Good advise. My recommentation is if you have a disc sander, and if it has the option to tilt, it will make it a lot easier. Mine is a Harbor Freight 12" with a big tilting table, and a 1 hp motor. The discs are pressure sentitive held in place. The only problem is that while not being used in a while, they come loose, you just have to reposition them and start it up.
I used an adjustable bevel gage (Starrett) and found out what the angle is from both the top and the bottom and set the table to that. On the top bevel, at least on mine I had to tilt the table towards the disc to give me a minus bevel. On the bottom bevel leave your self some extra that you can file or sand to final shape because the bevel will want to carry over to the side of the pad if you are not careful.
The part we all forgot to mentioned is to actually attach the pad to the stock before you start sanding and like someone said, trace it with a sharp awl. You will not be able to see this line as you are sanding, so be very careful and stay away from the finished lines by approx. 1/32" until done, then refasten pad to stock with screws and finish hand sanding and tape stock with release tape so you don't sand stock.
It would almost be better to make yourself a thin template of the finished pad final size to put it against the stock as you go. And be very CAREFUL OF BOTTOM BEVEL on sanding of pad to keep that line straight from wood to pad.
Good luck, and let us know.
Last edited by JDW; 12/19/06 12:26 PM.
