Detail sanding made easy

[Lemosteam]

As you know, I am a purveyor of FUD and FXD designs from Shapeways. I have been trying to find a way to sand smooth printing striation (alias), and support artifacts for a much improved surface prior to painting.

I came up with the following and maybe it will also help others.

Below is an old Sonicare brand, E Series sonic toothbrush with it’s brush head. These are magnetically driven, with no mechanical device between the head and handle. As you can see, the upper brush head has had the bristles trimmed off, sides flattened, and a single plane left where the bristles were.


Using Scotch brand foam double stick tape, align one edge along any sandpaper on its non abrasive side across the entire width of the sandpaper. Press firmly. Use a knife to trim the sandpaper excess using a knife along the edge of the tape as a guide. Obviously any grit can be used. I have paper ranging from black 220 to Tamiya 15000 (white 440 shown).


Next I trim off a pice approximately as wide as the modified brush head. Shapes on the end can be added to get into tight spaces (if left overhanging off the end of the brush head).


Peel off backing and press the sandpaper piece onto the flat side of the head, note the tip is overhanging the end.


This is before sanding image of a highly contoured print and is the opposite side of the model from the next image.


This is an after sanding image of the opposite side image from above, using 220:grit. I plan on running 440 grit offer that, and 600 if necessary prior to,paint.


As you can see, the sander did an excellent job (in a VERY short time I might add) removing the support artifacts and also smoothing the alias on the barrel of the boiler shell. This model is printed in FXD, horizontal i.e. parallel to the build plate. so the alias is pretty pronounced.

Although this E Series toothbrush model has been upgraded by sonicare to a mechanical version, I think these old versions can still be purchased as can the brush heads. I would not retry this with the mechanical version myself because if the head itself were to contact the model, it might damage the model. When the magnetic version makes contact it does not do any damage.

[glakedylan]

John, looks like a really helpful tool
thanks for sharing
i think i might have an old braun
will be looking into its usability


sincerely
Gary

[Steveruger45]

What a brilliant idea.  Thanks John.

[thomasjmdavis]

John, that is brilliant!  I have to thank you for making that public rather than patenting the idea.  I will be scanning the second hand stores for an old Sonicare.

You note that the magnetic version of the toothbrush has been "upgraded" to a mechanical version- is there an easy way to tell the difference?  Is "magnetic" noted on the tool somewhere?

Given my recent success with using a "multi-tool" (glorified oscillating sander that uses various saw and slicing blades- the blades oscillate rather than spin) to cut away damaged siding on my house, I would be tempted to modify an extra toothbrush attachment, and convert it to take a Dremel saw blade for small, intricate cuts.

[Lemosteam]

@thomasjmdavis look for E Series models and brush heads.  The brush body is much larger in diameter that the newer models that are mechanical.  Be sure that you get a matching charger.

Like this one: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=sonicare+e+series+handle+and+charger&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=sonicare+e+series+handl

WRT to the sonic saw, see this thread.  It almost works, now I have to wait until I remplace my mechanical one:

[thomasjmdavis]

John, thanks for the link to the "saw".  My thinking is that it would be more effective if used in the other plane- that is, in line with the length of the tool, rather than at 90 degrees- since it does not need to spin- but I suppose that would depend on how the Sonicare oscillation moves.
As to bogging down the saw (mentioned by one of the posters on the "saw" thread), I found with the larger multi-tools (and this is also true of oscillating and dual action sanders), the harder they are pushed, the less work they do- even with the full sized tools, I get the best and fastest results by taking multiple light cuts (or in the case of sanders, NOT putting my body weight on them).

Now that I think about it, if I can acquire the Sonicare, I'll have to try mounting one of the Zona saw blades (which look like an Xacto #11 but with tiny saw teeth) and see if that is effective.

Anyway, I think the idea of using the sonic toothbrush is ingenious and if I make any progress on other applications, I will be sure to post.

[Chris333]

9 out of 10 dentists approve!   

[peteski]

I was planning on doing something like that with my old Sonicare brush heads.. Thanks for confirming that the idea is sound!  On the automotive model forum I frequent someone used one of the cheaper electric toothbrushes with non-replaceable heads. In those toothbrushes the moving brush is circular in shape and rotates few degrees back and forth. They pulled the bristles out, and on the moving disk mounted a round piece of sandpaper punched with a hole punch.  It works too, but I think your idea is better.

[ednadolski]

9 out of 10 dentists approve!   

Don't use that on your teeth by mistake!   

Ed

[chicken45]

oh cool!

[nickelplate759]

Hey, I've got one of those lying around not doing much!  A win for the pack-rat!

[alhoop]

....... They pulled the bristles out, and on the moving disk mounted a round piece of sandpaper punched with a hole punch........ 

This is what I am doing using an OralB/Braun mechanical unit with a removable head. Works fine for me since I don't do printed items.
Al