I am ready to do some serious gel coat removal, and I noticed in the tools section that a 8" "soft stickit pad" was available for a 7" angle grinder. I have a 7" Bosch grinder and would like to get a soft pad for it. Where can I buy one? Can't seem to find them in the tool catalogs I have been using.
Bill
Soft Stickit Pad
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Dave, 397
Backing pads
Bill-
Check with your friendly auto body supply house...you'll find everything you need there.
Dave
Check with your friendly auto body supply house...you'll find everything you need there.
Dave
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JetStream
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Soft Stickit Pad
Just be careful of your erpems (RPM's). Some of the grinders have speeds way higher than the Stickit Pads are rated. I am using a GelPlane to remove gelcoat and it works well. The device is actually a cross between an angle grinder and a power planer. It uses carbide blades to cut through the gelcoat in one pass. Pricey tool but pretty cool.
Bruce
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Tim
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Bill,
If you can't find one locally, you can order it from somewhere like Jamestown Distributors or Hamilton Marine.
You might also try our old industrial friend McMaster-Carr Supply. The website is a little challenging to use, but with perserverence you can usually find everything you need--and their shipping speed and service will blow your mind. Buy your sandpaper here, if nothing else--it's the best.
Bruce (Jetstream) is right, though: the large pads are only technically rated for 3000 RPM, and most grinders spin faster. My advice is to keep this in mind, but don't let it stop you from using the pad (insert full disclaimers here). I used one with some success, although the high speed of the grinder tended to wing sanding discs off the pad if I wasn't careful. Usually, this was harmless, but once, when grinding the keel, one came off onto my leg, slicing nicely through my jeans. No real harm done, but a 40 grit sanding disc coming at you at 3000 RPM doesn't feel too wonderful!
So use it with care and foreknowledge, and you should be fine. The most annoying part is spinning a brand new sanding disc off the pad, only to have it land adhesive side down (always) in a pile of dust or sand, rendering it useless!
If you can't find one locally, you can order it from somewhere like Jamestown Distributors or Hamilton Marine.
You might also try our old industrial friend McMaster-Carr Supply. The website is a little challenging to use, but with perserverence you can usually find everything you need--and their shipping speed and service will blow your mind. Buy your sandpaper here, if nothing else--it's the best.
Bruce (Jetstream) is right, though: the large pads are only technically rated for 3000 RPM, and most grinders spin faster. My advice is to keep this in mind, but don't let it stop you from using the pad (insert full disclaimers here). I used one with some success, although the high speed of the grinder tended to wing sanding discs off the pad if I wasn't careful. Usually, this was harmless, but once, when grinding the keel, one came off onto my leg, slicing nicely through my jeans. No real harm done, but a 40 grit sanding disc coming at you at 3000 RPM doesn't feel too wonderful!
So use it with care and foreknowledge, and you should be fine. The most annoying part is spinning a brand new sanding disc off the pad, only to have it land adhesive side down (always) in a pile of dust or sand, rendering it useless!
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Bill Salter
Soft Stickit Pad
Thanks for the replies. I do buy all my sandpaper from McMaster-Carr, and I agree they are the best. I still don't know how they get the goods to my house so quickly. I tried to find a soft sanding pad on their website, with no luck. I'll follow up on the suggestions here.
Bill
Bill
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Dave, 397
Gelcoat grinding
Bill-
I just wanted to elaborate on a point that was made earlier in the thread--
a standard grinder turns a LOT of revs--difficult to control and easy to make a mess or at least an unwanted fairing project. A 7 or 9 inch "body sander" sometimes referred to as a "sander-polisher" turns about 3500 revs max. and is more the tool you want for the job. If you do decide to use a hi-speed grinder, do make sure that the pad is rated for the revs the tool will be turning as even a foam pad can pack a mean wallop when it comes apart at 10 thou or so...not fun at all.
Best,
Dave
I just wanted to elaborate on a point that was made earlier in the thread--
a standard grinder turns a LOT of revs--difficult to control and easy to make a mess or at least an unwanted fairing project. A 7 or 9 inch "body sander" sometimes referred to as a "sander-polisher" turns about 3500 revs max. and is more the tool you want for the job. If you do decide to use a hi-speed grinder, do make sure that the pad is rated for the revs the tool will be turning as even a foam pad can pack a mean wallop when it comes apart at 10 thou or so...not fun at all.
Best,
Dave
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Bill Salter
soft stickit pad
Dave
I don't disagree on the speed issue. I may just buy a sander/polisher rather than using the grinder (which I think turns at about 8,000 rpm).
Bill
I don't disagree on the speed issue. I may just buy a sander/polisher rather than using the grinder (which I think turns at about 8,000 rpm).
Bill