3m wheels

[WesRagle]

Hi Guys,

Well, Summer finally made it to North Central Texas. Today, Heat Index 108°F (42°C). So, I'm goofing off. Forgive me for getting off topic but I wanted to share a technique that most of you are probably familiar with, but one I wish someone had shown me when I first started this hobby.

Making perfect cuts with a laminate cutting knife. I don't have a sheet metal shear and I've never been able to make perfect cuts with a band saw or snips (of any variety). So, I was happy when a fellow builder showed me this trick.

Simply clamp the piece to be cut along the edge of the table with a strong straight edge.



Draw the knife along the straight edge, about 10 to 15 times for .025. Each pass leaves cuttings like this.



Then, gently break the piece off and polish the edge (on a scotch bright belt :-)) for a perfect edge.



A better pic of the tools. Dirt cheap and effective.



Best of Luck,

Wes

[roberttmoore]

Regarding the center hole in the 3m wheel being too small for a polisher (like bottom of the harbor Fright that I use secussessfully), I took the wheel to a machine shop and they drill or lathed out the hole to the proper diameter.

[Bryan Cotton]

After 30+ years I finally broke down and bought a new scotchbrite wheel.

[ampzapper]

I found that a R-lock scotch brite disc on a right angle die grinder works wonders for deburring the edges of some of the bigger parts like skins.