Hi. I am looking to order a new power sander for general applications. I do not want a very high end one, nor do I want to spend too much on it. What are your recommendations? What is the difference between a 1/3 sheet sander and a 5" body sander? What other different kinds should I consider?
Zeke
Zeke Redner wrote
You really don't like to spend much money on your hobby, do you? LOL. J/K ;-)
I faced this question ealier this year while building a bed for my son. I was resuming an interest in woodworking that had been put on hold back in the 80's. I already had a belt sander from that era and a 1/3 sheet finish sander that was not much different than the one my dad used in the 40s and
50s.I had tried to use the 1/3 sheet finish sander a few times and found it to be better than hand sanding. Reading about random orbital sanders, I went to Lowes and Home Depot to see if they carried the Porter Cable or the Makita that seemed to get good reviews. While there I noticed a Ryobi ROS (random orbital sander) for $29.95. This was less than half of what I was prepared to pay for the others. I had had good luck with three other Ryobi purchases (Table Saw, 12" Miter Saw, and a router) so I decided to take a chance. My rational was that $29.95 was so cheap that I could afford to invest that just to get a little experience with the type of equipment and if it worked for at least one project I would be OK and then could make a more knowledgeable purchase later on.
I brought the Ryobi home and tried it and was very pleased. Apparently the Random Orbital Sander is a really big improvement over what dad was using. This thing has actually allowed me to sort of enjoy the finishing process! I used to hate it.
With the bigger grits it removes wood at a very pleasing pace. After you have removed whatever wood you need to to achieve a flat surface, you can quickly move through the finer grits to smooth out the scratches from the previous grit.
Since you said you're new to WWing...I'll let you in on a secret that I _really_ wish I'd learned earlier - hand-held scrapers. When sharpened and used properly, it is really not a scraper - but rather a plane. They are cheaper than a cheap power sander, quieter, cleaner and result in a nicer finish. If you don't own any sharpening tools...then you'll have to get some...which will put you in the price range of a cheap sander...but you'll need the sharpening tools for other stuff, anyway.
Since I learned to use a scraper properly, I have not picked up any of my handheld power sanders. And I use a LOT less sandpaper. I still use sandpaper...by only by hand...and about 90% less than I did before.
snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net (T.) wrote in news:17125-3FDBEA34-139@storefull-
3193.bay.webtv.net:
Ditto that. I'm not into scrapers much yet, but hand planes and my single makeshift scraper do wonders. I mostly use my belt sander for sharpening now, and what little sanding I need to do is usually best done by hand.
Do you have a link for plans for that? ;}
Bernie
Here ya go Dude.
- Unknown
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 12 Dec 2003. Some tunes I like.
Damn, I was hoping for someone to tell me to look in the archives, hehehe.
Bernie
No.
But I can find one.
JOAT Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
- Unknown
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 14 Dec 2003. Some tunes I like.
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