Small parts are wearing out my glove and thumb.

[AnotherDano]

I cut a lot of hand-sized parts and running a wire bruch over them to smooth off the dross puts that angle grinder too close to my thumb.

Found these bench clamps and put them onto a board with 16 Ga. steel as a wear-surface. The placement worked out really well for the pieces I'm doing.

IMG_0139.JPG

[Scratch]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I go through alot of left handed gloves because of this problem!

[248aarons]

That's a great idea. So i take it they clamp pretty well . Just curious of where you picked them up at?

[AnotherDano]

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2004419 ... lamps.aspx

They are adjustable and cam-down with authority.

I do plan to make a shield to slip over the work-end to protect the clamp from any slips with the wire brush. It could be just a piece of pipe with a slot cut into it, or a fashioned piece of metal that is bolted on. But I'll see how long I can go without a mishap that will make me want to kick myself for procrastinating.

[248aarons]

I'm going to check out the site and probably pick a couple up, thanks for the info.

[AnotherDano]

I'm going to check out the site and probably pick a couple up, thanks for the info.

Another tool that I got there is a digital protractor. My software uses digital degree settings and I don't have much faith in my ability to read a piece of plastic and covert. For setting up a drawing from a sample, I use this a lot;

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2020516/2020516.aspx


BTW,,, I am in no way associated with the company or any of it's suppliers. I just found stuff there that I can use.

[runninwild400]

I use the same style clamps and they do work great, but yes be careful not to hit with wire cup wheel. My wife was cleaning some parts while I was nesting a sheet to cut and the wire cup wheel hit either the edge of steel or the clamp, bit in and threw the grinder up across her chin, lips, and cheek. And yes it hit with the wire wheel against her face. It also hit hard enough that the inside of her mouth was even cut up from the force against her teeth. She looked pretty nasty for a while but everything healed up nice, needless to say I had to ban her from the use of my power tools lol.

[dgeorgester]

For cleaning the smaller parts, I use a little gizmo called a magnetic chuck. Once you use it, it's difficult to part with it.

I didn't find the exact same one that we're using, but I did find something that might be an upgraded model of the one we have. They are a bit pricy (about 80$), but if you spot them at auction or e-bay, don't hesitate, it's worth the investment. About 6" x 12".

http://www.dealitem.com/Deal/3805444/12 ... only-73-97

[AnotherDano]

The platen on the belt sander is steel.
I tried some magnet-based ideas and all it did was sandwich the part between the sander and the magnet.

Still wondering if a drum sander would work - or tear itself apart.

[I Lean]

For cleaning the smaller parts, I use a little gizmo called a magnetic chuck. Once you use it, it's difficult to part with it.

I didn't find the exact same one that we're using, but I did find something that might be an upgraded model of the one we have. They are a bit pricy (about 80$), but if you spot them at auction or e-bay, don't hesitate, it's worth the investment. About 6" x 12".

http://www.dealitem.com/Deal/3805444/12 ... only-73-97

Looks like that one is from 2011....it's no longer available. The cheapest similar one I can find is over $200. If I could find one for $80 I'd be all over it!

[abmetal]

I cut a lot of small artsy stuff and the way I clean them is that I lay a piece of thin rubber on the welding table and that keeps the metal from scooting when I clean it with a FLAT flap wheel. I don't even have to clamp it. The same flat wheel also puts real nice looking swirls on the steel which really looks good when translucent paint is used.

Allen