To MarbleGuy David G.:
Via Google, I've found a number of internet sources for 10" and 12" sanding discs, both hook & loop as well as adhesive-backed. Seems either or both of these varieties might work with the Cimex. Of course, the plain paper-backed ones seem to be the cheapest, but I don't know how you'd be able to apply these securely.
Your thoughts?

Also, does anyone have suggestions for hooking up a vacuum to the Cimex to pick up the sawdust?

What grits do you start with - 36? 80?

The best type would be the adhesive backed ones. The Varathane sanders they rent in the stores actually have a 3M pad that you attach the sand paper to. Would probably work with the Cimex if you attach the paper to a set of pads. This would make it the easiest to put them on the Cimex. It also provides a bit of a buffer between the floor and the machine.

Hi Mark & Rudy

I didn’t google the paper, guess I could have. If you went with 10” or 12” you could always cut it down to fit the drivers. Rick has Velcro drivers that will accept the paper and they work very well. With regards to the other type, I’m sorry; I’m not familiar with ‘em. For grits, what’s commonly used is 36, 80, 100 & 120. Depending on which Cimex you’re running it can be very easy to set up a vacuum on it. The DF or 880 units that I run work very well. They have a full deck or housing that goes all the way around the machine, kinda like a standard floor machine. Rick can get you an attachment that goes into the rear of the deck in-between the forks that hold the head. This unit comes with a “brush type” skirt/splash guard that gets taken off and thrown away as soon as I get a new machine. I then take a piece of black garden/flowerbed edging and form it into a circle that fits up in-between the housing and the main platter or rotating deck of the machine. This splash guard works very well for a multitude of jobs.

What were the grits you found & how were they priced / packaged?

David Gelinas
Marbleguy

Actually Dave throws away the skirt because he only WET grinds his floors. The skirt is designed for DRY grinding. For DRY grinding, the skirt and vacuum port works amazingly well. So in the case of DRY sanding on wood floors, the CR48DF, with the vacuum skirt and vacuum port would work awesome.




Rick Gelinas
encapman

2 things:
first of all, are Rick's measures as described above adaptable to my Cimex 24" model?

second, to Marbleguy: some websites I've found that seem to have discs usable with a Cimex are:
www.azwoodman.com. The have self-adhesive-backed aluminum oxide discs in 9" and 12" diameters, in grits from 36 up to 123. $4.20 to $5.20 each.
www.onlineindustrialsupply.com. Adhesive cloth sanding discs from 1" to 16" diameter, incl. 10" & 12".
You have to inquire for prices.
www.stockroomsupply.com. Hook & Loop discs. 10": 10 for $21.50. 12": 10 for $27.50 They also have cloth adhesive-backed discs, which are more expensive. The also have what they call a "Hook & Loop velcro conversion kit.
Also check: www.bearwood.com and www.harborfreight.com.
When you Google Cimex sanding (or sander) among the sites appearing is one in the UK which shows a Trio sander, which I think also has 3 heads. There is also a pic on that site of a Cimex which they rent for sanding. I've sent them an email asking how they adapt it for sanding.
I have also located 2 machines made in Illinois by Cherry Hill Manufacturing Co. - the Super Bee and the U-sand. These machines are designed as floor sanders, and have 4 random orbital heads, each about 6" in diameter. The Super Bee is the professional model; the U-sand more of a consumer/rental outlet model.

Mark

Thanks for the info. With the sources that I was coming up with I was finding the same high pricing. When I discussed it with Rick he agreed, it was too high. That’s why I’ve been working on the project that I mentioned to you. I’ll let you know how it works out. Again, thanks for taking the time with the info.

David Gelinas
Marbleguy