I've been working on these cool epoxy and manzanita coasters that are about 4 inches square, and I recently sanded a bunch of them by hand. It took a ton of time because I had to sand all six sides, corners, and edges with a random orbital sander. I started with 80 grit to remove saw marks and worked my way up to 320 grit. I'm planning to make another batch, and I'm hoping to speed up the sanding process this time. I'm considering getting an oscillating belt or spindle sander for the edges, but I'm curious if there are any other tools or techniques that could help me sand the top and bottom of these coasters more quickly, aside from a drum sander.
4 Answers
If you want to save time, consider prepping all your coasters at once. Instead of one-by-one sanding, arrange them tightly with double-sided tape. For edge sanding, you might stack them in a little jig to do multiple edges in one go. As for grits, you probably don't need to go all the way to 320—220 might be good enough depending on your finish. And hey, a card scraper can help give a nice finish without going through all the grits!
Honestly, the drum sander is the way to go for something like this. If they're available, check out local woodworking clubs or maker spaces; renting time on a drum sander there would be way cheaper than buying one. It's the best tool for getting everything thick and flat without too much hassle!
That's a good point! I found one nearby but it's a bit of a drive for me. Maybe I'll have to plan better when I have more free time.
It really depends on how many coasters you're making and how perfect you want them to be. I had great results with a drum sander to take off the heavy marks, then finished up with a random orbital sander for that smooth touch. Creating a simple jig to keep the coasters aligned while you sand would be a game changer. You can stack them in a frame to hold them down while sanding the edges efficiently! I can share some pics if you're interested to get a clearer idea.
Have you thought about using a benchtop belt and disc sander combo? You can usually find them for around $110 at places like Harbor Freight. You could also just pick up a handheld belt sander and mount it in a vice for a more budget-friendly option, usually about $50! It could really speed things up for you.
Totally agree! Sanding them in bulk will save a ton of time. Just focus on the edges after that for a smooth finish.