Fingers worn out. mechanical 'sander' advice required.

[pcatterall]

My 80 year old fingers are no longer a viable sanding pad, the skin wears away faster than piece I am sanding.
I want advice on the best tool for general sanding/polishing.
In the past I have had orbital sanders, belt sanders and drum and disk attachment's with varying degrees of success, elbow grease and hand power were generally more effective.
I would like something to use on my classic car ( sanding to bare metal) and for sanding/buffing on the boat. I would like something which could use a range of sand paper ( 40 to 2000 grit) or equivalent pastes.
Any advice please!

 

[Easticks28]

For large areas I would reccoment something like this https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/random-orbit-sanders/cat830928

For small work and 'nooks and crannies, these are brilliant https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8828875
Sanding sheets to suit are very reasonable from Amazon.

 

[ctva]

Agree with Easty. The orbital one is what I use most but for detail I use the more compact Delta style sander similar to this.

 

[pcatterall]

Agree with Easty. The orbital one is what I use most but for detail I use the more compact Delta style sander similar to this.

Thanks guys. I 'found' a box with an as new palm sander ( forgotten Xmas pressy?) used it on a car panel, ( with careful grip selection) worked better than and more kind to the fingers and muscles!!

 

[LadyInBed]

hand power were generally more effective.

As the title is Mechanical Sander:
You can buy a Sanding Block for a couple of quid but I use an offcut of plywood, fold the paper edges over the edges of the ply and staple round the edge.
That way you can have several Sanding Blocks of different sizes.

 

[Norman_E]

The problem for te OP is that he does not want to do the job by hand. I agree with Easticks about the choice of two sanders, one little detail work palm sander, and a random orbit one. The advantage of the random orbit is that it minimises scratches and swirls, but for fast removal of old paint from the garden furniture I found that an old £10 cheapie 1/3rd sheet sander did ther job fastest.

 

[Hunterlees]

For the abrasive itself, I would look at something which takes Mirka Abranet sanding strips or discs. The open nature of the abrasive helps prevent clogging, and assists with vacuum extraction if required.

 

[pcatterall]

bit off subject but have had real issues with quality of wet and dry recently. Some stuff just dropped to bits after 2 minutes, others worked for about 20 strokes and lost their cutting ability. Just not fit for purpose in the main.
Difficult to buy by 'respected makers name' suppose buying from a reputable source is the best solution.

 

[Jim@sea]

For large areas I would reccoment something like this Random Orbit Sanders | Sanders | Screwfix.com

For small work and 'nooks and crannies, these are brilliant https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8828875
Sanding sheets to suit are very reasonable from Amazon.

The Mac Allister Orbital as shown on the Screwfix site is actually quite good. I bought one and it was used to sand down rust on a muck spreader for a couple of days plus it was used in my absence quite a lot. It then went wrong Fortunately Screwfix had me as a customer and was able to find when I bought it 11 months before and just gave me a new one.

 

[Poignard]

These are well worth using with power sanders. The increase in life of abrasive pads and belt is amazing

Titan Abrasive Belt Cleaner 76mm

 

[Stemar]

A random orbital sander for larger areas, as mentioned above, but for small detail work, consider a decent multitool. I got one a few years ago as the tool for the job and it's turned into one of those tools I didn't know I couldn't live without until I had it. But do get a decent one. My first try was a Draper and I took it back because it belonged in Toys R Us, not Toolstation. The Bosch I replaced it with was twice the price, but ten times better.

 

[pvb]

A random orbital sander for larger areas, as mentioned above, but for small detail work, consider a decent multitool. I got one a few years ago as the tool for the job and it's turned into one of those tools I didn't know I couldn't live without until I had it. But do get a decent one. My first try was a Draper and I took it back because it belonged in Toys R Us, not Toolstation. The Bosch I replaced it with was twice the price, but ten times better.

I bought a cordless Bosch PSM18Li cordless sander, as I already had a Bosch drill which uses the same batteries. It's superb, just fits in the palm, very easy to use. It has an internal fan to suck dust away and blow it in to a dust collection container. In the last year I've used it loads for decorating the outside of the house, and other jobs. Being cordless, it's very convenient.

 

[LadyInBed]

The problem for te OP is that he does not want to do the job by hand.

Am I being too literal reading the thread title when he asks for Mechanical sander advice rather than Electrical sander advice and states "hand power were generally more effective"?

 

[Greenheart]

Probably one could buy one of these...

...and use it with one of these, plus the sanding discs that stick to it...

...but on balance, I reckon you took it too literally.

I bought a cordless Bosch PSM18Li cordless sander, as I already had a Bosch drill which uses the same batteries.

? Yep, the other day I bought a Bosch cordless grinder because I already had a Bosch drill and battery.

Then I bought another, bigger Bosch battery for the grinder.

I haven't used the grinder (I'm not really sure I needed one) but I'm already looking for what else I can buy from Bosch, which fits the same batteries. I want one of those 10,000 lumen work-lights. I've absolutely no use for it, but I have the battery, so why not?

 

[Lightwave395]

Bought one of these last year, I've worked it extremely hard since and it's my 'go to' sander, does a brilliant job

350W Random Orbital Sander

 

[C08]

For general descaling, derusting or abrasion but not fine work a belt finger sander is a very useful tool particularly on a boat.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I'm quite surprised that no one advised the OP to protect his hands with a pair of work gloves.

 

[ctva]

...
? Yep, the other day I bought a Bosch cordless grinder because I already had a Bosch drill and battery.

Then I bought another, bigger Bosch battery for the grinder.

I haven't used the grinder (I'm not really sure I needed one) but I'm already looking for what else I can buy from Bosch, which fits the same batteries. I want one of those 10,000 lumen work-lights. I've absolutely no use for it, but I have the battery, so why not?

I got the Bosch cordless grinder last year, brilliant and soooo much more convenient than the corded one.

Basic rule is;

How many power tools should a bloke have?

One more than he has.

 

[thinwater]

It took HOW long to realize a power sander is faster and easier? Oh dear.

 

[pcatterall]

I'm quite surprised that no one advised the OP to protect his hands with a pair of work gloves.

My skin worked really well and was very flexible until a few years ago, it was very supply and renewed its self very quickly. I should wear gloves more often but have a 12" span and can very rarely get gloves to fit and very tight ones cramp my fingers! Its the cracking/splitting at the ends that is the worst part and this seems to happen inside gloves.