Sanding media storage and upkeep...

[dbhost]

I noticed when working on the toy car, that I kind of have an overabundance of a wide variety of sanding media. I currently have...

Quarter Sheet in 40, 80, 120, 220, and 360 grits.

Hook & Loop 5" round in 40, 80, and 120 grits.

Small assortment of Corner cat hook & loop pads.

Spindle sleeves on the Ridgid Sander. Likely to get variety of grits.

4x24 Belt. Currently one on the Ridgid sander. Looking to grab 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, and 220 grits.

I was hoping folks might be able to give me some ideas of good ways to store a variety of sanding media, keeping it organized, and in good shape...

Also, are the abrasive cleaning sticks like THIS ONE from Peachtree is worth even looking at. Do they really work? I found that the sanding spindle sleeves on the Ridgid sander jam up with sawdust and whatnot awfully fast!

The quarter sheet sander most likely won't need that as I simply blow out the abrasive too fast...

[bthere]

Well, I don't have a very elegant system, but, for what it's worth, this is what I do.

My spindle sleeves are sorted by grit and nested then slide over nails in the wall. Since that area of the shop is just studded with no insulation, the nails are in the side of the stud so that they don't stick out into the room. I haven't got a great way to store belts, so they tend to hang on nails also. The flat type of sandpaper I generally keep in expanding files sort of like this one. It allows me to label each pocket with the grit and type.

I think the belt cleaners do a pretty good job of unclogging the paper on various machines. Naturally it doesn't renew the cutting edges of the grit, but it does clear the load and let it sand a little more effectively.

[dbhost]

I had actually considered doing something similar to what you are talking about, but with long peg hooks for my peg board... I think I can nest multiples of the same grit by size. The belts are still going to be interesting. But I don't see having more than 3 of each grit...

The expanding file idea sounds pretty good...

[shoottx]

Just one bit of caution. Sanding belts have a limited life expectancy. I had several sanding belts (Norton) that came apart while working on a project. I sent a complaint to Norton about the belts. In an email exchange they explained the glue holding the belts together has a limited life expectancy. And if your are not using the belts they will go bad.

So I quit holding a big inventory of sanding belts, maybe 1 or 2 of the common sizes. I will buy for my sanding requirement at the time.

[dbhost]

Good to know. Probably keep to the more aggressive grits for the belts and spindles... I use the oscillating sander for fast, aggressive shaping anyway, not finish work...

[John Hunter]

I built this storage system and it works great http://runnerduck.com/sand.htm

[JimD]

Cleaning sticks work for belts and for sanding drum sleeves. I use one regularly.

I keep hook and loop disks in the box they came in (I bought 50 in 80, 100, and 150 grit when I bought the sander and am still using them). They go in the same shop drawer as the sander. I keep belts in the drawer the belt sander is in. I agree about them going bad. I would also add that an overlap joint is undesirable in my opinion. I prefer a butt joint so you can install the belt in either direction and it also avoids the little bump at the joint.

I keep sandpaper for hand sanding and my 1/4 sheet sander in another drawer. It is a total mess but at least I can close the drawer. I bought 20 sheets of several grits of Norton's new sandpaper that cuts faster and it came in a box that helps to keep it organized. I bought some other grits from Lee Valley and they ship in envelopes so that provides a storage location for them.

Sanding drums for drum sanders go in a drawer of the table of the drill press.

Jim

[cabinetman]

I built this storage system and it works great http://runnerduck.com/sand.htm

That's a great way to do it. Very organized and compact. I have a similar one, but it's an enclosed cabinet, primarily just a storage cabinet. The sheet paper I store in the plastic in/out office trays that can be stacked up. I used plastic as it will not absorb moisture. Here in South Florida, humidity will kill sandpaper quickly. It can make it feel like a wet paper towel. So, keeping the sanding supplies in a closed cabinet, with a container of "Damp Rid", helps prolong the storage life.
.

[Pappy]

Read a tip somewhere on storing 5" discs in a CD box but i haven't tried it. I have one cabinet that will be dedicated to sanders and supplies if I ever get it all organized.

[jobole]

Also, are the abrasive cleaning sticks like THIS ONE from Peachtree is worth even looking at. Do they really work? I found that the sanding spindle sleeves on the Ridgid sander jam up with sawdust and whatnot awfully fast!

Yes these work great...I use them on belt sander as well as spindle sander.

[Uncle Cracker]

I'd love to have one of those nice organizers for my sanding media, but the humidity around here makes keeping in the shop problematic. So, I keep all my sandpaper inside the house, as the humidity is controlled there. I have a drawer in an old dresser that is dedicated to the sanding supplies, and I use a couple heavy granite flooring tiles on top of the paper to maintain flatness.

I rotate stock so that I don't have any for too long. Stuff I use a lot I will buy in packs no larger than 25 sheets, and stuff I don't use much I won't buy in quantities larger than 2 or 3 sheets (I often split a 5-pack with my neighbor). I keep 1 belt of each grit for the belt sanders, and 3 of each for the disk sander and the detail sander. I have not had to replace any tubes on the spindle sander as yet, so I don't have spares, nor have I established a stock level for them. I also use some of the HF sponge sanding blocks for roughing up, etc.

The rubber "eraser" cleaning stick works great for most media, but you gotta watch where the "boogers" (chaff) go, as they can stick to DC ducting and the like, or end up in other undesirable places in the machinery. I usually try to make it so they fall to the floor, and then just sweep them up.