you pay the expedited shipping (which isn't much $30 or so) and you'll have it in a week week n half at the lastest. I had an order to Texsa in 7 days.
 
What size mandrel is everyoen using? I want to get an average opinion. I'm leaning more towards a thicker joint. What's everyone final taper size at the butt joint? and at the butt cap before finishing. I'd like some information please. I'd appreciate it.
 
What size mandrel is everyoen using? I want to get an average opinion. I'm leaning more towards a thicker joint. What's everyone final taper size at the butt joint? and at the butt cap before finishing. I'd like some information please. I'd appreciate it.
.840 is probably the most popular.
Maybe .845 next.
 
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