Popular Woodworking 2007-06 № 162, страница 12
Tool Test A Better Sanding Solution Sanding accounts for a major portion of work in the shop. The dust produced can lead to bouts with chronic bronchitis, asthma or dermatitis. So you have reason to search for better sanding products. Mirka Abrasives Inc. has invented " "Abranet" - aluminum-oxide grit with resin-over-resin bonding, attached to polyamide fabric backing with a hook-and-loop design. It's best used with a vacuum setup for dust-free sanding. Simply put - it's a better sanding product that's available in discs, sheets or rolls with grits ranging from #P80 to #P800. What makes this design a better sanding solution? It resembles a sanding screen, but a sanding screen is simply a fully coated product while Abranet has the abrasive aligned in rows. It's that row formation that makes Abranet unique. Because of the abrasive arrangement, dust is never more than .5mm from an opening in the disc, through which it's extracted from the surface. This efficient extraction is beneficial in a number of ways. For one, the disc isn't as likely to cake or clog. That keeps the grit working longer per disc, in effect extending cutting time and reducing replacement. It will also prevent ""pilling" - the buildup of small amounts of dust that cause sanding defects that show up in later finishing steps, such as swirls. To use this product to its fullest capacity you need to have adequate dust collection on your sander. Mirka has a full range of products to help. That doesn't mean that you can't use your sander just as it is, but the best setup would be to replace the sanding pad on your tool with one designed specifically for Abranet - a pad that has 52 exhaust holes. Prices for There is a replacement pad to fit most sanders. The thick Interface Pad softens the cut of the abrasive for rounding corners and the Pad Protector lessens the wear on the pad while sanding. these vary depending on your type of sander. Abranet will make any sander more efficient, but the more vacuum suction, the better the extraction. One accessory Mirka recommends is the "Pad Protector." This product is designed to prolong the life of your replacement pads and softens the cut of the abrasives. We tried Abranet with and without the pad but noticed no difference in the short run. Mirka also offers the ""Interface Pad." This is a V2"-thick pad designed for rounding corners or sharp edges. It prevents the Abranet disc from catching an edge and tearing - the one downfall we found with the product. If you catch an edge while sanding (as we did When you hold it up to the light, it's easy to see why Abranet has the best dust collection when a vacuum system is used. Better collection extends the life of the disc. SPECIFICATIONS Abranet Street price: $33 box of 50 - 5" (packs of 10 available at woodcraft.com, $16) Pad protector: $17 two-pack - 5" Interface pad: $14 - 5" Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$$ Mirka Abrasives Inc.: 800-843-3904 or mirka-usa.com sanding a face frame), the pieces will rip and you'll have to replace them. The Interface Pad makes sanding the inside of cove moulding and other curved profiles easier. Disc sizes run from 3" to 11" in diameter, with sizes to fit most orbital sanders. There are sheets available for many electric and hand-sanding tools. The sizes are 3" x 4" and 23/4" wide x 5", 8" and 16V2" long. The rolls are 41/2" wide x 10' or 25' in length. Mirka claims Abranet lasts three to five times longer than ordinary paper-backed discs - and at three times the life, Abranet is a better monetary value. Plus, less shop cleanup and less time spent changing discs means a time savings, too. And less sanding dust in your lungs? An incalculable value. — Glen D. Huey For more information, circle # 154 on Free Information Card. 10 Popular Woodworking June 2007 |
