Advice on Woodworking tool - sander
 

Hey,

I'm making some cabinets out of birch plywood and I need to sand it. I sanded the equivalent of 4x8 sheets already by hand, and it wore me out. My dad's old craftsman is missing a piece, so I couldnt use it.

Anyway, I'm interested in getting a 1/4 sheet palm sander tomorrow.

I can get Bosch, hitachi, dewalt, Makita and Porter-Cable pretty easy, so those are the brand choices. Any particular model that would be good.

Thanks

Haha....I don't know diddley about mercedes but were I you I would look into a random orbital sander that uses hook and loop round discs as oipposed to a 1/4 sheet sander.....I have qa dewalt that I like.........

I have a 1/4 sheet sander somewhere?? I can't think of the last time I chose it over the circular one.....In fact I wonder if I even know where it is its been so long since I used it....

Rob M Concord, MA USA

The circular has an advantage if you use a dust collector. It also is a little nicer to handle. The advantage to the 1/4 sheet is that you can get standard sheet sandpaper cheap and you can get it anywhere. The hook and loop pads are more expensive and a bit of a specialty product, although getting more common every day.

The brand I would choose first, of the ones you listed, would be the Porter-Cable or the Bosch. The last I would choose would be the Makita.

Good luck,

Palm Sander
 

I've got the Bosch and love it (on #2 as #1 finally wore out and I upgraded). I've got a genetic defect (my dad and grandad had it) that requires that I remodel the house I live in. 19 yeas of marriage and 6 house all on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, so my family must either be accepting of this or figure going elsewhere's not worth it .;)

Anyway, I'm DIY on this area and couldn't live without my palm sander for everything but find detail work (Hitachi and Dremel for that).

Right now I'm replacing interior doors and wood frame window sash and door and window trim in a 1927 vintage stucco. Wish me luck 'cause things aren't alwasy square after 75+ years.

Ciao for now.

Does the random orbital circular sander leave swirl marks on the wood?

I use both in our woodworking manufacturing environment. For general finishing usage either type of sander works well. The random orbital is more applicable for production work. Using finishing grit grades (140-160-180 grit there should not be any visible scuff marks on most any hardwoods using either type of sander. Note that many woods give off the sanding dust that is flammable and that can damage lungs. For this reason I lean towards the Bosch or Porter Cable models that have the dust collector assembly which will generally keep the dust from being a breathing irritant.

Good luck on your project
Al

I have 7 sanders and use the Dewalt random orbital 90% of the time.
A RO sander is the best way to go. IF you are sanding soft wood, pine or poplar you could get swirl marks if you are to aggressive with a lower grit sandpaper. Doing birch you should not have a problem.
I have the peel and stick RO sander, I prefer it over the cost of hook and loop. However make sure you remove the sandpaper after sanding the wood or the glue will harden due to the heat buildup and then its a mess getting the sandpaper of the unit.
Be aware of the dust, get a unit with a vacuum or use a shopvac or dust collector, it will save your lungs.

Dave

I will probably only work with hard woods.

Hmm, I guess Im just going to go look at some and pick the ones that I like the best.

I looked at some today. I did not like the sears ones. I went to ace home co, some of them were alright.

I think I may get a bosch one. If you have a sander post the model that you have and how you like it.

Thanks

Bosch 3283 DVS is the model I have and am very pleased with it.

I also purchased some McGuire pads and use it to wax my cars. It saves my elbows.

The other reason I like Bosch is that there is a repair facility near me which I can buy parts. The backing pads wear out over time.

I just got the Porter Cable 333 RO sander, it is pretty nice, but it makes my hand a little numb after using it for a while. Makes your fingers feel like little springs if you push on something. I guess its the nature of the sander.

I have a Porter Cable model 7335 variable speed ramdon orbit sander that I use for both wood working and auto body work,it's a great tool.

Many body shops that do superior work use air powered random orbit sanders with relitivly fine paper to take old paint off to bare metal. Sandblasting can warp metal, paint removers are very messy . bigger body grinders with coarse paper are fast but can thin metal.Medium other than sand will also do quality bare metal jobs.......

William Rogers.......