Abrasive flap drum

An abrasive flap drum, including

• an elongated hub having a plurality of spaced slots each extending along the length of the hub and with each slot formed as a helix with progressive positions of each slot rotated angularly,
• a plurality of abrasive packs and with each pack formed of a plurality of abrasive flaps of abrasive material stacked together and with the plurality of the abrasive packs each extending outwardly from the hub and with each pack positioned adjacent an individual one of the slots,
• each of the abrasive flaps forming each pack having a plurality of slits located periodically along the length of each flap and with each slit extending partially along the height of each flap for increasing the flexibility of each flap to bending and twisting,
• and attachment means for each pack and with each attachment means including an end portion and a loop portion,
• a supporting strip positioned adjacent the sides of the end portion of each attachment means to support and retain the end portion, and with the supporting means including a plurality of slits cut part way along the height of the strip and with the slits at periodic positions along the length of the strips, and
• the end portion including the supporting strip for disposition against individual flaps in the pack to have the loop portion extend outside the pack and with the loop portion retained within an individual one of the slots for locking the loop portion within the slot.

A method of making an abrasive pack for use with a hub having a plurality of spaced helical supporting means each extending along the length of the hub and with progressive positions of each supporting means rotated angularly to form each helix, including the following steps

• providing a stack of abrasive flaps and with each flap formed as abrasive particles disposed on a backing sheet,
• slitting each flap at progressive positions along the length for providing separate slitted portions for each flap,
• providing an attachment means including a first portion coupled to the stack of abrasive flaps and including means for coupling to one of the helical supporting means extending along the hub,
• disposing adhesive material within the end of the stack of abrasive flaps adjacent the attachment means, and
• bending and twisting the stack of abrasive flaps to a helical configuration and with slitted portions separating to follow the curvature of the helical supporting means as the adhesive sets to preform the abrasive pack to the helical configuration.

A method of making an abrasive pack for use with a hub having a plurality of spaced helical supporting means each extending along the length of the hub and with progressive positions of each supporting means rotated angularly to form each helix, including the following steps,

• providing a stack of abrasive flaps and with each flap formed as abrasive particles disposed on a backing sheet,
• providing an attachment means coupled to the stack of abrasive flaps and including means for coupling to one of the helical supporting means extending along the hub,
• slitting the attachment means at progressive positions along its length for providing separate slitted portions for the attachment means,
• disposing adhesive material within the end of the stack of abrasive flaps adjacent the attachment means, and
• bending and twisting the stack of abrasive flaps to a helical configuration and with the slitted portions of the attachment means separating to follow the curvature of the helical supporting means as the adhesive sets to preform the abrasive pack to the helical configuration.