After the frame has settled, it is time to polish it. The purpose of this operation is to remove the layer of wood that has darkened during drying and achieve a uniform color. On logs “from under the plane”, unevenness is also removed by sanding. The operation is not the most difficult, but it requires attention and takes a lot of time.
Since a large amount of dust flies during work, it is necessary to have personal protective equipment. You will need anti-dust, anti-fog glasses and a respirator. Headphones and anti-vibration gloves will not hurt: they will make you more comfortable. And it is imperative to protect your eyes and breathing area.
How to sand logs
To grind logs and beams, you can use two types of tools: eccentric sanders or grinders with appropriate attachments.
To give the building an aesthetic appearance, the log house is sanded
Sanding planed logs from the outside
It has long been known: how many people, so many opinions. And choosing a tool for grinding a log frame is no exception. Some people work exclusively with grinders, and others only with grinders. For some it is more convenient and faster to work with petal discs, while others do not accept them at all and work with wire nozzles. The choice is yours. We only tell you how to do it.
Choosing an angle grinder
To polish a frame made of planed logs (from under a plane), angle grinders are used, which are usually called grinders. Choose not the most expensive, but not the cheapest models. Cheap ones usually break down very quickly: they belong to the household class and have a short working life. Sanding of a log house is necessary both inside and outside; the area is considerable, so the resource of household tools is barely enough for one or two walls. Therefore, when choosing, it is advisable for you to find either an inexpensive professional or semi-professional model. They are usually in the mid-price range.
When sanding a log frame, most people use grinders with different attachments.
The power of the grinder is approximately 700-1000 W. If you wish, you can take a more powerful one, but for woodworking this is more than enough. More powerful ones are harder to work with: they themselves weigh a lot, and it will be more difficult to control them. And every awkward movement is a hole in the log, which will then have to be leveled.
125 mm discs are the most convenient to use, so choose a model for them. But these are only recommendations. You can work both larger and smaller. Who's used to it?
Idle speed - 10,000-12,000 rpm. Moreover, it is very desirable that the tool has speed control, and preferably a smooth one.
What to look for when choosing an angle grinder
Pay attention to where the air intake comes from. In order for the grinder to clog less during operation and work longer, the fence should be at the back (not on the sides). It is also important that the handles are comfortable and that the machine itself is not heavy. So try each one on and hold it in your hands. Pay attention to the length of the cord - the longer, the more freedom of action it gives.
For ease of work, it is better to have two machines. The fact is that the processing is carried out at least twice: first, the layer is removed with a coarse-grained abrasive, then sanded with a fine one. In order not to constantly change attachments and not overheat the tool, it is more convenient to have two machines. One will still not be enough for the entire volume. And so the work goes faster, and the tool works in normal mode - it does not overheat.
It is better to use plastic, rather than rubber, attachments for an angle grinder.
There is one more subtlety: for work it is better to use a plastic attachment (on which the abrasive is attached) rather than a rubber one. Plastic, although thinner, lasts longer. If you accidentally touch the surface of the wood with the rubber tip, it will leave a black mark on the wood. This won't happen with plastic.
Sanding discs
For initial rough grinding, use flap discs with a grain size of 40-60. You can simply use an abrasive with the same grain. It's convenient for anyone. The disc consumption is high: one per 3-5 meters of log. It may be more or less: it depends on what layer you need to remove and how smooth the log was before processing. If it was rounded, the consumption was less, if it came from under a plane, it was more. But it’s better not to skimp on these discs; as soon as they get dirty, change them: the work will go faster, and the grinder will work with less load.
Sanding discs come in different grains
The consumption of fine grinding discs depends on how thoroughly you treated the surface the first time. It is better to take this fine abrasive with Velcro - it changes faster. Here the grain size is 100-120.
In addition to the discs, you will need to buy cushions for the attachments. On one side they are covered with a sticky compound, to which abrasive discs are then attached. These pillows wear off on the sides, and the adhesive side also stops working. So this consumable will also come in handy.
Sanding rounded logs
Since the surface in such a log house is already flat, using a grinder with a lack of experience will only lead to the appearance of furrows and holes - traces of too much pressure. Then they will have to be compared for a long time with smaller grains. Therefore, eccentric sanders are often used to process rounded logs. They are less productive, but if the pressure is too strong, the sanding disc is blocked. This allows you to make the surface even and smooth even without experience.
Grinding machines are used for grinding rounded logs.
The power of these machines is more modest - 200-300 W, the speed is approximately the same 10,000 - 12,000 rpm. Many models have a dust collector. This is a big plus when working indoors, but this plus is also reflected in the price. The selection principle is the same: good quality, semi-professional or professional model that fits comfortably in the hand. To sand a log frame, it is also advisable to have two machines: on one, put discs with a grain of 30-60 to remove the darkened layer, on the second, set a fine grain of 100-120 to smooth the surface and remove raised wood fluff.
Manufacturers
Choosing a reliable tool that will serve faithfully for a long time is not difficult. To do this, you need to pay attention to branded models:
- AEG;
- Bosch;
- DeWALT;
- Hitachi;
- Kress;
- Makita;
- Metabo.
Such angle grinders are more expensive, but they are distinguished by high build quality, ergonomics and a long service life. Some of the leading manufacturing companies have opened service centers in our country where breakdowns can be repaired.
If you don’t want to spend money on an expensive tool, you can pay attention to the Interskol, STURM, Sparky models. They are slightly inferior to global brands, but have proven themselves to be much better than Chinese technology. And, of course, you should not chase a cheap power tool - a priori a good unit cannot be cheap.
Sanding the log in grooves and corners
Regardless of what kind of log the frame is made of, the grooves are polished with grinders. Moreover, the nozzle is taken smaller than the disk used (for example, for a nozzle diameter of 115 mm, the abrasive is set to 125). If the disk and the attachment are the same size, the tool may jam in the groove during operation. In this case, the grinder will be torn out of your hands, which can lead to injury.
You have to use chisels to finish the logs in the corners
If the disk is larger in size, then you can work calmly. Although it wears out quickly at the edges, you can work like this without fear of injury.
The corners of the log frame remain the most problematic for processing. The only reliable method for processing them is with chisels. Using this tool, the top thin layer of wood is removed. This can be done before or after stripping the entire log. Not so important.
Log end processing
The ends of the logs are sanded with a grinder with a 40-grain abrasive wheel. By adjusting the speed, you select the speed at which the tool is easy to control. Achieving perfect smoothness here is unrealistic, and it is not necessary, so sanding with fine grain is not done. When further processing with primers, varnishes or other compounds, increased attention is paid to the ends - they absorb better, so you have to lubricate more generously.
Functions
The price of the tool directly depends on the presence of additional functions: the more useful options, the more money you will have to pay for the unit. What kind of functions can angle grinder manufacturers offer?
- Jam protection. A jammed disk is dangerous, because if it suddenly stops, the machine can break out of the hands and harm the health of the master. Therefore, having additional jam protection should be a priority for your own safety.
- Smooth start. This option allows the device to smoothly gain speed to the optimal value. Its presence eliminates sharp jumps in speed gain, makes the work of the master more comfortable and extends the service life of the angle grinder.
- Speed adjustment. This function allows you to adjust the speed of the grinder in accordance with the material being processed and the diameter of the cutting disc. The ability to adjust the speed helps save not only consumables, but also energy.
- Maintaining speed at a constant level. A necessary function, especially during long, labor-intensive work.
- Vibration damping. A useful option on powerful professional grinders - during long-term work with the unit, vibration damping will make the specialist’s work more comfortable.
- Quick disc change. This function will be needed when frequent and quick changes are needed.
READ How to disassemble a small Bosch angle grinder
As an additional option, it is worth noting the presence of a plastic case, in which it is convenient to store and carry an angle grinder, a key and consumables. Even if the tool is transported from the garage or apartment to the country house and back, the parts will not rattle while lying in the suitcase.
Advice! In order not to overpay extra money, you should decide for yourself which functions to give preference to and which you can do without.
Processing of logs inside the house
All actions are identical. When sanding a frame made of planed logs, if the wall inside will not be lined with anything, add one more pass for finishing: with an eccentric sander with a 120 abrasive disc. This will allow you to achieve a perfectly smooth surface.
The inside of the log house is polished to furniture smoothness.
Surface degumming
Conifers are known to contain large amounts of natural resins. On the one hand, this circumstance is an advantage, since the resin content protects the tree from rotting and mold formation. But on the other hand, resin prevents good adhesion of paint to wood, and when sanding it spreads over the surface and spoils the appearance of the wood. Therefore, before processing the needles with a grinder, it is necessary to remove excess resin.
How to remove resin from a log before sanding? Suitable solvents for this are: acetone, white spirit, turpentine, purified gasoline. You just need to apply the selected product to the wooden surface, and rinse off the residue with warm water.
Sources:
https://pro-instrument.com/ruchnoj/oborotyi-bolgarki-skolko.html https://dekormyhome.ru/remont-i-oformlenie/kak-vybrat-bolgarky-raznovidnosti.html https://master-srubov. ru/sovety/shlifovka-sruba-bolgarkoj
How to sand timber walls
The tools used are the same as for processing logs. A specific choice can only be made by assessing how deeply you need to remove the top layer of wood.
If the bathhouse is made of profiled or laminated timber, most likely you do not need to level anything. Just remove the top darkened layer, if there is one. In this case, if you have a sufficient level of proficiency with an angle grinder, you can work with it. If you don't have enough experience, use an eccentric sander. It will take longer, but the result will be guaranteed to be at least good.
Timber needs to be sanded in different ways. Depending on its geometry
If the walls are made of ordinary timber, then you will have to do a lot of leveling. You can’t do without a grinder here. Moreover, in some places it will be necessary to remove a couple of millimeters of excess - non-ideal geometry and errors in cutting bowls lead to the fact that the difference can be quite significant.
I found a video fragment about a very interesting Pobedit grinding disk, which, it seems, can easily cope with rough grinding and easily remove excess thickness.
Rotational speed
From the basics of physics, everyone remembers that the rotation speed indicates how many revolutions per minute the angle grinder spindle is capable of making. This figure in different models ranges from 2.8 thousand to 11 thousand revolutions. There is a clear relationship between the rotation speed and the diameter of the working circle: the smaller the diameter of the circle, the higher the rotation speed, and, conversely, a large disk has a lower speed, usually not exceeding 6.6 thousand rpm.
It doesn’t matter how many revolutions the grinder has, because each manufacturer optimizes this indicator for a specific model. And experts do not consider this parameter to be decisive when choosing a tool, but they recommend purchasing an angle grinder with a speed regulator, which is found in all professional models and in some household ones.
When is the best time to sand?
There are a lot of possible answers to this question. Traditionally, the frame is sanded after at least the main shrinkage has passed. During this time, the log dries out and it becomes easier to work with. It is extremely difficult to remove even a thin layer from raw wood. If you need to level it, it will take a lot of time, money for disks and effort.
On the other hand, if you have a frame made of dried timber and logs, then you can sand and process it right away. In this case, having placed the frame under the roof, it is sanded, immediately treated with impregnations and left to shrink in this form. This is done infrequently, although no one forbids it. They usually act according to the usual scheme.
The log house is polished after it has settled
Automatic disk balancing
The presence of automatic disc smoothing function in high-quality devices prevents beating during use. The thing is that with prolonged use the disc wears unevenly, and its further use will lead to damage to the surface being treated and vibration during operation.
Having such a convenient function, you don’t have to worry, since the disk is smoothed automatically.
Soft start
Almost all modern angle grinders are equipped with a soft start system, which ensures not a sharp start when turned on, but a gradual increase in speed, thereby preventing knockout of plugs or burnout of electrical wiring. In addition, with a sharp start, a powerful angle grinder may not be able to stay in your hands, and this is unsafe for its owner.
Procedure and organization of work
Since a minimum of time should pass between grinding logs or beams and processing, processing must be done along the crown. You can start from the top or the bottom - it makes no difference, but they sand one wall completely, then move on to the other. You can coat with impregnations and primers immediately after completing the treatment of one wall, having first removed the dust.
Questions often arise about what to do if there are blue spots or other dark spots on the wood. These are traces of fungal activity. They do not affect the quality and safety in any way, but they spoil the appearance considerably.
The blueness of the wood spoils the appearance
If you want to use light transparent paints for finishing, you will have to fight with the color. For this purpose, there are special compositions for bleaching wood. In this case, the procedure is as follows:
- bleach wood;
- carry out rough grinding;
- if traces of blackness remain, bleach again;
- final polishing.
Then comes the treatment with fire retardants, primers and finishing compounds.
This video presents the experience of a man who polished a log frame himself. He goes into some interesting detail, so don't waste 20 minutes.
Choosing an angle grinder: advice from professionals
Even if repair or construction work is carried out once a year, an angle grinder will be very useful. Every self-respecting craftsman has power tools in his arsenal, including angle grinders. How to choose an angle grinder and what to pay attention to so as not to regret the purchase later?
If we talk about professional builders, they are not concerned about this issue - only a reliable, expensive professional tool can withstand many hours of daily loads. But this information will be useful for home craftsmen.
Services of professional craftsmen
Proper sanding provides a beautiful and durable finish and ensures the long life of your home. Our specialists have extensive experience, have the necessary work skills, and know the nuances and subtleties of grinding work. We will polish your wooden house strictly according to technology, taking into account the individual characteristics of the structure and within the strictly agreed time frame. When inspecting your home, the craftsmen will select the optimal grinding method and the necessary tools for surface treatment. You can call a specialist and contact us using the coordinates in the “Contacts” section.
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Additional recommendations
If the timber inside the house will not be sheathed, then it is recommended to carry out finishing sanding twice. The first - before applying the impregnation, the second - after the impregnation has dried. Then prime the walls along the inner perimeter again and only then cover with varnish or paint.
It is difficult to have time to polish the entire frame in a day, especially if its area is large. And if the sanded surface is not coated with special... solution during the first 12-16 hours, the wood will begin to darken again, and the labor-intensive work will come to naught. The maximum period is 36 hours, and even then you will have to clean it up again in some places. Therefore, someone who has sanded and processed a house himself advises dividing the frame into parts and sanding a small piece a day, bringing this piece to perfection.
Advice! It is better to start sanding from the top rims, gradually moving down. This will make your work more convenient.
After sanding, painting of the log house can begin within 24 hours, when the primer antiseptic thoroughly saturates the wood and “seizes” with an even adhesive film.
To give the log house a beautiful look over the entire surface, so that the color is the same everywhere, you can bleach the wood.
The whitening compound is applied before initial sanding, allowed to dry and sanded. If one layer was not enough, dark spots remained or the logs of the log house still differed from each other in color, the bleach was applied again and the wood was sanded.
Usually a couple of whitening procedures are enough. This treatment will prepare your sanded frame for polishing with clear varnishes or painting with light colors. The beauty of a properly polished log house, covered with varnish or paint, cannot be compared with the timber or log “rolling” that our log house looked like before it was so artistically processed.
