I've always done major rough sanding with the belt sander, and used my quarter-sheet palm sander with progressively finer grits for finish work. I don't own a random-orbit sander, but they seem pretty popular. My question for you folks who use a random-orbit: Do you use it in place of a quarter-sheet sander, or do you use both? If you use both, what is the determining factor in which one you use for a given task?
I haven't touched my 1/4 sheet sander since getting a RO sander. I usually use the RO sander until I've got a nice, even surface sanded to a medium/fine grit, then switch to hand sanding for one or two fine grits.
Mike
Same here, except I use the ROS _and_ hand sand with the grain on the final grit. The hand sanding pass goes extremely quickly.
I'm not sure I know where my 1/4 sheet sander is...
Same here.
LOL ! I don't know where mine is either !
I tell myself I am saving it to use in corners, but I use a Fein Multimate for that. I used it a year ago with a foam pad that lets it do concavities, but it was clumsy and I haven't done it again. Time for ebay?
You hit it with the "rough" description, for the belt sander. IMHO, sanding is an inherently rough process- abrading wood fibes. Though not too rough for some projects, where I use ROS for the majority and quarter-sheet in the corners.
For really smooth finishes, I've been converted by others here to using a cabinet scraper. Works great for trimming off (cleanly) any surface irregularities. Typically quicker than sanding. No dust.
Belt-sander available cheap. Now just used occasionally on metal.
HTH, J
I used to use a belt sander and a finish sander up until about 1989. I then switched to the PC right angle ROS and the PC SpeedBloc finishing sander. For me the PC right angle ROS replaced the Belt sander but IMHO is way too aggressive for finish sanding. I use the SpeedBloc for the finish sanding. Not all POS sanders are the same. I have used some ROS sanders than cannot keep up with my SpeedBloc finish sander. Like any other tool there will be a wide variance of efficiencies between brands and models within brands.
I purposely use both. A Bosch 6" ROS, and a couple of 1/4 sheets (PC and an OLD Craftsman).
I generally start with the ROS through 100, then switch to the 1/4 sheet for
120 to 150/180, depending upon the finish. This removes any swirl marks that the ROS leaves that you often can't see until you stain.Surprising at how much material a 1/4 sheet sander with good sandpaper, even at the finer grits, can remove, and, at least IME, how much easier it _selectively_ removes pencil/chalk layout marks and burns when you get to those finer grits.
Control of the 1/4 sheet is a bit better for me when sanding edges without rounding over, and the action of the 1/4 sheet itself is less likely to aggravate my poor old abused carpal tunnel nerves ... a bigger consideration the older you get.
As usual, YMMV ...
Still use the quarter sheet in corners. ROS with velcro base gets 90% of the workload.
Frank
I use both. The ROS is a little more aggressive - actually quite aggressive with coarser paper*. After inital sanding with the ROS I turn to the pad sander and hand sanding for finish.
RonB
Charlie,
I'll add another to the 'list' . . .
For 'rough' flattening and making scarf's on 'stair-stepped' sheets of ply - my 'straight-line' belt sander is THE tool.
For 'hogging out' or 'semi-carving' a flat, overlapping, 'flap disk' on a right-angle grinder is amazing - you have GOT to use a delicate touch, it's THAT quick.
The ROS {a 'right angle', adjustable speed, 'soft-pad', hook-n-loop} I use for 'intermediate prep' work. That is to about 120 grit.
For finer grit {to maybe 220}or small pieces, small places, or into corners I use the 1/4 sheet.
Above 220 I typically hand sand using any number of 'holders & formers'.
Of course none of this is 'graved in Stone'. It is really the job-at-hand that decides the 'best tool' to use.
Regards & Good Luck, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop
IIRC, there was a guy in a recent issue of FWW that used one of these to shape his artistic, and highly curved, furniture.
Now that I can easily do compound angled joinery on the Multi-router, I been itching to try it.
After surgery, I was never able to play any musical instrument. That damned circumcision really took a lot out of me.
"Swingman" wrote in news:z8OdndYb-fcmcaHYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:
I had a similar problem recently with a 1/3 sheet Craftsman sander that I had for over thirty years. Whenever I used it, my hands and elbows would go numb. So it got tossed.
It played havoc with my golf game. I never could play an electric bass. ;-)
Take good care of yourself. We need old players!
Patriarch
I use both. I like the palm sander for tighter places (it's a smaller, lighter sander), plus it is less aggressive than a random-orbit. In a pinch I could use just one of these two, but it's nice to have them both.
Random Orbital is definitely the way to go. Dynabrade is the best on the market.
Jonathan
Random Orbital is definitely the way to go. Dynabrade is the best on the market.
Jonathan
Do you recommend a 120 or 200 gallon compressor to go with those sanders?
My experience is that the ROS will do maybe 90% of the sanding I need in a fraction of the time it would take with a palm sander. The palm sander's only advantage is working closer to a corner.
I have and use both. I also use an 8" softpad. Of the three, I like the ROS the least and use it mostly with coarse grits for initial, rough sanding.
If I had to have just one of the three I'd keep the 1/4 sheet but IMO, the very best sander for finishing is a 1/2 sheet sander such as Porter Cable's #505 with a thick felt pad. The area covered is generous and the pad applies greater pressure to high areas thus flattening them as well as sanding overall.
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