Small Electric Sanders - best buy?

[Anonymous]

I want to buy a small orbital electric sander - the 'triangular sort' (unless anyone thinks that's a bad idea in principle?). I want to sand fairly small sections of varnished wood, inside, while we are living on board, so I really don't want dust everywhere! There are two basic styles on the market - those with integral filter (both Bosch and B&D offer those) and those with a vacuum attachment. Presumably the latter is better, but I can't be running our small vacuum cleaner for ages - it will burn out, for sure, it is only a small domestic one, probably designed for a small bedsit or flat.

Then again, how effective are the integral filters? If I am going to have to put dust sheets over everything, and hoover and dust everywhere anyway, why bother - or does it help to minimise the problem?

I really don't know and hope that some of you who already have these sanders can give your opinion and, hopefully, a best buy.

Oh....there is a sexy-looking Bosch with Li-Ion batteries but the charger looks massive /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

One of the other (mains) Bosches with integral filter says on the box that it is great for polishing 'with optional accessories'. The local Leroy Merlin say that they don't stock any accessories for Bosch so I can't even see what they consist of - are they any good for polishing??

Many thanks.

 

[Forbsie]

If it is to remove the varnish, I would get one of these and hand sand to finish. Much quicker and little dust.

Smaller one here but watch out for scoring.

If you are insistant on a power sander, dig deep and buy a Fein Multi Master.

 

[Poignard]

I agree with Forbsie, except that I personally prefer Skarsten scrapers because they are easy to sharpen with a file. The Fein Multimaster is very useful for all kinds of jobs. I hear that Bosch have recently brought out a machine similar to the Fein and at a much lower price.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have some small finish sanders that are not orbital sanders but the pad move back and forth in a streight line and thus do not leave and cross grain marks.

Festool one is my most used and can be fitted with different shapes of sanding pad formers to allow derail sanding of curved / round edges.

festool web page

I also have one made by flex that do a simular job.

Flex also have a finger sander to get into very small places

flex web page

 

[Cloven]

I have a mains powered Bosch with the Triangular pads. Great bit of kit and has the outlet for collecting dust although to be honest, I seldom use it. Just accept the dusting afterwards. I have used it on three different baots plus some serious DIY jobs at home for 10 years now and it is still going strong.

The other small sander I use is a Ryobi 1/4 sheet sander. Great for flat panels and MUCH cheaper on sanding sheets as you just cut up a normal sheets of sandpaper. I used this to prepare the complete hull of a new 32ft boat ready for epoxy coating. Took about 3 days of continuous use. Again still in almost daily use and working well.

Unless you have no option, I would always go for the mains powered version. Much more power, longer lasting and cheaper than the battery alternative.

 

[Georgio]

I have been using a Black and Decker "mouse" sander for the last few years. It has been very well used in that time and is still going strong. It has an extension tube that allows you to connect it to a hoover (or dyson, etc) and that works quite well but I normally don't bother.

The down side to all these small sanders is that you are forced to buy the special velcro-on sanding sheets and they can get expensive if you use it a lot.

I'm not sure if the Mouse is still available but I would recomend it.

 

[davidbains]

Lemain, I have gone through two B&D Palm "Mouse"sanders and frankly the quality and reliability is poor.
I now use a B&Q MacAllister palm sander 130wts which seems much better made.
I also have a small DeWalt which is robust but square not triangular.
In fact I have just bought a small DeWalt drill, they seem very well made.
There are smaller triangular detail sanders from several makers, but I find the palm sanders more ergonomic. Connecting a vacuum directly will switch off the vacuum after a few minutes due to overheating. So I have found it OK to sand with my right hand while following closely with my left hand holding an open vacuum tube just a few iches from the sander.
Doing small areas at a time inside keeps the dust under control. Then paint or vanish with small disposable brushes. I try to finish painting by lunch time to reduce the fumes you have to sleep with!!

 

[andrewbodenham]

If it's small areas you're dealing with I really wouldn't bother with a machine. In my experience delta sanders leave a poor finish with scores and swirls. On paint and varnish the abrasive tends to clog very quickly - the friction softens the surface which then welds onto the abrasive in clumps. Dust extraction is token at best. Lots of noise, dissapointing results, even with the more expensive machines like the Fein (though I use it regularly in its sawing mode)
For flatting off prior to recoating I'd use wet&dry paper, used wet. Quick, non-clogging, no dust. Non-woven abrasive (scotch pad etc.) is also useful between coats.
For stripping I'd use a scraper. A simple cabinet scraper works well, or a Skartsen or Bacho hook scraper for larger areas. The key is to sharpen them little and often - every few minutes if needs be. Hot air gun also useful, though beware of scorching.

 

[nedmin]

I bought a Draper triangular sander, £10.99 from Wilkinsons a few days ago, useless,could have ridden bare back to Brazil on it. took it back, so still looking.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much, everyone. A huge rage of opinions and suggestions.