Need Advice Cleaning pitch/resin from sanding discs

[th_in_gs]

I’ve been orbital sanding what turned out to be pretty resinous wood (think it’s pine or fir), and one piece especially has been clogging up my sanding discs pretty quickly (see picture).

These are just cheap Bauer discs from Harbor Freight.

How could I go about cleaning them?

Is it worth while (both in the time/money sense, and in the ‘are they still going to be abrasive enough after cleaning’ sense)?

 

[bob vaughan]

When I have to sand a surface that rich in resin, I'll get out the lacquer thinner. Sand for 30 seconds and clean for five minutes. I've learned to avoid wood like that unless I absolutely have to use it.

 

[Mark Fogleman]

Other woods can cause it too. I don't know how well HF abrasives hold up to it, but soaking overnight in a strong Simple Green and water solution and scrubbing with a brass suede brush helps after I sand oily tropical hardwoods in my drum sander. I use the Klingspor heavyweight rolls.

 

[scottryan]

I haven’t tried this, but it’s just a thought - when gluing oily resinous woods I will often wipe down the wood with acetone to remove some of the oils etc with the idea it will help the glue hold. Maybe pre wiping the wood would be easier than cleaning the discs? I’ve never had much luck cleaning the discs myself the few times I’ve tried. Good luck!

 

[th_in_gs]

I did wipe it down with mineral spirits after sanding to reduce the ‘tackiness’ of the wood, and that did work. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of doing that during sanding!

I tried brushing with a steel brush, and that seemed to ruin the sanding ability of the discs. Will try soaking in Simple Green and see if that works or if the discs disintegrate!

 

[bob vaughan]

I tried brushing with a steel brush, and that seemed to ruin the sanding ability of the discs.

That was my experience also. This happened to me back in the 1970s and I have avoided resin-rich softwood peices ever since.
Such pieces are good for ripping into small strips to take backpacking for great fire starters. About as good as dryer lint soaked in wax.

 

[JNCarr]

I have found that using a piece of PP (polypropylene) on sanding grits does wonders to remove gunk - maybe worth a try. Completely dry - no mess.

 

[Rwe2156]

I soak my drum sander belts in a solution of about 1/3 Krud Kutter and water. Let them go overnight, then use a stiff bristle brush. Works well.

I’ve never done it with discs, just toss them and use a new one.

 

[Ocracoke Woodworks]

I use the big eraser thing made of some type of rubber and it does a pretty good job

 

[Hmerkle]

@th_in_gs Here you go - a cheap way to clean a sanding disk or belt!

All Natural Abrasive Cleaning Stick For Belts, Discs, and Sheets 2"x 2"x 8"

Klingspor's Woodworking Shop is full line distributor of woodworking tools and supplies from respected companies like Klingspor Abrasives.

www.woodworkingshop.com

 

[Rwe2156]

A rubber eraser won't take imbedded resin out. You have to soak them for that.

 

[Ocracoke Woodworks]

A rubber eraser won't take imbedded resin out. You have to soak them for that.

I guess I don't wait that long. I have never had a problem getting it off for all kinds of wood from sappy pine all the way up. I might of misunderstood what your referring to.

 

[Rwe2156]

I guess I don't wait that long. I have never had a problem getting it off for all kinds of wood from sappy pine all the way up. I might of misunderstood what your referring to.

I'm talking about resin that after it's heated up basically turns into dried sap. Granted, it's more of an issue on drum sanders. I've never bothered with discs, just toss 'em and put a fresh one on.........after I've figured out why it's happening.

For what the OP showed, I use a Scotchbrite or brass bristle brush.

Maybe I've got the wrong eraser..................

 

[Ocracoke Woodworks]

I'm talking about resin that after it's heated up basically turns into dried sap. Granted, it's more of an issue on drum sanders. I've never bothered with discs, just toss 'em and put a fresh one on.........after I've figured out why it's happening.

For what the OP showed, I use a Scotchbrite or brass bristle brush.

Maybe I've got the wrong eraser..................

Oh, I never let it get that bad I check my sanding disks often, and I don't have a drum sander so I can see my belts and disks all the time

 

[th_in_gs]

For anyone reading this in the future and wondering how this went: although I intended to for a while, I never got around to trying the Simplegreen soak. Although I’m still intrigued at whether it would work for these discs, my laziness overcame my frugalness and I just bought more. Sorry!

 

[woodworkingshop.com]

Well, I suggest you try KLINGSPOR's PS33 Stearate Discs. We sell them in 10 packs or 50 packs. These discs are designed to sand on resinous materials.
PS33 Strearate Discs 5x8hole Available on our webstore or in our 4 retail stores.....

These are our best sellers and I believe on sale until the end of the month

Good luck,
Coleman