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split mandrel

Joined
Nov 15, 2020
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Huntington, VT
I want a device for power sanding the inside of tall narrow necks and tubes. Does anyone make a long split-end mandrel that will hold a flolded flag of sandpaper or do I need to have one custom made by a machine shop?
 
For non power sanding I use a piece of dowel with a slot cut in the end, and some psa backed thin foam stuck on between the slots.

For power sanding, a piece of AL or brass rod would work. Cut a slot down one end. The other end can be cut down to fit the drill chuck on using your wood lathe with hss tools.
 
Brian, after a certain length wood gets too whippy, plus I want a female thead in the end to run it on my Milwaukee sander/polisher.

Doug, that's a great idea. Should have thought of it myself. On to McMaster Carr.

Richard, I am thinking on the order of 12" long with a 5/8" bar. If I don't make one out of brass rod I will have a machinist make me up a steel one. A club member has a tapered steel mandrel that is at least 12" long, threaded for attachment to a die grinder on one end and sanding and buffing pads on the other. I want something that I can use to sand the sides of tall forms that I can't reach with a regular sanding pad. I use a forceps for sanding near the neck and a standard mandrel extension for deeper work but they have their limits.
 
@Kevin Jenness - you didn't really answer Richard's question fully. An important factor is the size of the opening. Here are some options from the Klingspor Sanding Catalog that come in different diameters, widths, and grits. Here are a few that might work ... look around the catalog for other mops, etc..

 
@Kevin Jenness - you didn't really answer Richard's question fully. An important factor is the size of the opening. Here are some options from the Klingspor Sanding Catalog that come in different diameters, widths, and grits. Here are a few that might work ... look around the catalog for other mops, etc..

@Kevin Jenness - you didn't really answer Richard's question fully. An important factor is the size of the opening. Here are some options from the Klingspor Sanding Catalog that come in different diameters, widths, and grits. Here are a few that might work ... look around the catalog for other mops, etc..

Tom, thanks for the links. I do have some flap wheels, but their longevity/price ratio is a bit low. The slotted mandrel shown is a good deal and similar to what I have in mind. I would like something a bit longer that will thread onto my 2800 rpm sander arbor, and I suspect I will have to go the custom route for that.

My Milwaukee angle drill w/ key chuck spins up to only 1400 rpm I believe. Perhaps I will use that with the Klingspor mandrel for now, with an extension where necessary.
 
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12" is really going to put some load on the bearings in a die grinder. In my opinion, a die grinder spins way to fast for sanding, and especially to fast for a 12" cantilevered rod sticking out!
 
12" is really going to put some load on the bearings in a die grinder. In my opinion, a die grinder spins way to fast for sanding, and especially to fast for a 12" cantilevered rod sticking out!
Yes, I tend to agree. On the other hand, I'm acquainted with two professional turners whose work is immaculate who do use high speed pneumatic die grinders on the regular for sanding bowls and hollow forms, one of whom uses the tapered mandrel I mentioned. I imagine they look on the cost of replacing bearings or grinders periodically as the cost of doing business. As well, they turn cleanly enough that their sanding is mostly limited to removing tool marks and refining scratch patterns. If I do have a mandrel made I wouldn't run more than 2800 rpm.
 
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