Cutting sandpaper

[Lamont in NC]

Someone here probably has a great idea on how to cut this sandpaper tube into 3 pieces that I can use on my drum sander. My only thought is with a utility knife punched into it and guided around but I hate to ruin a blade.

 

[gajack]

Maybe a dremel with a cut off wheel cutting from the inside? The razor blade may be cheaper to use than the dremel wheel. Good luck J

 

[DanD]

What if you put your drum in one end of the tube and tighten it.Put the drum on a drill, then put a hack saw blade in a vice stickin up. Mark where you need to cut it. Run the drum on top of the vice and against the blade?

 

[TimV]

I just punch a hole through with a knife end (stick a 2x4 through it for support and cut against that) and then use scissors. Works just fine. I keep an old pair of scissors right with my old sanding belts for just that purpose.

 

[Dalex]

I like Dan's idea !!

 

[Stephen Newell]

The problem cutting sandpaper is it will dull whatever you cut it with quick. With sheet sandpaper it's best to place it on the edge of a work bench or table and just tear it. Cutting a drum sleeve you don't have a choice but to use some tool. Then once cut the cut edge will tend to unravel and delaminate so don't cut more than one sleeve. Personally I think it's more trouble than it's worth. I would buy some sleeves the right size.

 

[Brian G. NY]

I bought a few of the Harbor Freight diamond cut-off wheels for my Dremel.
I have used them to cut glass and ceramic tile....'don't know whether or not they would stand up to this job but I think it would be worth a try.
I think the idea of cutting from the inside might also work; the paper would be cut before whatever blade was used got to the sanding grit.

 

[Lamont in NC]

I'm worried that'd sand down the teeth more than cut the paper. I've found a belt sander is a great axe, sling blade, etc. sharpener--for a really sharp edge.

 

[Lamont in NC]

I'm going to check into that. As some drums are quite small, it will not work for all of them. These are drill sized and run from 1/2" up to 2-2.5" diameter.

 

[Lamont in NC]

agreed

 

[Lamont in NC]

Agreed, but it's worth a try cutting them. I have the paper (came from Harbor Freight) and they are too long for the Sears drums I have. I can ruin a razor blade or two. Just gathering ideas to be sure I'm not missing something.

 

[Lamont in NC]

probably what I'll do--just hoping someone will have a genius idea I hadn't thought of.

 

[Lamont in NC]

using a piece of sheet metal in a vise as a blade and spinning the sandpaper on the drum put it against the sheet metal edge. If all it does is take the grit off the circle where I want to cut it might make it easier to cut with a knife. ???? Perhaps even an old hack saw blade. Still thinking.

 

[dr sportster]

They make razor knives that have snap off sections so you can always have a sharp section. Also a pack of 100 Stanley blades is only 17 bucks so stop being so cheap.

 

[Lamont in NC]

Can't, it's in my blood. I'm infected.

 

[dr sportster]

Me calling someone else cheap is the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[ss55]

After reading the comments and the replies, the best idea I can offer it to cut the sleeves with an old utility blade that you are ready to replace. Or maybe fish an old blade out of the trash just for this job. One warning: I seem to injure myself most often when trying to put too much force on a dull cutting tool. It takes a sharp blade to cut paper well.

Myself, I'd just use whatever blade is in the utility knife to cut the sleeves, and then replace the blade when needed.

 

[Indiana Ken]

Mount the extra length sand paper cylinder in your arbor and spin it. Use a cut off disc in an angle grinder and cut from the outside. The cut off wheel will knock the grit off and then cut through the cardboard.

 

[markct]

Zip wheel in the angle grinder or die grinder will make quick work of that and not even notice the grit, a lot safer than fighting with a utility knife too

 

[Andy Martin]

Use an old carbide tipped saw blade in the vise. Just wear it through against the back of a tooth.

I was cutting shingles with a box knife today. Are you cheap enough to sharpen them, like I am?

 

[Stephen Newell]

Speaking of HF, their sandpaper sleeves are pretty crummy. I have one of their oscillating sanders and bought some of their sleeves at the same time and they sand like worn out paper right out of the package. The sander works alright with other paper on it.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Lamont! I thought I was a cheapskate but worrying about a razor knife blade? Get a Lansky and resharpen them, LOL

I have cut those drums and do as some of the others have suggested, a cut off tool with abrasive disk.

 

[casenut1]

How about using a band saw? That works good for me.

 

[egbinor]

I think you got the right answer! Amazes me the answer you can get, good and questionable at best !!