Making a sanding mop---

[SharonW0111]

Okay Gang get on your thinking caps again---
I am thinking of making sanding mops for my dremel out of emery cloth - I have made sanding disk but they dont last long-- and besides I want something more flexiable..soooo all you guys that have sanding mops look and see how many layers and are they stacked back to back or back to front or how,, Same old problem -- to long away for a trip to town just for a sanding mop--and money of course--cause I'm cheap--cheap--cheap.. oh look I just laid a egg!!!!! lol..
Sharon

[harrisg]

Sharon,

If your wood floors are a little rough, it's going to take you a long long time to sand them with a Dremel. I'd suggest you rent a floor finisher from the U Rent It Shop. BTW, A mop is usually used on linoleum not wood floors.

Harris

[SharonW0111]

OHHHHHH hahahahahahahahahahah -- silly grin here-- thanks harris I needed that good belly laugh ..
just in case you don't know what a mop is -- I think you do -- it is a bunch of coth emery cloths on a mandrel --no not Barbara or Earleen --that is used to sand wood -it is used in intarsia ..
By the way the mop I have says Hoover on it and it plugs in --I have a electric floor scrubber that puts water/cleaner on,scrubs it, then sucks it up.
The last time I saw a real mop a squirrel was tearing it up on the patio to use the strings in it to make his nest years ago...
Sharon...and I want to go to mexico too ----hope you don't forget us

[SharonW0111]

and i have carpet and tile --not wood floors.

[Gill]

Being serious for once (yes, I know it's out of character ) I'm interested in suggestions about making a sanding mop, too. They're not readily available on this side of the pond.

Gill

[lucky788scroller]

They are stacked, top to bottom. You can use a bolt, say maybe a 1/4X20tpi bolt or even a 3/8th" however long you want, and a couple washers and a nut. Ideally, a left hand thread bolt would be best, but im a make-doer.. Cut your layers either in a circle, or an octagon shape, and cut little "fingers" on each piece, and I would suggest cloth backed abrasives, instead of paper backed. A dremel really whizzes, Im not sure I would try it on there, but on a drillpress or hand drill it works fine.So anyways, by now youve got some pieces cut and ready, you can use anywhere from a few to a bunch, your choice.poke a hole in the center of em. First, put a washer (not a Maytag!) on the bolt. Then your sanding pieces, top to bottom, stack them babies on that bolt, alternating the fingers on them. When you have enough on the bolt to tickle your fancy,slip on another washer (again..... not a Maytag!), then tighten down a nut on it. Chuck it in your drill on the leftover threads of the bolt, and sand, sand, sand away!!! Dale

[SharonW0111]

EEEEEWWWW Dale your so smart-- I never thought I could make one to fit my drill --Light Bulb just came on -- I was going for my dremel since I have a spare mandrel -- but you ( being the smart guy you are ) gave me the way to make a even better one..I didn't know I could put a Bolt in my drill-maybe I'd better use the old heavy drill that plugs in huh? and I do have them out of paper but I am going to use emery cloth sanding cloth- that way it will last a bit longer.. and I'm glad you told me not to use a maytag cause all I have is a Kenmore __ and its heavy but I'll see if I can make it fit...but I only have one washer --got rid of my old one when I bought this one last year--would a dryer work for the other washer?? it's a Whirlpool
sure am glad I have my laundry done for this week cause I'll make use of them for a day or too now -- Huggs

Sharon

[harrisg]

Great idea... One other thought. In order not to lose your fingertips in the process of sanding with a mop, I read that you should protect them with rubber fingertips that they use in an office when opening mail and counting money. You can find them at any office supply store and they're cheap.

Now if you want to remove your fingerprints for some dark reason........

Harris

[SharonW0111]

Hummm I have those already ( the finger rubber thingys) so thanks I'll rember that-- wonder if that would work to not cut my fingereses when I use my table saw??? Feeble minds want to know ----
Sharon

[Old Mooner]

Just a suggestion--when you make the mop using the carriage bolt, washers, and a nut, be sure to remember to stack the emery cloth layers one down, one up, one down, one up. Otherwise you have only the face on one side and only the backing on the other. You want to be able to move the piece up and down and have the emery doing the job in both directions. You probably already knew this.
Moon

[SharonW0111]

Thanks Moon-- I had thought of that but wasn't sure..
Sharon

[BobD (Archive)]

I agree with Old Mooner--you definately want to use a carriage bolt...I can see myself tearing a lot of skin off my nuckles with a hex bolt!

I'd also be tempted to stick some thread locker on the bolt after snugging it down--I'm be afraid that it would loosen up on me...or use a locking nut.

Bob

[earlinjax]

I find mops to be great for sanding contours. I use Klingspor sandpaper as I have found it to be the best around. (sandingcatalog.com) They also sell arbors. For a single mop I use an arbor but for double mops I use bolt. The double mop is the same number of stacks as a single mop but I put a hose washer between each layer. It is a lot softer and I can use it to between coats on water based paint.

If I could find a left hand bolt it would be better as the rotation of the drill press tends to loosen the nut. One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is that you have to "break in" a mop before use. Just sand a 2 x 4 for about 5 minutes and the edges of the sand paper get softened.

There is no need to press very hard into the mop when sanding. A light touch and hang on tight as it can sling it out of your hand. My instructions say to stay under 2200 rpm.

Stockroom Supply in Canada (www.stockroomsupply.com) also sells Klingspor and all the and all the things necessary for making mops. Their web site and catalog have a lot of information.

I built one of Stockrooms V-drum sanders, but the jury is still out on whether it is a good deal or not.

Earl in Jax

[SharonW0111]

Thanks gang----
I made my mop today and broke it in tonight-- it was a little from all of you and I was so tickled to get me a new mop-I made it for my DremelXP -and found it works as good on low speeds as it does higher speeds..
Huggs to all of you for your help--Made me so happy I could giggle..
Sharon

[lucky788scroller]

gigglin is good! Congrats, and Im glad your tickled with it!