Are you confused by the different types of electric sanders that are available and unable to decide which one would be best for your application? Let's have a look at the various types available and their applications.
· Belt Sander
Random Sander
It employs a continuous moving belt driven by two rollers. It is primarily used on rough flat surfaces and is not aimed at finishing work. Move with the grain of the wood. It comes in different sizes such as 3" x 18", 3" x 21", 3" x 24" and 4" x 24", where the first number refers to the width of the belt and the second number refers to the overall length of the belt. Some units offer variable speeds, which can be confusing as specifications are quoted in either imperial or metric units, depending where you are in the world. It's either measured in feet per minute (fpm) or in metres per minute (m/min).
· Disk Sander
Quite a simple application - it's either bench mounted or it doubles up as an angle grinder such as used by auto body repair shops.
· Pad Sander
The pad sander, also known as the palm sander as it fits in the palm of the hand, comes in two varieties:
Orbital - also known as a sheet sander as it uses rectangular sheets that can be cut out of standard sandpaper sheets. As the pad moves back and forth, it has to move with the grain.
Random orbit - It has the ability to sand in a completely random orbit, at speeds of up to 12,000 revolutions per minute. This random motion allows the sander to leave a smooth finish without the sanding marks that disk sanders or belt sanders leave behind. They are more aggressive than the orbital sander and can be moved across the grain in any direction.
· Detail Sander
Also known as a finishing sander. It typically has a triangular base plate so as to fit into nooks and tight corners.
· Finger Sander
A belt sander with a very narrow belt (e.g. 12.5 mm) to fit into narrow spaces.