Cleaning out sanding pads

[agehall]

The other day I started sanding down some drywall to repair a damage using my RO90. Obviously the pad (and the sander itself) were filled with dust afterwards and I cleaned out the sander with a damp cloth to satisfaction but cleaning the pad was much harder.

As I also managed to break the velcro on the pad while sanding, I decided to try cleaning it using water. Figured I'll have to pick up a new one anyhow... This seems to have worked well but I'd like to know if there are any long term issues with cleaning the pads in water? Obviously, they need to dry out before being used again, that's a given imho...

 

[leakyroof]

Were you using any dust extraction with your RO90?  Heat and age are generally the main reason I see the Velcro breakdown on a pad.  You can rinse them off and let them dry, but with decent dust collection, that's usually not even needed. 

 

[tbellemare]

Drywall dust cakes up in the pad and air passage of an RO 90 pretty seriously, even with good dust extraction. It even cakes up on the impeller for its internal blower.

I can't see how water would hurt the pad.

Tom

 

[mouppe]

I agree with Tom, but don't put them in the sun to dry them out or the rubber could crack.

 

[agehall]

Of course dust extraction was used. I still saw a lot of buildup of material in the holes, which I guess, in part, was du to me sanding thru the paper on the drywall.

Good point about not drying them in the sun. I'll make sure not to do that.

 

[RKA]

Are the passages in the sanders easily accessible to clean out the caked drywall dust (if you remove the pad)?

I was just thinking about this last night as I was cutting out a piece of Sheetrock Fido had eaten. The vacuum nozzle was caked with dust!  I wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea of using my DTS for the finishing work later this week. I've got a hand sanding block with a dust port that I might use instead.

 

[tbellemare]

Are the passages in the sanders easily accessible to clean out the caked drywall dust (if you remove the pad)?

Yes and no...

I had to take the case apart to clean mine. It's easy, just a few screws holding the left and right side together and it splits open down the middle.

Tom