Which Sander for Seaming Glass?

[Steveo48]

Hi Guys

I'm in the glass business and do a lot of sandblast and SGO (USA product) where I don't use toughened glass that has an arrissed edge I use a sharpening stone using the fine side, single wipe, or two if you're keen and it won't cut you in normal handling. As an aside if you do sand the edges in this way it actually makes the glass stronger as you tend to remove the small (microscopic) cracks from which the glass will "run" from.

I was wondering about using an arkansas stone but have never tired it.

My seester in New Jersy is also into stained glass and uses emery boards to knock the edge off of her glass.

I must confess, I don't wear gloves, even when handleing larger sheets.  I'm sure stitches someday will change that.....

 

[merklebob]

what ever you use please use dust collection and breathing filters.  sanding glass sends  free silica into the air.  its worst than asbestos[sp] and will effect your lung in a quicker and similar way.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Hi everyone,

The glass shop uses a skinny Makita belt sander to "seam" or sand the edges of the panes of glass....the Festool linear sander (and it could do both edges at once)!

Trying to sand both edges at once would quickly wear grooves though the sandpaper and also melt the hooks on the sander's pad. They use a belt for to spread the load over a larger surface area. to keep the abrasive from getting too hot, and to make the work go quicker. Also, you need to use silicon carbide or similar abrasives and I don't think they are available for the Duplex sander.

That little Makita belt sander is a great tool but if you want a small belt sander the recent small Porter Cable sander is a better deal and probably more broadly useful.