Belt sanders and antifouling

[Albert Ross]

Thinking of easier ways of rubbing down old antifouling.

Sand paper by hand .. slow, boring hard work
Elliptical / random electric sander .. puny and slow .. still hard work
Would a belt sander do the job better?

Comments, experiences and advice please.....

 

[pvb]

Antifoul dust is nasty stuff, so dry sanding is discouraged. Have you tried a scraper?

 

[blackbeard]

+1 for scraper. Ask around for most effective type.

Boat really needs to be ashore (apology for statement of obvious), I really don't fancy doing this between tides (!) and in any case mains powered tools and sea water don't mix happily (another statement of obvious). Or you could find someone who does grit blasting - possibly get together with some other boats that need grit blasting and get a discount for quantity

 

[Albert Ross]

Thanks ... Yes, I'm not talking about getting it all off with a scraper, I'm just thinking of easier ways of smoothing down the last 5 years build up of lumps and old AF.

 

[PCUK]

Dry sanding antifouling is extremely dangerous to you and your neighbours, many yards do not allow it as it is putting pure poison into the close atmosphere. The only vaguely acceptable machine is a sander with vacuum attachment and the disc constantly flat against the surface. 36 grit discs or coarser are the only effective dry sand method. You can wet sand with an air sander of course!

 

[Marine Reflections]

If I have to sand antifoul I connect a henry hoover to the sander. Henry hoovers are amazing at capturing all the dust particles. All the dust is captured in the bag not distributed around the yard.

Even if you sand wet and allow it to fall on the floor, it will dry up and the toxic dust will float away. Nice!

At least with a scraper the bits are large enough fall straight down and are easy to clean up.

 

[NormanS]

I use an articulated sanding pad on a metre long pole. I think they are sold for sanding ceilings. Used wet with gauze abrasive, works well for me. One beauty of it is that it's a job that can be done in bad weather, and like banging your head against a wall, - it's great when you stop.

 

[Pauly]

Not tried it yet but someone I know who knows about these things has suggested coarse scotchbrite pads used wet, hose or bucket of water. I'll be having a go at this tomorrow.

 

[Pye_End]

Use sanding mesh (eg http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p41...=46330311023&gclid=CJ2xiLDm68ECFcPHtAodOVUAtQ ) on one of these: http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/v...HAND_SANDER/?gclid=CKycx-bm68ECFQb3wgod-j8AVA

and use wet. A hose or bucket of water will keep the sandpaper from clogging, which is your primary problem with normal sandpaper. It is also much better for your health, and for those around you.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Use sanding mesh (eg http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p41...=46330311023&gclid=CJ2xiLDm68ECFcPHtAodOVUAtQ ) on one of these: http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/v...HAND_SANDER/?gclid=CKycx-bm68ECFQb3wgod-j8AVA

and use wet. A hose or bucket of water will keep the sandpaper from clogging, which is your primary problem with normal sandpaper. It is also much better for your health, and for those around you.

And when the water evaporates?

 

[Hadenough]

And when the water evaporates?

It sinks into the ground just like it would if you emptied the contents of a vacuum cleaner into a skip that went to land fill!

 

[Marine Reflections]

It sinks into the ground just like it would if you emptied the contents of a vacuum cleaner into a skip that went to land fill!

No, it doesn't. It dries and the particles get caught up in the next gust of wind that comes along and others breath it in.

 

[andyxs]

I would keep the belt sander far far away from your boat, orbital maybe, I try to use air sanders or scrapers for it as the belt sander is the best tool to turn a two minute job into a 2 day job!

 

[Marine Reflections]

A good article here on antifouling and the marine environment.

http://www.thegreenblue.org.uk/pdf/TGB Factsheet 10 Antifouling.pdf

And no, I don't just empty the contents of my hoover into a skip, a certain MDL marina takes it off my hands and kindly add it to their 'tea bags' from a closed loop system.

Please don't forget, this is hazardous waste and needs to be disposed of accordingly, not left under the boat to blow away in the wind.

 

[Lucky Duck]

A good article here on antifouling and the marine environment.

http://www.thegreenblue.org.uk/pdf/TGB Factsheet 10 Antifouling.pdf

And no, I don't just empty the contents of my hoover into a skip, a certain MDL marina takes it off my hands and kindly add it to their 'tea bags' from a closed loop system.

Please don't forget, this is hazardous waste and needs to be disposed of accordingly, not left under the boat to blow away in the wind.

One of my pet peeves while on hard standing is those who dry sand anti-foul wearing PPE but somehow think those nearby will be uneffected (or perhaps don't care) bit I'm struggling with objections to wet sanding the stuff.

 

[Hadenough]

No, it doesn't. It dries and the particles get caught up in the next gust of wind that comes along and others breath it in.

That's good. At least some of it won't get to the land fill. What do you think happens to the residue from the jet wash when you haul out?

 

[Marine Reflections]

One of my pet peeves while on hard standing is those who dry sand anti-foul wearing PPE but somehow think those nearby will be uneffected (or perhaps don't care) bit I'm struggling with objections to wet sanding the stuff.

It's one of mine too.

The problem with sanding wet (IMO) is that the same amount of dust is created, but it is mixed in with the water so not yet in the air until the water evaporates.

Once that water evaporates, what happens to the antifouling that was removed? Does it simply sink into the ground? No it is blown around the yard where we all breath it in.

 

[Marine Reflections]

That's good. At least some of it won't get to the land fill. What do you think happens to the residue from the jet wash when you haul out?

Depending on where you haul out, it should be caught in a closed loop system.
Unfortunately not all marinas are this up to date.

Perhaps I shouldn't be concerned?

 

[lw395]

Most of the toxic stuff has leached out of the antifoul by the time I get around to sanding it.
I find coarse wet and dry, used wet, soon after lifting out is far easier.
The sanding sponges are easier than most things.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It's one of mine too.

The problem with sanding wet (IMO) is that the same amount of dust is created, but it is mixed in with the water so not yet in the air until the water evaporates.

Once that water evaporates, what happens to the antifouling that was removed? Does it simply sink into the ground? No it is blown around the yard where we all breath it in.

Where I lay up the surface is a hardcore type so the water permeates through long before it has the chance to evaporate. Personally I have never seen dust clouds from dried out wet sanding but seen plenty from the dry method....