Portable Sanders PDF

Portable Sanders  Four categories o Belt sanders  Heavy and light o Orbital sanders  Orbital  Random orbital o Pad sanders o Specialty sanders  Belt sanders o Heavier machines are used for horizontal surfaces o Lighter machines are used for vertical surfaces  Less fatigue o Machine balance is...

Portable Sanders  Four categories o Belt sanders  Heavy and light o Orbital sanders  Orbital  Random orbital o Pad sanders o Specialty sanders  Belt sanders o Heavier machines are used for horizontal surfaces o Lighter machines are used for vertical surfaces  Less fatigue o Machine balance is very important  Don’t want to be fighting the machine o Sizes is determined by belt size (3x24, 4x24, 3x20, etc.) o Platen is lower than wheels  Only part that makes contact o Rear wheel is driven o Front wheel is used to track the belt o Removes material quickly o Hand position and pressure is important  Should not push down, weight of the tool does the work o Takes skill and practice to use properly  Very easy to over-sand or create divots/low spots o Best to sand with the grain  Overlapping passes  Must overhang to get the ends and edges of the boards o Often used in commercial millwork o Machine needs to be set-up each time belt is changed  Tracking must be done  Sometimes while the machine is in use o Can get aftermarket stands to turn hold the sander like a stationary machine o Ear protection is a must  Orbital Sanders o Random orbital obscures sanding pattern left by disc  Can get pig-tails o Holes in disc are for dust extractions o o o o o o 2 methods of disc attachment  PSA – pressure sensitive adhesive  Hook and loop – Velcro Do not push down on the sander  Can overheat the pad, melt the hook and loop  Pads can be easily replaced and are not too expensive Do not angle the machine, pad should stay flat, see above Random orbitals are usually round with a 5 or 6” diameter pad Orbital sanders are usually square, use a ¼ sheet of sandpaper Should take breaks when using – constant vibration can damage nerves  Pad sanders o Most often orbital o Usually use 1/3 or 1/2 sheets of sandpaper o Can go by finish sanders - most often used as a last step before finishing o Becoming more rare  Specialty sanders o Many different types  Triangular pads  Long narrow belts  Profile pads o Not tools that are often used  Unless you are a restorer/refinisher won’t get a ton of use  Air powered sanders are available o Oil used in air tools can cause contamination of your work  Makes finishing difficult o Also need a large compressor  Tool requires a large CFM