-16-
W1708 Owner's Manual (Mfg. 10/07+)
O
PE
R
ATIO
NS
Choosing Sandpaper
Stock Inspection and
Requirements
The Model W1708 uses a 12" adhesive-backed
sanding disc.
There are many types of sanding discs to
choose from. We recommend aluminum oxide
for general workshop environments. Below is a
chart that groups abrasives into different classes
and shows which grits fall into each class.
Grit
Type
24-36
Very Coarse
40-60
Coarse
80-100
Medium
120-180
Fine
220-360
Very Fine
The general rule of thumb is to sand a
workpiece with progressively higher grit
numbers, with no one grit increase of more
than 50 grits at a time. Avoid skipping grits; the
larger the grit increase, the harder it will be to
remove the scratches from the previous grit.
Ultimately, the type of wood you use and your
stage of finish will determine the best grit types
to install on your sander.
Some workpieces are not safe or may require
modification before they are safe to sand.
Before sanding, inspect all workpieces for the
following:
•
Material Type:
This machine is intended
for ONLY sanding natural and man-made
wood products. This machine is NOT
designed to sand metal, glass, stone, tile,
drywall or cementitious backerboard.
•
Foreign Objects:
Nails, staples, dirt,
rocks and other foreign objects are often
embedded in wood. While sanding, these
objects can become dislodged and tear the
sanding belt. Always visually inspect your
workpiece for these items. If they can't be
removed, DO NOT sand the workpiece.
•
Excessive glue or finish:
Sanding
workpieces with excess glue or finish
will load up the abrasive, reducing its
usefullness and lifespan.
•
Workpiece Dimensions
:
DO NOT sand
boards less than 9" long,
1
⁄
8
" wide and
1
⁄
16
"
thick to prevent damage to the workpiece
and to reduce the risk of your hands
contacting the abrasive belt (see
Figure
9
).
Figure 9
. Minimum dimensions for sanding.
1
⁄
16
" Min.
1
⁄
8
" Min.
9" Min.
