For testing purposes, we defined "normal load" as the weight of the sander plus our plywood yoke, shown, which served as a proxy for the weight of a hand. It is not supposed to spin fast while sanding. For those who have learned the hard way, using an orbital sander requires using certain techniques so … To help ensure that differences we observed in samples were caused by grit changes and other sanding variables we wanted to test -- and not disparities in grain patterns, color or density between boards -- we made side-by-side comparisons using either bookmatched lumber or adjoining sections cut from the same board. Sander not getting enough power; Weak power source; The filter is not collecting enough dust. To find out how our test results can help you finish your projects faster and better, pick up the October 2008 issue of WOOD magazine, and turn to page 60. Scrollsaw, Carving, and Decorative Projects. My background is in aerospace manufacturing. How hard should I press down? If one of these wires get cut when the regulator is on full speed, then you won’t be able to control the speed … In attempting to produce reliably clean starts, and reliably poor ones, we tried several techniques. If you get a bearing with regular contact seals, it will cause the spinning. If for the above reasons the wire winding is burned, then the whole motor becomes useless. It's normal to see it spin without a load on it, all orbital sanders work this way. Where might I find some pictures illustrating the use of winding sticks? Archived. When using abrasives to smooth a wooden surface the goal is to get a uniformly smooth result. This picture shows a cherry board finished with a water-based poly-acrylic. The random orbital sander features a hook and loop system for fast and easy paper changes and a dust-sealed switch to reduce the risk of dust and debris entering and clogging the ... allowing you to sand evenly. 3. The existence of unblended patterns can signify that you are moving the sander too quickly, applying pressure inconsistently, or using discs with uneven size abrasive grit. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! Beyond that, I’m not certain that variable speed control makes much difference at … The Orbit Sander turns on but does not spin or spin fast enough when being applied to the work surface. These sanders are helpful for cutting more aggressively than other sanders. Deep swirls, uneven scratch patterns and visible scores -- like the marks shown here -- signal something's gone awry. They save you a lot of time when sanding wood, especially when compared with sanding by hand. I think the bigger issue, regardless of speed setting, is to not push down on the machine while sanding in an attempt to speed the process along. Here’s how we tested conventional power-sanding wisdom—and found out it wasn’t always so wise—for the October 2008 issue of WOOD magazine. A random orbit sander just might be the most user-friendly power tool there is. In any case, they mean you aren't done sanding. Under normal load, a sander motor must overcome the friction between the abrasive and the wood. It is put there to stop the spinning. sander: the setting on the machine (which I’ve already said I ignore) and the pace at which you move the sander across the wood. An orbital sander is one of the easier power tools to use. Turn off the orbital sander and flip it over. It moves in only one way. Nickjb, thanks. Push down firmly on the sandpaper. But it allows the machine to properly do its work, and you will soon learn that by slowing down in that regard, you actually spend less time sanding overall. Random orbital sander doesn’t have that usual rotating process like every other tool. Consequently, the pad will spin in a circle very fast and when it meets a resisting point on the surface, it will remove it aggressively. I relaly like them *except* they both are malfunctioning … in the same manner. All Rights Reserved. (A small piece of reflective tape for this purpose is visible on the center wheel in the photo.) We double-checked the feed-rate settings by using our tach to count wheel revolutions. Shorter height allows the user to get closer to work piece for sanding. By this convention, lower grits would run at the lower speeds and the speeds would increase for the higher grits. A: An orbital sander is a sanding machine that operates in a circle, by spinning the disc round. Grasp the sandpaper by any corner and pull it off of the orbital sander. My opinion is that once you get through sanding with 180-grit using a sander, it is time to move to hand sanding with 220-grit and higher. A thorough knowledge regarding how to use a random orbital sander is essential for operating this tool perfectly. When you start one, if you don’t apply pressure right away to the pad, it starts spinning…fast. The tachometer, which measures rotational speed, shoots a laser through a vent in the sander housing to read a reflective marker inside. I have a rigid sander that spins pretty fast on high. ... a random orbital sander has a round sanding pad and makes an orbiting motion to the spin of the discs. We worked with side (raked) lighting, which is invaluable for spotting sanding and finishing flaws. We focused our efforts on the most common wipe- and brush-on consumer finishes, including polyurethanes and poly-acrylics, and to a lesser extent, lacquers and oil blends. Interestingly, a manual that came with a Bosch variable-speed R.O. – Dennis S. Cropper. In my memory the disk of my old machine, a bosch spun much faster, but that one did not have a brake system. How fast should a random orbital sander spin? In metal machining, fewer cutter teeth equals lower rpm and more teeth will allow higher rpm. Look for an... read more. So we bought a Rigid R26011 about a month and a half ago and after only maybe 5 or 6 hours of use, the pad will stop spinning with just the smallest amount of pressure. An orbital sander will spin too fast if the regulator stops working. If you try and sand w/it in this condition it’ll scar whatever it touches. The rectangular bottom also makes it easy to reach into corners. I never used an orbital sander before so I'm not sure if something is wrong or maybe 120 grit is not course enough to make a fast … The primary purpose of a belt sander is to remove material fast. We used this rig both freehand, and on a stand, paired with a stock feeder. It features a textured rubber over-mold for a more comfortable user grip in any orientation. This seems to spin much slower, but use more vibration to sand. Turn the orbital sander on its side. I usually apply this convention, but I have tried reversing it or just using the same speed for all. Normally, a random-orbit sander cuts connected ringlets, like those pictured, which are blended away as the machine works and as passes overlap. We analyzed scratch patterns after each test. So, at least according to this manufacturer, medium to full speed is suitable for pretty much every sanding task. Unlike random orbital sanders, you do not need to buy the special sandpapers. Most of us move the sander far too quickly — like we are polishing our shoes or something. A proper and correct speed … I used the sander on surfaces with various curvature and using only little pressure, but the disk doesn't spin that fast. We double-checked the feed-rate settings by using our tach to count wheel revolutions. Too much use; Power Problems; Bad brushes; Bad Motor sander I own makes some recommendations on speed settings to use for woods, metals or paintwork. Here are 10 tips to help you work faster, get a smooth, even surface and avoid those swirly scratches that don't show up until you apply your finish. Knowing the RPMs and diameter of the wheel allowed us to figure inches per second of travel. The main reason I like orbital sanders over finishing sanders is the sandpaper is held in place a lot more firmly and you don’t have to worry about the sandpaper losing position with heavy use. Our tests confirmed that under heavy load -- such as that experienced when one bears down on the sander -- components like discs and hook-and-loop fasteners become prone to overheating and early failure. The regulator of the speed controller is connected to the transistor and the potentiometer using a few wires. (We marked the sample number, 119, on the edge of the board for reference.). We sprinkled in a few other soft- and hardwoods for good measure. Unlike orbit-sanders, which merely rotate in tiny circles, random orbital sanders not only rotate, but also add a slight wiggling spin to their motion, meaning that the rotations don’t have a definite pattern–hence are random–and the resulting sanding action is very fine and smooth. Hold the new sandpaper above the orbital sander pad, lining it up and making sure it is the proper size. I know some still offer single speed along with the variable speed sanders. sanders at all. We tested off-the-board starts with a running sander; we lowered the sander straight down; and we also practiced bringing it in for a landing. When you first try it, that speed will seem SO SLOW! Disc speed is one thing, but how fast should you move the sander itself for the best results? Hello, I just bought a new random orbit sander, the small festool one, and was wondering how fast the disk should spin. The sander should be allowed to spin freely and under its own weight plus light hand pressure. Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint, Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD, The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD, Civil War Officer's Chair Downloadable Plan, Ultimate Miter Saw Stand - Downloadable Plan, Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014, Solid and Plywood Cherry Darkening at Different Rates, Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To, Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies. Unchecked, the free-wheeling pads can whirl to wood-marring speeds. The sanders ergonomic design reduces vibration and fatigue—making it easier to control. To find answers, we needed a means of controlling downward force. It ensures that the orbital action will work properly so the grit abrades the surface as efficiently as it can. Other potential causes of swirls include using a sander with worn or damaged parts, and sanding wood that is too wet. They are easy to operate and it takes very little time to learn how an orbital sander works. The pad is linked directly with the tool’s motor and therefore gets its full power. Close. So after you’ve started with an appropriately coarse grit to quickly and effectively remove the surface blemishes, scratches and glue blobs, the next goal is to remove the scratch marks that you just installed on the wood’s surface with the 60-grit (40-grit?) The tools of this brand are exceptional, and speaking of their sanders is no … BUT, you have to turn the screws in the opposite direction you normally would. To test the effects of different linear sanding speeds on surface quality, one of our experiments utilized a stock feeder to move boards beneath a random orbit sander. I do alot of vertical stuff, doors, cabinets, etc. I set my random-orbit sander to maximum speed for any grit I’m using and leave it there all the time. This issue arises when the oscillation bearing freezes up and can be solve by lubricating the engine bearings thoroughly. Consequently, working with this tool is not so tiring like belt sanders or traditional pad. However, if the voltage applied is too much or if the motor undergoes a heavy-duty work, these wires can get burned. Here, we used a stopwatch and optical tachometer to test the ramp-up of a sander motor, both under no-load conditions (shown) and with force applied. (When you remove all the 60-grit scratches, you move up and remove all the 80-grit scratches, and so on.) 2. Knowing the impact of load on the sander, and how it bears on both speed and motion, sheds light on some thorny finishing issues, including where to start the sander and how pressing down on the tool affects performance. Q. Disc speed is one thing, but how fast should you move the sander itself for the best results? We later applied a pre-stain conditioner and oil-based stain to our test boards, which made the sanding marks easier to observe and photograph. Do I start the sander on or off my workpiece? We resawed the pine samples (top pair) from one board. In this case, we sanded after each coat at full speed with a 320-grit abrasive mesh disc (also shown). 20V 5" Random Orbit Sander (Battery Not Included) The 20V Random Orbital Sander delivers up to 10,000 RPM for fast material removal. We made additional observations using a stopwatch and rules. We produced these by applying extra pressure to the sander, which, among other things, hampers the normal movement of the free-spinning backing pad. Here, stain reveals the pattern left by an on-the-board sander start. (To learn the results of our tests, pick up the October 2008 issue of WOOD magazine, and turn to page 60.). As the accompanying photos illustrate, a fairly nasty sander swirl, obvious when lit from the side (bottom), can all but disappear with a small change in angle (top). In this situation, the orbital sander will not spin at all. Here’s the symptoms. We used fresh 100-grit sanding discs and newly planed maple to establish our baselines. To test the effects of different linear sanding speeds on surface quality, one of our experiments utilized a stock feeder to move boards beneath a random orbit sander. The second cause is a worn out brake. Beyond that, I’m not certain that variable speed control makes much difference at all to the final surface smoothness. Is this normal? Rob Johnstone: Ah, sanding, the root canal of woodworking. © 2021 Meredith Corporation. The random orbital sander, however, is a sanding machine that can oscillate in addition to spinning. Posted by 1 year ago. Some folks argue that random-orbit sanders are too aggressive for final finish work. Not spinning fast enough. While the dial can be set from 1 (low) to 6 (high) speed, the recommendation is from 4 to 6 on all surfaces and with all sanding grits besides light sanding on paintwork (2 to 3 is recommended, in grits ranging from 180 to 400). The suction sections are blocked; The filter is not attached properly; The filter is full; Hook-and-Loop System Detached. This is a strangely shaped plastic/rubber/polymeric "ring" on the Makitas. We employed an infrared thermometer to measure the heat thrown off by sanders and sanding discs under varying conditions and loads. Trail Rat, not loads of pressure, but enough to get it stuck in and not spinning over the surface. Maybe your resources can shine some light on this, or did manufacturers just give us variable speeds because we thought we should have it? Velcro Came Off; Plastic Broke Off; Sand Disc Falls Off; Sander heats up too fast. Orbital sanders are generally a lot more versatile than finishing sanders, although the latter is easier to control. A correct pace is about 1-inch per second. You can make better cuts by applying very less pressure on it. A well-maintained sander, used with sound technique and fresh abrasives, leaves a path that is thoroughly and evenly scuffed, with scratches of uniform depth. The sander should be allowed to spin freely and under its own weight plus light hand pressure. You should notice it slowly spinning one way or … As with most of our tests, we relied primarily on freshly planed hard maple and eastern white pine boards with similar moisture contents. We worked with stearate-coated aluminum oxide sanding discs and newer mesh abrasives, in grits from 220 to 1500. Bigger grit equates to less teeth and smaller grit to more teeth. However, just like chess, it takes very little time to understand how it works, but it does take longer to master it. An orbital sander is a tool used for sanding wood and is commonly found in workshops and wood shops. Chris Marshall: Dennis, as you point out, I’ve seen no real difference either in cutting efficiency by varying the speed of my sander relative to the coarseness of grit I’m using. Our test apparatus (pictured) employed small dumbbell weights centered above the sander on a dowel. We used a similar method to test the brakes for the sanders' backing pads. So we put the tools to the test -- both for between-coat scuffing and for rubbing out final coats. In this picture, the optical tachometer shows a sander, rated at a no-load speed of 12,000 orbits per minute, approaching its top speed under normal load. The random orbit motion provides overlapping sanding movements while rotating slowly while sanding. Here, under no load, the thermometer puts the sander's air-cooled metal base modestly above room temperature. It is specially designed to oscillate in a random fashion giving a non-repeating motion and a swirl-free surface. Besides, it also operates at a no-load orbit speed ranging between 3300 to 7300 rpm. jambourgie. We focused mainly on polyurethane finishes, conducting trials at full speed and several slower settings. We crosscut the cherry samples (bottom pair) from a single board and, likewise, sanded them to different levels. Bosch Power Tools – GET75-6N – Electric Orbital Sander, Polisher Being among the best random orbital sander, the Bosch power tool GET75-6N comes with an incredible 7.5 amp motor- This makes it perform at a no-load speed of 290 to 640 rpm. This resistance increases with the coarseness of the sanding disc, the roughness of the wood, the sander's weight, and the pressure applied by the operator's hand. Rigid Orbital Sander Stops Spinning with Light Pressure. The rotary sander also comes with a round pad but compared to a random orbital sander, the rotary sander doesn’t vibrate. If your orbital sander is leaving circular sanding scars on a piece of wood it means that your device is spinning but not randomly orbiting. Does pressure on the sander help or hurt? This makes off-the-board starts dicey for older, brakeless sanders. We visually evaluated the effects on the sanding surface and used instruments to gauge stress on the tool. i’ve got two 5″ Rigid orbital sanders. I noticed the disc wasn't spinning really fast, maybe 200 RPM and I could actually stop it spinning with my hand or if I pushed too hard (but it would still be orbiting). But that doesn't mean there's nothing to learn. Both examples show that roughly sanded wood (right top and bottom) holds more stain or finish, and therefore is apt to be darker, than fine-sanded wood (left top and bottom). Now you know how we conducted our tests. Really can’t see much difference in the final surface. Rather than spout conventional wisdom, we challenged it in our shop and came up with several strategies you can use in yours. There are two speeds to be thinking about when using a R.O. How should the speed and grit of paper be used on variable speed random orbit sanders? How fine must you sand to create a professional finish? Questions abound about the proper use of the random-orbit sander: How fast should I move it? Beginners treat all lumber as equal, but experts use each board to its best advantage. Is the ETS not what I think a random orbital is? If it wears out, you will get the spinning. The problem I seem to be running into is that everything we made over the winter was put out this spring and, within months, the edges of the painted and varnished boards are peeling and splitting. Answering this question didn't require any special test equipment, just stacks and stacks of new sanding discs, an industrial-size carton of dust masks, and long days in the finishing room. Rigid Orbital Sander Stops Spinning with Light Pressure. It ensures that the orbital action will work properly so the grit abrades the surface as efficiently as it can. I confess that I do not adjust the speed of my R.O. if you take that brake out, the sander will spin like an angle grinder. We worked on both clamped and unclamped work pieces, and screwed boards to the wall to see if vertical starts would create issues we hadn't seen on horizontal starts.

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