fastest way to thin props...

[Savage Skidoo]

Looks good, I use a 1x30" belt sander (like above from harborfreight) hate it when I end up sanding some of the hub!! I will look into one of those, anything to make life easier!!!

Hey Cooper , 1/2" is all you need trust me . I cut down 3 props for a customer in no time , still all in balance . Either i'm freaking lucky or getting really good :) . BTW when i went on HF's web site they don't ship to Canada . I call my Buddy who's a Long haul driver who's in North Carolina he picked one up and spare belts for $50 USA = look out prop world !

[Chris Harris]

One important piece of equipment to remember is a respirator or at the least a really good dust mask.
This is especially so when using power tools to remove material from beryllium props. Beryllium is very bad stuff
to be breathing in, so take precautions even when using a vacuum, although it helps, it will not collect all the dust.
My .02

Chris

[kingwrench]

I have all the tools, belt sander, buffers, rouge, rotary tools, balancer, pitch gauge,brass hammers and pitch blocks. But with age comes wisdom I send all my props to Chris, dasboata. Great job, and my fingers don't get dirty..

[Cooper]

The thing to know about beryllium exposure is OSHA max limit is 25micg per cubic meter of air not ever to be exceeded. That relates to a 16gram prop with 2%beryllium removing about 2%of the prop while working ending with about 400micrograms. Open a window a have a fan on. That would be more than adequate for the 2microgram per 8 hour shift with a dust mask on that OSHA equates safety standard to.

[Wetter]

why do they use beryllium then?

here in California i am surprised they haven't caught on, hell they want you to hold your breath so yo don't exhale carbon monoxide
it's funny how all the bad stuff is better at what it's suppose to do like freon, asbestos, chlordane and my cookies.

[detox]

Some smaller props are cast thinner than others which makes them easier to thin. The m445 is a thin cast and a verygood prop to cut, bend and learn on. You can cut diameter down if too large. The x442 is also pretty thin. Usually larger props are easier to work on.