Sanders For Woodturning

[Dave Keay]

Are any of the Festool sanders when  connected to a CT 36  suitable for sanding bowls and or hollow form turnings? Also, can the CT 36 be used or configured for dust collection on a lathe  when sanding.

Thanks.

Dave Keay

 

[davee]

The size of powered sanders and flat pads make them somewhat awkward for sanding curved surfaces.  I have used the RO90 in sanding turned bowls.  I also have a couple of 150 sanders which are simply too large for sanding bowls except the outer surface on larger ones.  The dust collection is pretty good, but not as good as in sanding a flat surface.  I have not used a Festool vacuum for lathe dust collection.  They are relatively low air flow vacuums, and I find my fixed vacuum with 4-inch hose works much better. 

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Dave, welcome to the forum. As was mentioned, the RO 90 is well suited for your application. The smaller pad size makes it easier to get into the tight radius of bowls. I would highly recommend that you get an interface pad, which allows the abrasive to better conform to that radius. If you're using the interface pad, I would recommend an abrasive with a thin backing so it is more flexible. Granat would be a great choice.

I don't see why you couldn't use the CT 36 with your lathe. You may need to purchase a step-down hose adapter from your local hardware supply store to get it to mate.

Shane Holland
Festool USA

Here's a video of the interface pad so you can see what I mean. While this is on a 6" sander, the interface pad is also available for the RO 90's 3½" pad.

Festool Interface Pad for Sanding Concave, Convex and Rounded Profiles

 

[wubears71]

Never thought of using any Festool Sander in Turning but I like the idea.  I have to give it a try.

 

[zapdafish]

I've used my rotex 150 to sand the outside of a vase before  but then I'm a noob turner and was trying to sand out mistakes  [big grin]

It worked like a charm, the groove I plowed into the side of my vase disappeared pretty quickly.

 

[fdengel]

I just hold a strip of sandpaper up to the workpiece and let the lathe do the work.

No dust collection, though...

 

[semenza]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the FOG !  [smile]

For sanding inside a bowl, at lot will depend on the diameter and depth.  The RO90 may be difficult to get into some, because of the sanders length and dust extraction  chute.

Seth