sanding round objects

[mnwildpunk]

I was wondering if anyone of you folks have made a handy tool to help you sand circular parts or have any tips? No matter how hard I try I always seem to get flat spots on exhaust when I sand the mold seams off them Grrrr.

[Dan Helferich]

You need a Flex-I-File set. Ask at your local hobby shop. Do to the wonders of modern technology I can't paste the link. Do a search and sources will come up.

[vypurr59]

http://www.flex-i-file.com/

Here is the link to the flexi file webpage

[jrherald420]

All the above! Ive got 3 sets, worth every dollar!

[mnwildpunk]

I see the product so it is like an abrasive tape that you put on the u shaped metal frame? From the pictures it looks sort of wide so is it able to sand very tight compound curves for instance where two exhaust pipes come to a V into a catalytic converter? Will it wrap completely around a drive shaft or does it sand like 180° at a time? Hope those questions make sense

[jrherald420]

No it can not be wrapped around a part. the sand paper is simply streched from one side to the other. It makes sanding mold lines on exaust pipes much nicer to do. I also use it to sand down front end parts that are just too thick and not real looking in size like steering parts or roll bars.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

No doubt about it, but I also use the flex e file sanding strips by themselves, and sort of half wrap them around a part, then twist the part in the strip. I will try to remember to take a pick of what I am talknig about and post it later for you.

[mnwildpunk]

OK I would like to see that

[Modelbuilder Mark]

OK, from what you said above, it seems you were also worried about the width of the strips, but they are thin enough for most things.

Here is a strip that I have been using without the band to give it tension. You can see the plastic dust where I have twirled something around in it.

Finally, (could not use both hand, needed one to take the pic) here is what I meant by wrapping it around a piece. You can then either twirl the part while holding the strip, or you can grab both ends of the strip and then pull it up and down the seem area.

[Tom Geiger]

I see the product so it is like an abrasive tape that you put on the u shaped metal frame? From the pictures it looks sort of wide so is it able to sand very tight compound curves for instance where two exhaust pipes come to a V into a catalytic converter? Will it wrap completely around a drive shaft or does it sand like 180° at a time? Hope those questions make sense

think of it as a long strip of plastic backed sand paper with a loop at either end that goes around the frame peg. You are right in the observation that it's wide. I have several of the frames to keep different grits etc for different work. On one of those I have cut the tape in half, so I get two narrow tapes from it. I use that one for those tricky places. And no it won't wrap completely around a drive shaft, your correct that it will do 180* at a time, It pretty much will conform to an oval to round shape. You still need to watch that you don't flatten the piece you're sanding but it's much easier.

[ToyLvr]

I bought my set at the local "Hobby Lobby".

Use their 40% online coupon and get yourself a deal on this item....