Electric sanders are popular woodworking tools. Portable sanders include belt sanders for heavy sanding and finish sanders for further leveling. Finish sanders include straight, random orbit, and detail sanders. Random orbit sanders are best for large areas, while straight sanders are better for corners. Detail sanders are ideal for complex and contoured surfaces.
The electric sander is one of the most used woodworking power tools. The two basic models are the portable sander and the bench sander. Portable sanders also fall into two categories: belt sanders and finish sanders, which include finish sanders, random orbit sanders, and detail sanders.
The portable belt sander is generally considered to be the more aggressive type of portable sander. It is designed for heavy sanding applications and is primarily used to remove large amounts of material from a surface. This portable sander is designed with a continuous loop or band of sandpaper that is stretched over two pulleys that spin it. It is suitable for sanding and leveling rough or uneven surfaces in the initial stages of a sanding project.
The portable finish sander is often used after a bench sander for further leveling and sanding of a surface. The three main types of portable finish sanders are straight sanders, random orbit sanders, and detail sanders. While all three types can be used for finishing purposes, each excels in different applications.
The random orbital sander gets its name from its unique sanding motion, which incorporates two simultaneous motions. It is designed with a circular backing pad, which is rotated in a circle while simultaneously being moved in a random elliptical cycle. This dual sanding action eliminates the problem of swirl and belt sander marks, creating a very smooth surface.
The random orbital sander is a type of aggressive sander and is best suited for sanding large areas. The random sanding motion of this tool allows the operator to sand the surface in any direction without scratching or scuffing the wood. It is often designed with a dust catcher for nearly dust-free sanding.
The Straight Finish Sander is designed with a rectangular block-shaped base that holds a sheet of sandpaper. This type of portable sander moves back and forth along the grain of the wood. Unlike the random orbit sander, which has a circular sanding base, the straight sander has the ability to get into corners and also creates a much smoother surface. The smaller straight sander models are referred to as “palm” sanders.
Also called a profile or mouse sander, the detail sander is designed for use on contoured or oddly shaped surfaces and for detailed and complex sanding applications. It often comes with attachments and can be used for a number of different projects. The detail sander is suitable for use in routing work and craft projects.
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