Kirjes Sanding System

If you research the market place you will notice that most pneumatic sanders are quite awkward in their design, often made with big sides and hard edges with a valve poking out of the underside and an oversized drive shaft.

The Kirjes inflatable drum sanders are inflated through an air inlet in the drive shaft. This is a patented solution which has made it possible not only to make superior cylindrical sanders but also to make a rounded sander, the Kirjes Bowl Sander.

The inflatable rubber sanders are soft which allows them to be used all the way to the edge of your work. This eliminates scratches and allows you to apply the total width of the sander against your work or to use just the edge. The sander actually becomes flat when pressed against a flat surface and round when pressed against a round surface ie. the sander will conform to the underlying surface.

Kirjes is the most revolutionary sanding system for hobbyist and professional woodworkers. It has particular appeal to woodturners & woodcarvers, to come out in years. Kirjes uses up to 4 inflatable rubber sanders that each have 4 grits of sanding sleeves, from coarse to extra fine, fitted either to a flexible shaft or the quiet 1/2 HP (300 watt) motor. The inflatable sanders are ruggedly built from Swedish steel and heavy rubber.

This system easily eliminates your labourious hand sanding process, saving you countless hours of sanding while putting a beautiful, silky smooth finish on your masterpieces. With the new dust extraction sleeve you can move the dust away at the point of sanding.

We include a leaflet with all the kits & packages that explains the Kirjes sanding process This gives practical proposals of how to use the coarse to extra fine grit sanding sleeves to achieve that velvety wooden surface.

What makes Kirjes different?

• The Kirjes System is compact, versatile, original in design, flexible and easy to use. Many pneumatic sanders have large drums and hard edges with protruding valves and hefty drive shafts. Say goodbye to all that! Kirjes has eliminated these probelms by forming tyre rubber into both a drum and dome shaped sander while placing the air inlet valve unobtrusively through the drive shaft. This makes Kirjes sanders far superior to others on the market.

How do you inflate the sanders and what is the result?

• With just a few strokes you can pump the drum sander up making it hard and flat. The best pressure is to only pump the sanders once or twice with a smal thrust. If the sanders are only partially inflated they are very compliant. This allows you to sand inside and outside curves, contoured and convex surfaces with ease. As you push the drum down to the work it folds over or into the surface. The result is a beautifully smooth and velvet finish on all surfaces.

Is dust a problem?

• Dust is a potential issue with any hand held power tool. The dust particles and residue are very fine but confined to the immediate work area. Wearing a dust mask and having a dust collection system is highly recommended. We highly recommend Kirjes dust extraxtion sleeve whcih fits over the flexible shaft and extracts at the point of sanding.

Can I use an air compressor to inflate the drums?

• We don't recommend it for the following reasons:
  • The drums require very little air so it's very easy to over-inflate them with a compressor. If over-inflated, a bubble of rubber will force its way out from under the sleeve. Once this occurs, a permanent weak spot has been formed on the bulb.
  • The compressed air system must be able to deliver totally dry air, otherwise moisture will cause rust on the internal steel parts, and will interfere with the airtight seal of the interior valve.
  • It is very difficult to "tune" the bulb to the right softness while inflating. the best way to inflate the sanders is with the Kirjes small two way hand pump, which allows you to feel the softness of the bulb while you are pumping, giving you the ideal drum softness for the grit being used. A regular bicycle pump would be the preferred second choice, but usually requires two hands on the pump. The best pressure is as soft as possible while still keeping the sleeve from moving on the drum.

Can I sand materials other than wood with these drums?

• Yes, the sanding sleeves are metal quality and very sharp. When sanding metal, or other hard materials like bone, horn or plastic, be aware that you are sanding with a soft rubber bulb under the sleeve. Avoid holding the drum in the same spot and allowing heat to build up possibly burning through the abrasive cloth. Watch for sharp burrs or projections.

Air seems to be coming back out the shaft after I inflate the drum, and the sleeve becomes loose.

• Occasionally, sawdust or other dirt can be pumped into the shaft when inflating. This grit can get under the valve on the inner shaft and create a tiny space where air can escape back out the way it came. If this happens, simply remove the bulb, roll back the inner valve and clean out any grit. Take care not to cut the inner valve with your fingernail, pen, pencil etc when doing this. It's good to form the habit of always claening off the shaft end before inflating.

I put the sleeve on, inflated the drum, and now it seems "bumpy" when I sand. What's up?

• Check to see if the lap joint of the sleeve is straight to the centre-line of the sander. If not, it can "catch" on some types of material, causing the bump on each revolution. As you look at the drum with the shaft pointing downwards, the high side of the lap should be on your right for clockwise operation.