10 minute read
Sanding & Abrasives
A perfect duo – sanders and dust extractors
Any professional tradesperson knows that a key to producing a quality job is in the preparation. If a surface is perfectly prepped, then applying oils, varnishing or paint becomes easier, and there is less need for reworking. And there are two key products that makes this incredibly easy – a sander and dust extraction.
Using a sander in combination with a mobile dust extractor, like the Festool CTM MIDI, has multiple benefits. By extracting the dust produced when sanding at the source, the working environment is cleaner. Sanding produces fine dust that can quickly enter the lungs, pairing a sander with a dust extractor enables one to protect one’s health by working dust-free.
It also means there less time spent on cleaning up and less dust around, making the job easier. When working in residential properties using a sander
with a dust extractor, this hugely benefits the client – with less dust there is less of an impact on their home.
Pairing the right sander with a dust extractor vastly improves the sander’s efficiency. Festool sanders are specifically designed to work with a dust extractor. The ETSC 125 sander, for example, has a bayonet fitting system that enables it to be connected securely to a Festool dust extractor or to a long-life dust collection bag for more mobile working. Features on the sanders like MultiJetstream help achieve maximum dust extraction and therefore maximum sanding performance.
There are obviously other elements of a sander to consider, depending on the quality of the surface and the result that needs to be achieved. In door restoration, for example, one may want to lightly sand the door and keep it free from circular or ridged sanding marks.
The Festool ETSC 125 eccentric sander has a combined oscillating and rotary motion, which minimises sanding marks. And the small sanding stroke of 2mm makes it ideal for fine sanding. In contrast, longer sanding strokes of 5-7mm allows the user to remove a large amount of material for coarse sanding. So, if one needs to remove large amounts of layered paint and varnish, a sander with a forced eccentric rotation like the ROTEX RO 150, would enable them to do this quickly. The gear unit, along with the 5mm sanding stroke, considerably increases the material removal rate.
With proper preparation being key to delivering professional results, why would one not make the preparation stage of their job as simple and efficient as possible? With a system approach that combines the right sander and dust extractor, preparation can be executed easily.
To discover more about the Festool sander and dust extraction system, visit the Festool website.
www.festool.co.uk
Safety is in your hands
Over the past decade or so, there has been a significant change in the way tools have been made to meet the needs and requirements of the user. This has led to a large amount of investment in R&D by tool manufacturers to design and develop durable products that can deliver an efficient overall process and a high-quality finish on a variety of surfaces, while protecting users against the dangers of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and dust particles.
HAVS, which affects the blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints of the hand, wrist and arm, is becoming a bigger issue for workers as it is a condition they cannot see or are maybe unaware of that is affecting them until it is too late. The reason for this is basically that each worker may have different tolerances for the amount of vibrations they can handle or they may not realise there is a problem until they try a different tool or do not use their own one for a while.
For Mirka, the fight against HAVS starts with putting the emphasis back on the user, and this has been achieved with the introduction of the myMirka app (applicable in the Bluetooth-enabled tools within the Mirka product range). The app provides the end-user with the vibration levels from the tool on a colour-graded scale, and advises on how to lower the vibration if required. Additionally, the speed the tool is being used at can be visualised in a real-time graph.
Furthermore, if more detail is required, there is an in-app purchase that tracks the daily vibration levels in relation to European standards for a comparable scale of the pressures being put through users’ joints on a daily basis, which will allow the business to see how the tools are being used and potentially assist in the implementation of measures to protect the workers. The app is available to download through Google App and Apple App stores.
Extraction systems may seem like they take up a lot of space, but dust particles can be a major health issue for employees and could possibly lead to respiratory problems.
This is why more and more businesses and single users are investing in systems to allow them to work in a dust-free work environment. Laboratory tests have shown that without dust extraction, dust in the air per kg of sanded material is over 200g/kg, and dust on surrounding surfaces is almost 800g/kg. These may not seem like large quantities, but when they accumulate over a long period, they could potentially turn into both a fire and health hazard for the business.
Mirka’s top tips to achieving a dust-free environment and to protect yourself from HAVS
1. An increase in vibration can cause damage to the tool, so be aware that any variation in the weight of pad other than when using P180 paper discs can cause the machine to vibrate more. 2. Always use a genuine Mirka backing pad on Mirka tools, as it has been specifically designed for certain machines (a DEROS/PROS 150mm backing pad is engineered to weigh exactly 130gms). However, if one uses a generic non Mirka pad it may alter the vibration of the tool and, in turn, cause damage to the bearing and other aspects of the tool. Mirka tools returned with non-
Mirka pads fitted are not covered by the Mirka warranty. 3. If one intends to use an interface pad (5mm/10mm), one should remove the backing pad and insert the grub screw that comes in the box with the tool into the remaining threaded hole beneath the pad. This will counterbalance the weight of the interface pad and reduce the vibration of the tool when in use. 4. The grub screw should also be used if coarse or heavy weight discs (P40/60 etc) are on the sander. 5. Using a pad saver will protect the backing pad from wear. However, if used when sanding plaster it often reduces the efficiency of the dust extraction. If
P80 to P120 discs are used with a pad saver, Mirka recommends the insertion of the grub screw. 6. Ensure that the product is regularly serviced for optimum performance. 7. Make sure the fleece bag in the mobile extraction unit is not full and does not have any rips or holes. If it does, replace it. 8. Periodically remove and clean the motor filter. This can be done by placing it in a bag and gently knocking the dust out of the filter. Or better still, use another vacuum or extractor to clean the filter. Once it is clean, replace the filter in the machine. 9. Make sure the seal between the tank and upper section of the extractor is clean and not damaged.
However, investment in a suitable mobile extraction system is not a short-term injection of the business’ cash, it should be viewed as a longterm commitment, so that it can provide an effective solution for a cleaner workspace, a reduction in prepping and tidying up at the end of the day, and the potential dust contamination of other tools and surfaces.
The smaller systems are more often used in workspaces because they are equipped with a local air supply and extraction, and are easy to move and store.
01908 866100 www.mirka.com
International Woodworking Machinery Ltd
Unit 20, Newark Business Park, 3 Brunel Drive, Newark, NG24 2EG
IWM Falach Briquetting Presses Turning Your Biomass Wood Waste into Renewable Energy Briquettes.
Turn Your Biomass Wood Waste including MDF Dust into Renewable Energy Wood Briquettes, eliminating landfill costs or even giving them away. IWM have Five Models Falach 30, 35, 50, 70 & 100 to suit your Production Requirements at very competitive prices. Each machine can be Supplied freestanding our Installed under your existing Dust extraction with 5 Bag Carousel Bagging Units. We have many examples installed in UK, Please ask for details of installations near YOU
Bring your waste material for Demonstration
FP32:21 HYDRAULIC FRAME PRESS
3.2M X 2.1M HYDRAULIC WINDOW & DOOR PRESS
TEMAC
THE INTELLIGENT CNC AUTOMATIC SINGLE END TENONER (NO MORE MANUAL PUSH AND PULL)
ALPHA-BRUSH INFINITY
FROM ALPHA BRUSH OF DENMARK OUR NEW SANDING MACHINE SUPPLIER
THE INFINITY MACHINE IS THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR SMALLTO MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES. IT IS BUILT WITH HEAVY DUTY MOTORS COMPONENTS & FRAME DESIGNED FOR YEARS OF DEMANDING USE & CAN BE USED IN THE WOOD, METAL, PLASTIC & COMPOSITE INDUSTRY. THE MACHINE IS DESIGNED WITH AN INTERCHANGEABLE SYSTEM, THAT WILL ALLOW FAST CHANGING OF THE DIFFERENT UNITS FOR DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS. THE MACHINE COMES IN THREE DIFFERENT WIDTH, 600MM (24”) , 1000MM (40”) & 1350MM (52”) & CAN BE SUPPLIED WITH ONE, TWO, THREE OR FOUR SANDING STATION.
International Woodworking Machinery Ltd
Unit 20, Newark Business Park, 3 Brunel Drive, Newark NG24 2EG International Woodworking Machinery Ltd Tel 01636918280 / Mobile 07944108747 Unit 20, Newark Business Park, 3 Brunel Drive, Newark NG24 2EG
Email ibrown@iwmachines.co.uk Tel 01636918280 / Mobile 07944108747 www.iwmachines.co.uk / www.soukup.co.uk Email ibrown@iwmachines.co.uk www.iwmachines.co.uk / www.soukup.co.uk
MB Maschinenbau has, over many years, built a reputation for high-quality brush sanding technology. These machines are used for windows, doors, stair parts, timber and MDF mouldings and kitchen cabinet doors.
More than just brush sanding machines, MB Maschinenbau provides solutions
>> MB Maschinenbau prides itself in offering solutions to problems – rather than just a sanding machine! The company has realised that one area which is often overlooked is the need to clean products after sanding and prior to further processing, painting, lacquering or foil application.
The ROBA Profi Clean and ROBA Anti Dust machine series have been designed to tackle these problems, and have proved themselves repeatedly.
ROBA Anti Dust is suitable for the following operation areas: cleaning of furniture and joinery parts before lacquer application; cleaning of parts furniture and joinery before lamination; and the cleaning of furniture and joinery parts before packing.
The Roba Anti Dust machine can be a standalone machine, or for high volume can be integrated into a lacquering line. The Anti Dust is equipped with cleaning heads working across and along the workpiece, and these units ensure that the part is cleaned completely, even in complicated contours.
Special brushes collect the dust, ionisation bars reduce static loads, and a blower system finishes the cleaning process.
The ROBA Profi Clean is suitable for backside cleaning of thermo-foiled doors, and the cleaning of laminated furniture parts.
The ROBA Profi Clean machine guarantees high productivity cleaning of glue residue on the backside of thermo-foiled doors. This solution can handle a complete batch of doors coming out of a membrane press. During this operation, the backside of the door gets cleaned of glue residues and simultaneously all four edges are slightly eased without the risk of delamination.
This is ensured by two or four clockwise and counterclockwise rotating cleaning drums, which are equipped with special cotton brushes. Therefore, the parts do not require any further processing and can be forwarded directly for packaging.
MB manufactures sanding and cleaning machines, and the full range can be viewed on its website, https://www.mb-maschinenbau.de/ en/produkte/woodworking/
01235531700 john.penny@btconnect.com
