I need a new sander!

[surveytech]

MY orbital sander finally died after 25 years of use. Can you believe it?
Now I need a new orbital and could use a bit of advice. Do I want the 1/4 sheet palm sander or the round disc palm sander.

I realize that many of you do some damn nice woodworking. I am not one of those guys. I need something to sand the laun ply on my tear but I wont be building any furniture.

I also wonder about the consumables. Do you find the velcro back disc costs start to add up quick? Kind of like inkjet cartridges. Or does the performance of the round sander outweigh any cost factors?

Any and all advice is most welcome.
Thanks.

Walter

[subtearanean]

Porter Cable 1/2 sheet sander. Try to find an older one, they clean up nicely, the orbital bearing is an easy replace when needed.

What died on yours? Not worth repairing?

[Steve_Cox]

MY orbital sander finally died after 25 years of use. Can you believe it?
Now I need a new orbital and could use a bit of advice. Do I want the 1/4 sheet palm sander or the round disc palm sander.

I realize that many of you do some damn nice woodworking. I am not one of those guys. I need something to sand the laun ply on my tear but I wont be building any furniture.

I also wonder about the consumables. Do you find the velcro back disc costs start to add up quick? Kind of like inkjet cartridges. Or does the performance of the round sander outweigh any cost factors?

Any and all advice is most welcome.
Thanks.

Walter

Walter,

I love my 5 inch Makita orbital sander that uses the hook and loop 8 hole disks. 25 disks for less than 10 bucks at the HD. There is no comparison in my opinion. I also don''t believe in using a sanding disk past its prime either, when it cutting slows and it starts heating up it's time to change them. Ive got a cheap friend named Dave that likes to come by when I'm sanding, he picks up my used sandpaper as I change the disks and exclaims "these are still good, they still have grit on them". In the past I've tried them all, 1/3 sheet, 1/4 sheet, round adhesive disk, DA's, Oscillating, in line, none compare. But that's just me, for power sanding, that and the belt sander. I have a long board, and a few hand made blocks for hand sanding. I'm just a wood butcher hackin out a TearDrop. I'm sure the real woodworkers will have a better perspective.

Steve in St Augustine

PS Never had a 1/2 sheet sander, Sub might be right...

[cracker39]

I can't comment on comparing orbital sanders, as I have only used one. But, I'd think that a palm sander would not be as easy to hold and use as one like I have. It's a B&D random orbital that uses 5" hook and loop disks. What I like about it is that it has a side handle for two hand use, adjustable speed dial, and a lock on switch. My orbital is about 5 or 6 years old and recently the hook pad started coming loose from the bottom. I cleaned under the loose areas and used contact cement to reattach it. I have another bottom pad somewhere, and hope it turns up when I get my new utility shed build and go through all the boxes I have stored in the old one.

Does the palm orbital sander pad revolve? I saw one with a square pad that was called an orbital, but wonder how well it would work. I have an old regular palm pad sander that uses a quarter sheet of paper. What I don't like about that one is that is isn't really all that easy to attach the sheets tightly. If I got a palm orbital, it would be as a supplement to my bigger one, not a replacement. Yes, disks cost more than paper sheets, but I like the convenience of quick changing, and I buy them in job packs (Norton) of 25 which costs less per disk than the 5 packs. HF probaly has them cheaper, but I didn't look for them there yet..and will they be as good as the Norton disks? I'll probably have to buy a lot more when I get started building my TTT.

[Chris C]

Steve,

I use an orbital sander some in my work and also have a neighbor who comes around scrounging used discs. I've never been able to get across to him the only thing left on the discs when they are worn out is the larger grains of abrasive. Of course they'll just cut nice little circles in his soft-wood project. Some people just don't understand the relationship between wood and cutting mediums, huh?

[cracker39]

Steve,

I use an orbital sander some in my work and also have a neighbor who comes around scrounging used discs. I've never been able to get across to him the only thing left on the discs when they are worn out is the larger grains of abrasive. Of course they'll just cut nice little circles in his soft-wood project. Some people just don't understand the relationship between wood and cutting mediums, huh?

And depending on what you're sanding and how fine a finish you want, use progressively finer disks. If the wood has scratches, I use a 60 grit to smooth out the scratches, then go to 100, then, depending on what I want as a surface, to 120 or higher, up to 220. I have never needed to go finer than that with the orbital.

[Chris C]

Dale,

I only use 60 through 80 grits on a sander. From there I go to a cabinet scraper.......................which, if properly sharpened, equates to about a 600 grit. Actually I could do without the sandpaper, but it saves my thumbs to go through at least those two grits.

[cracker39]

I've never tried a scraper. I don't think my right wrist and elbow would hold up using one with the tendinitis I have in them. Using the power tools is hard enough on them. I try to use my left hand as much as possible. Using a mouse is partly if not primarily responsible for the wrist. I learned to use it with my left hand 6-7 years ago, but I still manage to keep it in bad shape. Besides, I'm just a hack woodworker, not a craftsman. I try to do a decent job, but I'm not in the same class of many of you here. Maybe I'll become more of a craftsman when I dont' have so many other things pressing.

[Chris C]

Dale,

You're right, it's not easy on the wrist...............but the finish on the wood is beyond beautiful. Every now and then I have to give it up for a day or two because of my bad wrist. Oh well, that's just what happens as the old body starts giving up!

[surveytech]

how would you scrap the curve on a tear roof?

[DestinDave]

I'll jump in and agree with the above posts - I have had great results with my Makita 5-inch random orbit sander. I just ordered a new pad for it since I have obviously used the hell out of it - the Velcro was coming apart at the edges. I've used everything from 60-600 grit but mostly 80-180 for woodworking. I had a Porter-Cable 6-inch RO sander costing more than twice the Makita and ended up using it as a buffer instead of a sander.

[mikeschn]

Chris,

I'm looking forward to seeing your teardrop...

Can you build one for me for less that $49,000??? LOL

Mike...

Dale,

I only use 60 through 80 grits on a sander. From there I go to a cabinet scraper.......................which, if properly sharpened, equates to about a 600 grit. Actually I could do without the sandpaper, but it saves my thumbs to go through at least those two grits.

[toypusher]

OH..OH..OH! I can ($48,999.00)!

[asianflava]

I have a DA sander which works out great for flat surfaces. I also have a belt sander that I borrowed from a friend, good for taking off a lot of material quickly. The sander that has become my best friend is the stationary belt/disc sander. It helps me get things to fit together. I have a cheapo Harbor Freight one. I didn't think I'd use it as much as I do, I may upgrade to one with a wider belt.

[mikeschn]

OH..OH..OH! I can ($48,999.00)!

Yea, I know I set myself up for that one... I won't be buying any teardrop that costs as much as 1/2 of a house, or even a quarter of a house...

But I sure would like to see what Chris C comes up with. It's bound to be a masterpiece!

Mike...

P.S. Maybe if I started a museum, and solicited donations...