I just received the Delta blanks I ordered from NFC in December, and plan to sand them smooth. I've read every post I could find on how to do this and think I have a pretty good idea, but just want to confirm before I get started. I plan to start with 400 grit, and finish with 600. Both wet and dry sand, using a block. It's my understanding that these ridges are leftover resin, and while my goal is to just get rid of these ridges, how much forgiveness do I have? Last step I'm thinking about applying a coat of PG (depending on how much I like or dislike the look of the sanded blank)...it seems to be the consensus of past posts to apply this using a coffee filter with PG and make a few passes over the blank to make sure it's covered, but not wet enough to need to be leveled or turned in a dryer.
I'm going to test my sanding abilities on the butt beneath the grips in case I need to rethink sanding the whole blank. If I decide it's too risky to sand the entire blank, should I apply a thin layer of epoxy where I'm going to wrap the guides to smooth the surface, or just wrap then finish?
Any last minute pointers and advice will be greatly appreciated!
TIA,
Paul

Paul,
One issue about using a block on a rod blank for sanding.

A rod blank is round and a block is flat.

Actually, if it was my rod, I would put the rod butt in a 5 gallon bucket that is 1/2 full of water.
Then, I would start with 100 grit, start at the tip and keep the sand paper wrapped at least 1/2 way around the blank as you sand. Just take long strokes and move down the rod, Knock the tops of the ridges off and then move to 220, 320, 400, 600 and 1200. The first three grits can be used dry, and then the rest used wet. Using this technique, you should have the blank dead smooth in about 10-15 minutes.

Just don't overdo it. You only want the build up to be removed, nothing from the blank itself.

Be safe

Any harm in not sanding a delta smooth? Finally got mine Tuesday.

Paul, I've sanded two of the X ray blanks. If the Deltas have the same finish, meaning hardness of the resin, the stuff you're sanding off is not that tough, nor is it that thick that you would need to start with 100 grit. I wanted to be as non aggressive with the sanding as I could be so I did mine with 320, and 400.

I chucked the blanks up in my power wrapper and turned them at I would guess, somewhere around 200 - 300 RPM. Personally I sanded mine dry, but wetting sanding will definitely eliminate the dust that comes with dry sanding. It doesn't take a lot of pressure to knock the finish down. As far as how long it took me to do each blank, I'd say between 30 - 45 minutes, and I wasn't trying to hurry. I didn't use any type of sanding block. I simply folded some smaller 2"x4" pieces of sandpaper in half and passed the sandpaper back and forth using my index and middle finger. As I mentioned earlier, I used light pressure so as to not take any chances of damaging the blank.

As far as how you will like the look of the sanded blank goes. If you like the looks of a naked graphite blank, that's what it's going to look like when you're done sanding. How polished you want the final surface of the blank to be is going to decide whether you feel the need to go with the 600 or 1200 grit. I personally didn't see the need to go with more than 400, but you may feel differently.

Bruce Phillips Wrote:
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> Any harm in not sanding a delta smooth? Finally
> got mine Tuesday.


Absolutely not .

Roger, good idea.

Do you think a respirator is needed for this? I only as as I wonder of the possibility of tiny graphite particles becoming airborne.

Particles will indeed become airborne! I don't know if an all out respirator is needed, but I would at least wear a particle mask.

I alway wet sand a blank with wet/dry paper, and still wear a particle mask. Better safe than sorry.
Norm

Thanks for the replies! I was way overthinking and over-worrying about this! I did a combination of what both Roger and David suggested...I dry sanded on my lathe using 320, then wet sanded with a bucket and 400 and 600 grit. Turned out awesome, and took about 30 minutes for the first blank, and about 20 minutes for the second. Good call on the particle mask-wasn't nearly as dusty as turning a grip, but enough to merit being safe.
Again, many thanks!
Paul

If it needs any further gloss, try a disc of 1000 grit 3M Trizact.