Finshes, Suppliers, Tools Sanding

Blue Flex Sanding Disks

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Meta Description: Carl likes the “Blue Flex” sanding disk sold by Vince’s Wooden Wonders. He has been using them for the last 4-5 years and is am very happy.

https://carlford.us/blog/2014/11/blue-flex-sanding-disks/

Photo: Blue Flex Disks (vince_blue_flex_discs)

Updated: 1/30/2023. No change bars. I changed it to much.

I like the “Blue Flex” sanding disk sold by Vince’s Wooden Wonders ( vinceswoodnwonders.com) I have been using these for a long time and I am very happy.

Note: Vince keeps changing his web site and screwing up the links in this blog entry. Thus I changed things to Google "Vince Wooden Wonders …".

Blue Flex Disks

Photo: Blue Flex Disks (vince_blue_flex)

I use 2-3/8” disks and 3-3/8” Blue Flex Disks. 80, 120, 180, and 220 grits. Around $5 for 25 disks on 1/30/2023.

The velcro on Blue Flex disks is glued onto a very tough sandpaper. They work wet or dry.

Google "Vinces Wooden Wonders Blue Flex Velcro Discs"

Heat will build up and soften the glue if you sand aggressively with these disks. When you try to remove the disk the velcro will get screwed up. To avoid this problem you need Interface Pads!

Note: I have eliminated 150 grit sandpaper from my world. I use to sand 80, 120, 150, 180, 220 grit. Then, I decided that 150 grit was a waste of time. To close to 120 and/or 180. I no longer use 150 grit sandpaper. I now sand 80, 120, 180, 220 grit.

Interface Pads

Photo: Interface Pads (blueflex_interface_pads)

Over time I have changed how I do things here a little.

I start out sanding most things with Vince's firm (think hard) interface pad with 80, then 120 grit blue flex sandpaper.

Then, I switch to Amazon 1/2" thick soft foam interface pad for 120, 180 and 220 grit blue flex sandpaper.

I often skip 80 grit. I sand with both hard 120 and soft 120. Thus, my normal sequence is 120 hard, 120 soft, 180 soft, 220 soft. Photo: Blue Flex Sanding Disks 1

I normally use Vince's 2-3/8” or 3-3/8” "Yellow TAPERED Firm Density Foam Pad" for most things. Google "Vinces Wooden Wonders Yellow Tapered Firm Density Foam Pad"

On small bowls with tight corners I may use Vince's 2” or 3” "Yellow RADIUS Firm Density Foam Pad". Google "Vinces Wooden Wonders Yellow Radius Firm Density Foam Pad" Amazon Soft Foam Pad

For my soft pad, I now use a 1/2" Thick Soft Foam Interface Pad from Amazon. I like the white color on the top of this pad. It allows me to wright the sandpaper grit on the white part with a sharpie marker. Ignore the "SPEEDWOX" brand in photo on right. The name changes every other day on Amazon. Look for picture. Google "Amazon Speedwox Soft Sponge Cushion Buffer Pad"

One interface pad for each grit works best! Allows quick and easy grit change without screwing up the velcro.

Thus I have four each of the above pads. One for each grit. 80, 120, 180, and 220.

Back Up Pads

Photo: Back Up Pads (sanding_bu_pads_11)

I use 2” and 3” back up pads. The thing that you chuck up in the drill.

2” pad goes with 2-3/8” disks and interface pads. 3” goes with 3-3/8”disks and interface pads.

I like Sanding Backup Pads (mandrels) that are thin, low profile and HARD. I don't like thicker pads. Low profile pads are better at getting into the tight space between headstock and bowl. Photo: Blue Flex Sanding Disks 2

I now make my own backup pads. See my Carl’s Sanding Backup Pads blog entry.

If you want to purchase your back pads then you may be able to get a “Ultra Thin Back Up Pad” from Vince. Google "Vinces Wooden Wonders Ultra Thin Back Up Pad

Note: If you are using interface pads to adjust the softness of pad then you don’t need and really don’t want a thick back up pad with lots of flex/foam.

Angle Drill

Photo: Angle Drill (wtw_angledrill)

I like to use a low profile angle drill for my sanding on the lathe. I have 2 of them on each lathe. One for 2″ disks and one for 3″ disks.

I no longer recommend the angle drills from Amazon, Harbor Freight, etc because they have a bad reputation for plastic gears that melt and quickly fail. The NEIKO brand on Amazon is NO GOOD!

Photo: Look for Metal Gears (wtw_angledrill_inside) Look for Metal Gears

Look for someone who is willing to show you a photo of the inside of the drill. Look for metal gears.

However, metal gears still fail. Why? Because the bearings attached to the metal gears are held in place via PLASTIC pillow blocks molded into the plastic drill case. Sooner or latter the plastic pillow blocks melt.

I now recommend the Angle Drills from “WoodTurners Wonders” (www.woodturnerswonders.com) that have metal gears. I don't like the price, but that is the way life goes. Beware! Sooner or latter they will fail due to plastic pillow blocks.

Google "WoodTurners Wonders Angle Drills"

Handy Sandpaper

Photo: Handy Sandpaper (handy_sp_02)

I store my Blue Flex sandpaper on a sanding board ready to go.

1/8" plywood with velcro from local hardware store. One pad protector or interface pad for each grit. See photo and my Handy Sandpaper blog entry.