Sanders – A Buying Guide for Sanding Equipment - RS Components

What is an Orbital Sander?

Also known as finishing sanders, these tools are a widely-used type of handheld air sander. The name derives from the tool’s abrasion pads, which move in a light, rotating or orbiting motion over the surface of the object they are applied to sand. Sandpaper is attached to the abrasion pads using spring-loaded clamps.

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Orbital sanders are designed for fine work, contrasting the greater force typically supplied by belt sanders. They deliver a smooth finish on both flat and round edges, without the swirl marks sometimes left by other types of sanders. They are also a good choice for removing putty as they present little risk of causing accidental damage to the object.

There are two principal types of orbital sander. These are:

• Orbit Sheet Sanders – making use of standard sandpaper, these accessible tools typically feature variable speeds, low vibration, and dust disposal systems
• Random Orbital Sanders – these models are designed to provide a highly smooth finish by applying a circular sanding pad (typically five inches in diameter) to the work surface in a random manner, via a spinning shaft which oscillates off-centre. The purpose of this is to help avoid the uneven spotting typically produced by other types of sanders. It also means that the user can ignore the direction of the wood grain

How to Use an Orbital Sander

The following steps simply detail how to use an orbital sander:

• Switch on the tool and allow the pad to reach its full speed before starting to apply it to the work surface
• Apply the pad to the work surface and move it with a left-right action
• Avoid pressing down while sanding – only a light amount of pressure should be applied. Ensure that no more than a third of the pad leaves the work surface while you are sanding
• Do not turn the sander on its side if you need to access difficult to reach spots – instead, reposition the object you are working on, where possible
• Remove the sander from the work surface before switching it off

Popular Orbital Sander Brands

Which Sander is Best for Walls?

Disc sanders are a good choice for walls as they rotate at a high speed, providing powerful smoothing over large areas. It is advisable to start with a coarser sanding pad to tackle rougher spots before switching to a finer grit for a smooth finish.

How Do You Change a Belt in a Belt Sander?

The precise process varies according to the particular model, but the fundamental steps for changing a belt in a belt sander are relatively straightforward:

• Release the tension lever holding the belt in place
• Pull off and discard the old belt
• Prepare the new belt and slide it into place on the sander
• Reapply the tension lever

Can You Use an Orbital Sander on Wood?

It is possible to use an orbital sander on wood if your project requires precision and close attention to detail. Orbital sanders are an ideal choice for fine work with wood and they are widely used by professionals including joiners and carpenters. However, if you are working with a large, rough surface, a higher-powered belt or disc sander will likely be a better choice.

Sandpaper Basics

Sandpaper can be used with power tools and for sanding by hand. A power sander removes material quickly and efficiently. It’s a good choice for getting rid of surface blemishes and for shaping and leveling wood. Power-sanding is also an effective way to prep surfaces for painting. Sandpaper for power-sanding comes in sheets, discs and belts designed to fit specific power tools. Some tools also accept sheets cut to size.

Hand-sanding products give you a lighter touch for woodworking and finishing. You have better control and can sand areas that a power sander can’t reach. With proper technique, the scratches align with the woodgrain and are less visible. Sand wood by hand before applying the final finish and between finish coats. Sandpaper for hand-sanding comes in sheets you cut to size. Some sandpaper can be used for both hand-sanding and power-sanding.

Sandpaper Types

One way to determine which sandpaper will work best for a particular job is to know the abrasive materials and their properties.

Some papers use natural abrasives:
 

• Garnet is good for hand-sanding. It works well on raw wood, removing light scratches and preparing the surface for finishing. The abrasive particles break during use, providing new edges for removing material, but garnet sandpaper wears quickly.
• Emery works for both hand-sanding and power-sanding metal. Use coarse grits to remove rust or paint and finer grits to polish. Emery cloth sandpaper has a cloth backing.
  

Other abrasives are synthetic:

• Aluminum oxide is a common sandpaper type that works on wood, plastic, metal and drywall. The particles break during sanding, constantly exposing new, sharp edges. Aluminum oxide sandpaper is long lasting, making it a popular choice for power-sanding, and you can also use it for hand-sanding.
• Silicon carbide sandpaper removes material more quickly than aluminum oxide but doesn’t last as long. Use it on wood, plastic and metal for tasks such as rough-sanding, removing paint or rust, and sanding between coats when finishing. Use it on drywall to smooth joints. Silicon carbide products often have a waterproof backing that you can use for wet-sanding, which is a good technique for minimizing scratches when applying liquid to lubricate the work surface. Wet-sanding also helps to prevent the sandpaper from clogging with dust, remove loose abrasive particles and reduce airborne dust.
• Zirconia alumina is suitable for wood, fiberglass, metal and painted surfaces. You’ll find it in the form of belts, pads and discs for power-sanding. Like garnet and aluminum oxide abrasives, the particles break during use, maintaining sharp edges that remove material quickly. Zirconia alumina lasts longer than aluminum oxide.
• Ceramic alumina is available in belts and discs for power-sanding and is good for aggressive material removal on wood. Ceramic abrasives are durable, lasting longer than aluminum oxide.

You may see sandpaper labeled closed coat or open coat. Closed-coat products feature abrasives covering all of the backing. This construction removes more material — making it effective for hand-sanding — but can clog more quickly than open-coat products. Open-coat products have empty space on the backing, giving waste material room to accumulate without reducing performance. Since they don’t clog as quickly, they’re effective for an electric sander.

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Tip

Paper is a traditional backing for sandpaper, but fabric and film backing offer better durability. Film backing on hand-sanding papers allows you to sand contours and difficult-to-reach parts of your work piece.

Sandpaper Grit Numbers

The grit number of a sanding product indicates the size of the abrasive particles. The lower the number, the larger the abrasive particles; they remove more material but create more-noticeable scratches. A higher number indicates smaller particles, which don’t remove as much material but leave a finer, more polished appearance. Sanding projects generally use several grit sizes, starting with lower-number grits and moving up the scale to finer, higher-number grits. Each higher grit removes scratches from the previous grit, creating an increasingly smooth surface.

There’s a wide range of grit numbers available, from 24 for heavy material removal to 2,000 and beyond for working with automotive finishes. Grit numbers between 60 and 220 will handle most household projects. The specific grit numbers you need vary by project and the material you’re sanding, so follow the abrasive product manufacturer’s recommendations. Here are some general guidelines:

Sandpaper grit numbers from 36 to 100 are good for removing material and work well with power sanders.

Applications include:

• Stripping away finishes, such as paint or varnish
• Removing rust on metals or flaws in wood
• Leveling and shaping wood

Sandpaper grit numbers from 100 to 180 perform well with both hand-sanding and power-sanding, preparing bare surfaces for finishes. Large grit makes a good sandpaper for metal and is used in applications such as:

• Smoothing work pieces
• Removing scratches
• Final preparation for finishing

Grit numbers from 180 to 320 work for finishing. Hand-sanding is good for these applications:

• Removing raised woodgrain fibers
• Scuffing between finish coats

Other Abrasives

In addition to sandpaper, there are other abrasives, available in a range from coarse to fine:

• Sanding sponges are flexible pads with an integrated grit. They’re effective on both flat and contoured surfaces, and you can use them for wet-sanding or dry-sanding. They’re more durable than sandpaper and are reusable. Sanding sponges with channels built into the surface help keep the abrasive from becoming clogged with dust.
• Steel wool is another abrasive that can conform to the work surface, letting you work on areas sandpaper can’t easily reach. Steel wool can leave behind small strands, which, if left on the work piece, can rust and cause discoloration. Bronze wool is a similar product that doesn’t rust.
• Refinishing or stripping pads are flexible, reusable sheets of abrasive material that won’t shed. You can cut them to a specific size or shape.
• Drywall screens are metal, open-mesh products designed to level joint compound and plaster. Drywall screens don’t clog as easily as drywall sandpaper and can be easily cleaned for reuse.

Using Sandpaper and Other Abrasives

Good technique helps create a successful finishing project.

• Practice on scrap wood or surfaces that aren’t easily visible to get the feel for how an abrasive or sanding tool removes material.
• Use the finest grit size that’ll handle the task and follow the correct sequence. Skipping a grit number won’t save time; you’ll spend more time sanding with the next grit.
• Power-sanding requires a slower pace than hand-sanding. Moving a sander too quickly creates scratches that are especially visible when you’re staining wood.
• Don’t press down when using a power sander. Too much pressure creates a poor finish and removes less material than if you let the tool and paper do the work. Use a new piece of sandpaper if a light touch doesn’t get the right results.
• Between each grit number, clean off dust and loose abrasive from the work piece. Vacuum the surface or wipe it down.
   

Watch Our Video: How Do I Use Sandpaper?

Caution

Follow manufacturer instructions for use and safety when working with sanding and abrasive products.

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