30boat
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I have a half sheet obital Makita that I never use.Really heavy kit.If anyone wants it...
Random Orbital Sander
- Thread starter Lakesailor
- Start date
I have a half sheet obital Makita that I never use.Really heavy kit.If anyone wants it...
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
I have been preparing bulkheads for varnishing and went back to the orbital sander. I found the random a bit more difficult to control for a flat finish on thin veneer. However, the random is a still a great tool and eliminates the swirl marks that an orbital can give with medium grit paper.
fisherman
Well-known member
Abramesh won't stick to mine, do I need a different pad?
bobgarrett
Active member
I have found my orbital sander difficult to use to finish cleaning my hull as only a small area touches the hull and then it skips across leaving a pattern. Do I need a random orbital sander, or one with a foam pad behind the sanding disk, or both features?
Amulet
Active member
Yes you need a random orbit sander. With the orbital you get swirl marks. Adjusting speed can help - and the optimal speed varies with the grit size. Orbitals are not all the same. I have a Makita palm sander with a small orbit (1.5 mm) and a high speed (14000rpm). It is good at 180 grit, OK at 120, and not much cop coarser. I also have a Bosch random orbit which is OK. I have to replace the pads every couple of years. My experience is that modest sized machines are better for work on small boats. Big ones don't fit in small spaces and are heavy. My favourite way of wrecking the rubber velcro grip pad is to use it on a large spinning workpiece on the lathe. (a) it makes it hot, and (b) if the paper comes off the pad makes direct contact with the spinning workpiece. You'd think I'd learn not to do it!
PhillM
Well-known member
I have a random orbital and a detail. But u less you need to cut through a lot, a decent scotch sanding block and a bit of effort is a better solution.
Amulet
Active member
And should have said - certainly for the Bosch random orbit you can buy a softer backing pad, which helps with curved surfaces. May be able to do the same for other random orbit sanders.
savageseadog
Well-known member
It's worth buying non budget products like 3M and OEM backing discs. The velcro sticks better and lasts longer, the abrasives are more effective and last longer too. You should bear in mind that sanding boats is quite demanding on tools and equipment and equip accordingly. I recommend Metabo, Festool, Makita and Bosch, the sanding action on proper sanders is better, faster with less vibration.
There's a chap that does the boat jumbles that has decent stuff at reasonable cost.
There's a chap that does the boat jumbles that has decent stuff at reasonable cost.
fisherman
Well-known member
One chap had a huge sander suspended from above with shock cord high up the mast.
Amulet
Active member
Method of choice is to dangle it from a halyard and tie a can of water to balance its weight on the other end. Maybe good combined with a shock cord?