Belt sander vs orbital sander vs palm sander

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• When to use a wood sander
• Types of wood sanders
• Using the right sandpaper

Wood sanding can be a tedious and time-consuming job for do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike. But if you want to achieve a fine finish on your woodworking projects, you need to put in the extra time and effort into proper wood sanding. Fortunately, there are excellent power tools available to make your sanding jobs quick, easy and fun. To help you overcome any sanding struggles, here is helpful information on the best electric sanders for wood and when to use them.

When to Use an Electric Wood Sander

Woodworkers know there is a time and place for sanding by hand. You will usually hand-sand for small and intricate jobs where powered wood sanders can damage or obscure sharp edges and fine details. For large sanding jobs, where work progresses from rough to fine-finished stages, there is no replacement for electric sanders. They are the power tools of choice when it comes to efficiency.

In many situations, nothing beats an electrically powered sander. Hand sanding only goes so far until the sheer convenience of letting a power tool do the work outweighs the savings of using your hands and multiple sandpaper sheets. Here are common examples of situations where you cannot beat putting a power sander to work.

• Furniture making: No matter if you are a hobbyist or professional craftsperson, every furniture maker needs an assortment of electric sanders. It’s difficult to recommend the best sander for furniture because there are so many different applications. It's quite possible you will benefit from all sander types.
• Cabinetry making: There is a difference between furniture making and cabinet making. Furniture involves many free-standing pieces, whereas cabinetry usually refines to built-in and interlocking components. There is little difference between sanding requirements, though, and you will likely use both belt sanders and sheet finishing sanders.
• Staircase building: More than a carpentry task, staircase building is closer to an art form. This skill requires vast amounts of sanding where power sanders make an enormous difference in speed and smoothness. Here, cordless random orbital sanders are irreplaceable.
• Toy manufacturing: If you are one of the craftspeople who builds children’s toys, powered sanders will make your job much easier. Fine work like toy making requires unique tools such as disc sanders. You might also spend a lot of toy-manufacturing time with a palm sander.

Types of Wood Sanders

There are four main wood sander types: belt sanders, random orbital sanders, disc sanders and finishing sanders. Each sander type has its specialized purpose. However, often these purposes overlap and one type of sander can do similar wood finishing work as another. The difference at this fine line usually lies in the skill of the hands holding the sander.

If you have the budget and are a serious woodworker, you cannot go wrong by investing in all four sander types. Combined with all four sander designs and the proper combination of abrasives, you will be able to take on virtually every workshop sanding task you can imagine. Here is a detailed look at the four types of wood sanders.

Sandpaper and Other Abrasives

No electric wood sander, regardless of make or action, can work without sandpaper. As with the quality of your power tools, you get what you pay for with sandpaper. Abrasives, of which sandpaper is part of the family, have unique terminology and ratings. Here are the basics of what you need to know about sandpaper and other abrasives

• Abrasive grit: This number refers to how many abrasive particles there are per square inch of sanding surface. Grit ratings range from very coarse such as 40-grit, which has 40 particles per square inch, up to ultra-fine at 600 particles per square inch. Most woodworkers stock sandpaper ranging from 60-grit to 220-grit.
• Composition: This refers to what the sandpaper abrasive particles are made from. Woodworkers use four sandpaper particles. Aluminum oxide is the most common and long-lasting. Garnet sandpaper creates the best look and smoothest surfaces. Silicon carbide sandpaper works well on wood, but is even more effective on metal or plastic surfaces. Occasionally, woodworkers purchase ceramic sandpaper for really rough work that requires drastic cutting.
• Size: Sandpaper belts or loops range from 3” to 4” wide and from 18” to 24” long. Sandpaper pads are usually 9”x11” rectangular sheets that are easy to divide into half, third or quarter sections. Most sandpaper discs are either 5” or 6” diameter, but big tools can take 7”, 8” or 9” diameter sandpaper discs.

Even though it’s far easier to use a power tool for wood sanding, there are times when nothing can replace good old hand-sanding. In that case, selecting the right sandpaper is crucial. So is having a hand-saving rubber sanding block.

Wood Sander Features

Each electric sander type has features that make your work easier. They also make your sanding jobs safer and more enjoyable. These engineered tools have a lot of thought behind them, and they are the result of years in experience from woodworkers and product designers. Here are some of the features to look for when buying an electric or cordless sander.

• Hand grips: Holding on to your sander in a safe and controllable manner is vital. Powerful sanders have heavy vibration, while small sanders need intricate control to avoid damaging fine details. The most essential component of sander grips is the composition. Soft grips make it much easier to hold and control your sander.
• Dust Collection: Creating dust when sanding is unavoidable. There is, however, a way to get around breathing and sweeping dust. Many electric sanders have built-in dust catching bags. Some are compatible with shop vacs or external dust collection systems.
• Speed: Many electric sanders have variable speed controls. They allow you to run at slow speeds for cautious preliminary work or at flat-out rates for high polishing. Some sanders have controls like throttles where you can adjust speeds as you sand. Others have selection switches that range from one-to-nine rates.
• Trigger Locks:This handy feature lets you lock your sander in motion and allows you to free up your hands. You can also lock your trigger on a run setting and clamp it to remain stationary while you feed your work to the sanding belt, disc or pad.

How to Choose the Right Sandpaper Grit and Type

Nothing will make or break your sanding process like sandpaper. The right sandpaper composition and grit will produce excellent results. The wrong composition and grit, especially at the wrong time, can ruin good wood. Once you have selected the right sander type for your specific job, it is time to pick the right grit.

The general rule of thumb in sandpaper grit selection is to start with a coarse grit and work your way up to a fine grit for the final finish. However, this depends on the type of wood and its condition. Typically, for raw wood, many craftspeople begin with a coarse grit like 60 to quickly clean up rough surfaces. Then, they progress in stages such as a 100-grit for semi-smooth and a 150-grit for really smooth surfaces. When they want an exceptionally smooth look, some will opt for a last pass with 220-grit paper.

As a word of caution, over-sanding to a glass-like surface might make it difficult for the wood to take on a stain or other finish product. Wood is a porous material. Part of wood’s beauty and appeal is letting its natural grain and color show. Sanding too smoothly might detract from the final finish, rather than enhance it.

Buy a Wood Sander From Construction Fasteners & Tools

Construction Fasteners and Tools is one of Canada’s top sources for excellent wood sander tools and sandpaper products. For 15 years, we have been the go-to source for online tool and construction fastener selection. Make sure to browse our online catalog and explore the many belt, disc, finishing and random orbital wood sanders we have in inventory for you.

Shop Construction Fasteners & Tools for all your sanding and other woodworking needs. Call us at 866-238-8880 or contact us online.

FAQs About Electric Wood Sanders

1. What Is an Electric Sander Used For?

An electric sander is a power tool used to smooth and finish surfaces. To remove material from a surface, the sander moves a piece of sandpaper or another abrasive rapidly, often in a circular motion. You can use an electric sander for a variety of tasks in many industries, including woodworking and auto body repair. Potential applications for an electric sander include:

• Removing old paint or varnish from wood
• Preparing a surface for finishing
• Smoothing the edges of planks
• Removing excess material from a surface
• Stripping and prepping floors

2. What Is the Difference Between an Orbital Sander and a Sheet Sander?

Both orbital sanders and sheet sanders move an abrasive in a circular pattern. However, while a sheet sander uses sheets of sandpaper as the abrasive, an orbital sander uses special sanding discs. These discs come in multiple grits, and they tend to cost more than regular sandpaper. Orbital sanders provide more versatility than sheet models, making them ideal for those who want to own just one sanding tool.

3. How Do I Choose an Electric Sander?

To choose an electric sander that will meet your expectations, you need to consider factors such as the type of material you plan to sand and what type of finish you need on the final product. Some electric sanders work better for specific tasks. For instance, belt sanders work well for jobs that require you to remove lots of material quickly, while finishing sanders allow you to create an extremely smooth surface.

4. Is an Orbital Sander Good for Wood?

Yes, orbital sanders can effectively sand wood. However, you should keep in mind that regular orbital sanders can leave circular marks on wood surfaces. If appearance matters to your project, you might choose a random orbital sander instead.

5. Can You Remove Paint by Sanding?

An electric sander can remove paint, varnish and other finishes from a surface. You might choose to remove paint if you want to expose existing woodwork in a home. If the paint contains lead, however, abrading it off with a sander is not safe. If you think the paint you want to remove might contain lead, call in a qualified professional.

6. What Is the Best Sander to Remove Paint?

Because their design allows them to remove material quickly, a belt sander works well for projects that involve removing paint from large surfaces. Once you have stripped the paint from the desired area, you can finish the job with a more subtle tool like a random orbital sander or finishing sander.

7. How Do You Sand a Table With an Electric Sander?

Before beginning your sanding project, put on protective equipment, including safety glasses, gloves and a mask. Then, move the table to a well-ventilated area. Turn on your electric sander and sand with the grain to avoid damaging the wood. Start with a coarse sandpaper to remove old paint and switch to a finer abrasive to work out scratches and prepare the surface for finishing. Finally, remove dust from the table with a tack cloth.

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