With a sander you can quickly get the tough and dusty sanding jobs done. There is a different type of sander on the market for every type of sanding job. From belt sanders for coarse work to delta sanders for more precise work in smaller corners. The choice strongly depends on the type of sanding job to be performed.
Types of sanders
Sanders can be roughly divided into four groups. With or without a power cord or battery.
Orbital sander
The orbital sander is the best known machine and can be recognized by the rectangular sanding pad that is made to vibrate by the motor. Unlike an eccentric sander, the sanding pad does not move back and forth, but only vibrates to make the sanding movement. The orbital sander is particularly suitable for large and flat surfaces.
Eccentric sander
The eccentric sander can be recognized by the round sanding pad. Because this round sanding pad is connected to the motor by means of an eccentric, a rotating movement of the sanding pad is created, which causes the sanding movement of the machine. An eccentric sander is suitable for flat and somewhat rounded surfaces.
Delta sander
The delta sander has the same effect as a regular orbital sander, but the name says it all. The difference is in the delta-shaped sanding pad of this type of sander. The delta sander is ideal for sanding smaller surfaces and in corners.
Belt sander
A belt sander can be recognized by the two large rollers at the front and rear of the machine. A sanding belt is stretched around these rollers, just like a track under a tank. With a tension lever, the paper is stretched tightly around the rollers so that the sanding belt is driven by the motor. A belt sander is usually used for the coarser work, for example to quickly sand paint residues from wood with a coarse-grain sanding belt. Then the surface is sanded smoother with an orbital sander.
Which sandpaper to use?
In order to be able to choose from the sandpaper to be used, you must first determine whether wet or dry sanding is required. If wet sanding is required, the sandpaper must also be glued waterproof, otherwise it will pulverize when in contact with water. The waterproof feature is then printed on the back of the paper. In addition to the type of paper, the grain size also plays an important role in choosing the right sandpaper for the job. The lower the number, the coarser the paper.
As a guideline for your choice, you can use:
- Remove old paint layers: grit 60-80
- Sanding new wood: grit 80-120
- Sanding up reasonable existing paint layers: grit 120-150
- Sanding up good existing paint layers: grain 180-220
- Sanding between each paint and varnish layer: 240
Multi sander
A multi-sander is usually a combination of the above types of sanders, except for the belt sander. A multi-sander has different attachments to change the machine type. Most common attachments are for surface sanding, eccentric sanding and delta sanding. These machines are intended for smaller jobs.
Power of the sander
The power of a sander is determined by the power of the motor in combination with the speed of the sanding disc or of the sanding pad. With eccentric sanders, the diameter of the sanding disc also plays a major role. The larger the diameter of the sanding disc, the larger the sanded surface of the eccentric disc and thus the size of the sanded result.
Ease of use of the sander
The ease of use of a sander is determined by, among other things;
- With or without a power cord
- Soft grip to hold the vibrating machine well
- A second handle for more power
- How to fix the sandpaper (clips or velcro)
- Dust extraction options
- Extra battery so you can continue working
