Looking to buy a sander and have no idea which one you need? Or do you know which one you need but don’t know what features to look for?
Here’s the lowdown on eight different types of sanders on the market, what each is used for, and what features to look for in a sander.
Did you know that they make electric drywall sanders? And that drywall sanders come with dust collection accessories? ~ Hoooyah! sweet relief!
1. Belt sanders They range in size from 1 “finger sanders to 37” wide 15HP freestanding sanding machines. The most commonly used belt sander is 3 “x 21” (named for belt size). Features to look for in a belt sander include: dB of motor output (for noise), machine balance, location of the grips on the speed control switch, platen type for a flat sanding surface, and pickup of dust.
two. Disc and belt sanders They are combined machines that are mainly used in workshops for sanding wood, most plastics and non-ferrous metals. On a belt and disc sander, look for features such as the size of the sanding discs and required belts, table tilt mechanism, motor HP, ease of belt change, and whether the sander has belt tracking.
3. Disc sanders They range in size from a 5 “hand sander for job site work, to a 20” freestanding sander, 3HP – 3 phase for the shop. Look for ease of disc change, motor size needed for your type of job, ease of belt alignment, key storage, and dust collection when purchasing a disc sander.
Four. Drum sanders work to flatten, smooth, finish and polish. A drum sander can be used in place of a wood planer to finish the material, but unlike a planer, it removes snipers at the ends of the wood. Features to look for in a drum sander include: ease of belt change, dust collection, motor HP, and footprint.
5. Finish sanders or palm sanders They are used for the last sanding on your fine wood project. Look for high OPM (Oscillations Per Minute) for fine finish sanding, variable speed motor, an ergonomic handle designed for comfort, and a dust collection bag attachment when choosing the right finish sander.
6. Random Orbit Sanders They are used to remove paint from furniture, prepare new trim, clean between coats of finish, and smooth and clean metals and composites, such as solid surface countertops. Random Orbit Sanders have a unique dual motion – the sandpaper disc rotates in a circle while the entire pad moves in an oval loop, resulting in a swirl-free finish even when sanding through the vein. Random orbits work faster than vibratory sanders, but they don’t remove as much material. For this type of work see: belt sanders for flat surfaces, disc sanders for curved surfaces. When choosing a random orbit sander, look for the motor size, body configuration, and pad size (5 or 6 inches) that will suit your job. Make sure the random orbit sander you choose has a dust collection accessory option.
7. Spindle sanders they are perfect for smoothing curves. Available in both manual and benchtop versions, spindle sanders offer a superior finish after removing large amounts of material with a belt sander. Features to look for in a freestanding spindle sander include: spindle storage / sanding drum, emergency stop, well-machined tabletop, and dust collection port. Features to look for in an Edge sander include: single knob belt tension adjustment, well machined steel plate, easy access controls, countertop, easy to use belt change.
8. Drywall Sander They are specifically used to sand dry drywall. Using an electric drywall sander will get the job done 3-4 times faster than hand sanding. Drywall sanders also come with a dust collection system to suck up most of the fine, nasty dust that seems to cover everything in the area. Tea Porter-Cable 7800 is a long range variable speed drywall sander. This sander is long enough to sand 10 feet. Ceilings off the ground and is lightweight (8 lbs.). The 1-1 / 4-inch vacuum hose is 13 feet. long, so an operator can cover a large amount of ground without having to move the vacuum cleaner. At $ 430, it’s a bit pricey for such a specific tool, but worth it when you factor in all the time it will save.
