Fein Detail Sander Users Please Sound Off...

[Billy Bones]

Hi all,

Which combination of pads and papers do you prefer to use for boatwork? Recommendations? Warnings?

Having used the Fein for more than a decade through changes in paper styles and pad designs, I find myself still frustrated. I started out with psa paper and found it effective but messy. I tried early h&l pads and the hook part kept separating from the pad. Then they perfected the hook part with a really slick system, which they seem now to have discontinued. That system worked well with the fein papers and some others. Now, the hook pads are more aggressive and seem to pull the fuzz off the sandpaper long before the paper is used up. Fein papers seem to fare much better than the klingspor variants which I used to get occasionally when ordering other things from them.

So should I go back to psa with it's stay-stuck but otherwise messy qualities?

Humph. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Billy Bones]

Hi all,

Which combination of pads and papers do you prefer to use for boatwork? Recommendations? Warnings?

Having used the Fein for more than a decade through changes in paper styles and pad designs, I find myself still frustrated. I started out with psa paper and found it effective but messy. I tried early h&l pads and the hook part kept separating from the pad. Then they perfected the hook part with a really slick system, which they seem now to have discontinued. That system worked well with the fein papers and some others. Now, the hook pads are more aggressive and seem to pull the fuzz off the sandpaper long before the paper is used up. Fein papers seem to fare much better than the klingspor variants which I used to get occasionally when ordering other things from them.

So should I go back to psa with it's stay-stuck but otherwise messy qualities?

Humph. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Billy Bones]

Hi all,

Which combination of pads and papers do you prefer to use for boatwork? Recommendations? Warnings?

Having used the Fein for more than a decade through changes in paper styles and pad designs, I find myself still frustrated. I started out with psa paper and found it effective but messy. I tried early h&l pads and the hook part kept separating from the pad. Then they perfected the hook part with a really slick system, which they seem now to have discontinued. That system worked well with the fein papers and some others. Now, the hook pads are more aggressive and seem to pull the fuzz off the sandpaper long before the paper is used up. Fein papers seem to fare much better than the klingspor variants which I used to get occasionally when ordering other things from them.

So should I go back to psa with it's stay-stuck but otherwise messy qualities?

Humph. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Donn]

One problem I have with the h&l on my multimaster is with 40 grit papers. They tend to not hold to the pad well, especially if the pad is worn at the edges, which all of mine tend to do. I use some relatively thin double stick carpet tape on the pad now, when using 40 grit. I have an old pad dedicated to that purpose.

A tip I've posted before: pads and papers wear at the edges first, for me, so I cut the worn pads down to a smaller triangle, and even to other shapes. Then I cut the edge-worn papers down to fit. I get more use out of both pads and papers this way.

[Donn]

One problem I have with the h&l on my multimaster is with 40 grit papers. They tend to not hold to the pad well, especially if the pad is worn at the edges, which all of mine tend to do. I use some relatively thin double stick carpet tape on the pad now, when using 40 grit. I have an old pad dedicated to that purpose.

A tip I've posted before: pads and papers wear at the edges first, for me, so I cut the worn pads down to a smaller triangle, and even to other shapes. Then I cut the edge-worn papers down to fit. I get more use out of both pads and papers this way.

[Donn]

One problem I have with the h&l on my multimaster is with 40 grit papers. They tend to not hold to the pad well, especially if the pad is worn at the edges, which all of mine tend to do. I use some relatively thin double stick carpet tape on the pad now, when using 40 grit. I have an old pad dedicated to that purpose.

A tip I've posted before: pads and papers wear at the edges first, for me, so I cut the worn pads down to a smaller triangle, and even to other shapes. Then I cut the edge-worn papers down to fit. I get more use out of both pads and papers this way.

[Billy Bones]

Thanks Donn. Your tip has come in very handy. Do you use exclusively h&l then, supplementing with carpet tape as necessary?

[Billy Bones]

Thanks Donn. Your tip has come in very handy. Do you use exclusively h&l then, supplementing with carpet tape as necessary?

[Billy Bones]

Thanks Donn. Your tip has come in very handy. Do you use exclusively h&l then, supplementing with carpet tape as necessary?

[Donn]

Billy...yes. Again, the #40 is the only one that grips the wood better than it grips the h&l, and I don't use #40 that often. I think I'm on my second piece of double-stick tape in ~3 years. It sticks very well to both the hooks and the loops.

[Donn]

Billy...yes. Again, the #40 is the only one that grips the wood better than it grips the h&l, and I don't use #40 that often. I think I'm on my second piece of double-stick tape in ~3 years. It sticks very well to both the hooks and the loops.

[Donn]

Billy...yes. Again, the #40 is the only one that grips the wood better than it grips the h&l, and I don't use #40 that often. I think I'm on my second piece of double-stick tape in ~3 years. It sticks very well to both the hooks and the loops.

[willmarsh3]

I have a Fein sander and really enjoy it. It gets places no other sander does. I wore out a pad though and had to get a new one. I've been using the 60 grit paper that comes from Fein without problems but I keep the speed of the machine at less than full or the paper tends to come off the pad.
Good points on this thread that I'll keep in mind for my next order of sandpaper.

Will.

[willmarsh3]

I have a Fein sander and really enjoy it. It gets places no other sander does. I wore out a pad though and had to get a new one. I've been using the 60 grit paper that comes from Fein without problems but I keep the speed of the machine at less than full or the paper tends to come off the pad.
Good points on this thread that I'll keep in mind for my next order of sandpaper.

Will.

[willmarsh3]

I have a Fein sander and really enjoy it. It gets places no other sander does. I wore out a pad though and had to get a new one. I've been using the 60 grit paper that comes from Fein without problems but I keep the speed of the machine at less than full or the paper tends to come off the pad.
Good points on this thread that I'll keep in mind for my next order of sandpaper.

Will.

[Billy Bones]

oops dbl tap

[ 02-23-2006, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Billy Bones]

oops dbl tap

[ 02-23-2006, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Billy Bones]

oops dbl tap

[ 02-23-2006, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Billy Bones]

Will, do you use hook & loop or psa?

There must be some other problem at work here, as my current (new) fein h&l pad pulls the backing off 80grit paper in about 30 seconds and 100 grit in about 45 seconds. (klingspor paper--supposedly good stuff, made in germany just like fein paper and sanders.)

[Billy Bones]

Will, do you use hook & loop or psa?

There must be some other problem at work here, as my current (new) fein h&l pad pulls the backing off 80grit paper in about 30 seconds and 100 grit in about 45 seconds. (klingspor paper--supposedly good stuff, made in germany just like fein paper and sanders.)

[Billy Bones]

Will, do you use hook & loop or psa?

There must be some other problem at work here, as my current (new) fein h&l pad pulls the backing off 80grit paper in about 30 seconds and 100 grit in about 45 seconds. (klingspor paper--supposedly good stuff, made in germany just like fein paper and sanders.)

[Donn]

Billy...is the glue failing? The combination of your climate, and the speed of the machine may be heating it up pretty good. Could be a faulty batch of paper.

You are aware you aren't supposed to sit on the multimaster whilst sanding, right?

[Donn]

Billy...is the glue failing? The combination of your climate, and the speed of the machine may be heating it up pretty good. Could be a faulty batch of paper.

You are aware you aren't supposed to sit on the multimaster whilst sanding, right?

[Donn]

Billy...is the glue failing? The combination of your climate, and the speed of the machine may be heating it up pretty good. Could be a faulty batch of paper.

You are aware you aren't supposed to sit on the multimaster whilst sanding, right?

[Hughman]

I found the friction on the H&L pad soon melted the plastic hooks- so I rely on PSP for continous work.

I also made a 1/2" paper punch from a piece of conduit to center a hole over the screw, so I can spin the pad easily.

[Hughman]

I found the friction on the H&L pad soon melted the plastic hooks- so I rely on PSP for continous work.

I also made a 1/2" paper punch from a piece of conduit to center a hole over the screw, so I can spin the pad easily.

[Hughman]

I found the friction on the H&L pad soon melted the plastic hooks- so I rely on PSP for continous work.

I also made a 1/2" paper punch from a piece of conduit to center a hole over the screw, so I can spin the pad easily.

[Donn]

I just took a scalpel to an old piece of Fein paper, under the magnifying light, and I can't figure out how the loops are fastened to the paper. The paper separates before the bond between paper and loops does.

[Donn]

I just took a scalpel to an old piece of Fein paper, under the magnifying light, and I can't figure out how the loops are fastened to the paper. The paper separates before the bond between paper and loops does.

[Donn]

I just took a scalpel to an old piece of Fein paper, under the magnifying light, and I can't figure out how the loops are fastened to the paper. The paper separates before the bond between paper and loops does.

[Billy Bones]

Yes, I guess it is the glue. The fabric pulls away from the corners but remains sorta fabric like.

I should clarify that I've used and LOVED the crazy out of this sander for what----12 years now? I haven't had a chronic problem like this before. This cropped up with the last batch of supplies within the last two months. I'd write it off as a bad batch (which it still may be) were it not for the generally good quality and reputation of the pads and paper.

[Billy Bones]

Yes, I guess it is the glue. The fabric pulls away from the corners but remains sorta fabric like.

I should clarify that I've used and LOVED the crazy out of this sander for what----12 years now? I haven't had a chronic problem like this before. This cropped up with the last batch of supplies within the last two months. I'd write it off as a bad batch (which it still may be) were it not for the generally good quality and reputation of the pads and paper.

[Billy Bones]

Yes, I guess it is the glue. The fabric pulls away from the corners but remains sorta fabric like.

I should clarify that I've used and LOVED the crazy out of this sander for what----12 years now? I haven't had a chronic problem like this before. This cropped up with the last batch of supplies within the last two months. I'd write it off as a bad batch (which it still may be) were it not for the generally good quality and reputation of the pads and paper.

[Billy Bones]

Thanks also, Hughman--good idea.

Here's another tip: one can buy 8" psa disks by the unit in various grits for cheap from auto body places and you can get 6 or so triangles cut out of a disc. This is handy when you know you won't ever need a box of 50 of a specific grit.

[ 02-23-2006, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Billy Bones]

Thanks also, Hughman--good idea.

Here's another tip: one can buy 8" psa disks by the unit in various grits for cheap from auto body places and you can get 6 or so triangles cut out of a disc. This is handy when you know you won't ever need a box of 50 of a specific grit.

[ 02-23-2006, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Billy Bones]

Thanks also, Hughman--good idea.

Here's another tip: one can buy 8" psa disks by the unit in various grits for cheap from auto body places and you can get 6 or so triangles cut out of a disc. This is handy when you know you won't ever need a box of 50 of a specific grit.

[ 02-23-2006, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Donn]

Closer inspection (15x loupe) indicates the loops are a part of a plastic mesh backing, which, in turn is bonded (somehow) to the paper.

[Donn]

Closer inspection (15x loupe) indicates the loops are a part of a plastic mesh backing, which, in turn is bonded (somehow) to the paper.

[Donn]

Closer inspection (15x loupe) indicates the loops are a part of a plastic mesh backing, which, in turn is bonded (somehow) to the paper.

[cyeilding]

Glad to hear that I am not the only one having problems with H&L on the Fein sander. I have resorted to coating the back of the H&L paper with spray adhesive. When I use up my current supply, I won't buy any more.

[cyeilding]

Glad to hear that I am not the only one having problems with H&L on the Fein sander. I have resorted to coating the back of the H&L paper with spray adhesive. When I use up my current supply, I won't buy any more.

[cyeilding]

Glad to hear that I am not the only one having problems with H&L on the Fein sander. I have resorted to coating the back of the H&L paper with spray adhesive. When I use up my current supply, I won't buy any more.

[Spissgatter W-9]

I too appreciate the tips. Yes it comes in handy but at what a premium cost! These kinds of frustrations along with the inordinately high cost of accessories (saw blades) with their short live means I wouldn't recommend the tool. The rubber profile sander attachment was a bust.....

[Spissgatter W-9]

I too appreciate the tips. Yes it comes in handy but at what a premium cost! These kinds of frustrations along with the inordinately high cost of accessories (saw blades) with their short live means I wouldn't recommend the tool. The rubber profile sander attachment was a bust.....

[Spissgatter W-9]

I too appreciate the tips. Yes it comes in handy but at what a premium cost! These kinds of frustrations along with the inordinately high cost of accessories (saw blades) with their short live means I wouldn't recommend the tool. The rubber profile sander attachment was a bust.....

[Donn]

Here's another tip..on saw blades for the Multimaster. A piece of replaceable saw blade, like a hacksaw blade or a reciprocating saw blade, with a hole drilled through it, makes a cheap and useful saw blade for the Fein. You can also make replacement blades for the Mini E-Cut tools, the same way. Drill 2 holes, instead of one. Much cheaper than $5+ for a little bitty replacement blade from Fein.

[Donn]

Here's another tip..on saw blades for the Multimaster. A piece of replaceable saw blade, like a hacksaw blade or a reciprocating saw blade, with a hole drilled through it, makes a cheap and useful saw blade for the Fein. You can also make replacement blades for the Mini E-Cut tools, the same way. Drill 2 holes, instead of one. Much cheaper than $5+ for a little bitty replacement blade from Fein.

[Donn]

Here's another tip..on saw blades for the Multimaster. A piece of replaceable saw blade, like a hacksaw blade or a reciprocating saw blade, with a hole drilled through it, makes a cheap and useful saw blade for the Fein. You can also make replacement blades for the Mini E-Cut tools, the same way. Drill 2 holes, instead of one. Much cheaper than $5+ for a little bitty replacement blade from Fein.

[Bob Cleek]

The day somebody starts making a reasonably priced line of after-market replacement heads and attachments for the Multimaster is the day they're gonna get rich!

[Bob Cleek]

The day somebody starts making a reasonably priced line of after-market replacement heads and attachments for the Multimaster is the day they're gonna get rich!