Finishing PE sidewalls

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Sherpa Burns
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:39 pm

Finishing PE sidewalls

Post by Sherpa Burns »

Anyone sand the UHMWPE sidewall after routering the angle? I have some dark green sidewalls and after I routed them, I could see a little bit of texture. I checked the bit and it has a tiny nick in the edge.
So I tried sanding and all it does is scuff the PE and it looks terrible. Is there a certain grit or material to use?
The only other option I see is increasing the edge bevel with a new sharper bit.
twizzstyle
Posts: 2204
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
Location: Kenmore, Wa USA

Post by twizzstyle »

What if you went over the whole sidewall with a propane torch lightly? That might melt down the fuzzies just enough to get a nice smooth surface.

When I've routed my sidewalls they come out nice and smooth, but my bit has only seen a few pairs of skis so it's pretty sharp and clean.
krp8128
Posts: 367
Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Marcellus, NY

Re: Finishing PE sidewalls

Post by krp8128 »

Sherpa Burns wrote:Anyone sand the UHMWPE sidewall after routering the angle? I have some dark green sidewalls and after I routed them, I could see a little bit of texture. I checked the bit and it has a tiny nick in the edge.
So I tried sanding and all it does is scuff the PE and it looks terrible. Is there a certain grit or material to use?
The only other option I see is increasing the edge bevel with a new sharper bit.
I assume that the nick in the bit left a ridge down the sidewall?

If this is a bearing bit just adjust the height. The bearing will ride on the "good" section of the sidewall, and the nick in the blade will be above/below the ridge and will cut nothing but air.
Sherpa Burns
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:39 pm

Post by Sherpa Burns »

it did leave a nick. I adjusted the egde bevel a little and put on a new bit. Perfect now. Lesson learned. Check your bits and blades. I always try to use bits and blades for way too long. Ends up causing more trouble.
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