Sanders are the handheld power tools that you can use while remodeling your home or reviving your wooden furniture. They are one of the most effective and essential tools used to add a new shine and feel to the surfaces. They are also helpful in removing all the scuff marks from the surface, which gives a new look to the surface. Also, the sanders will save you a lot of time, money, and energy.
There are numerous surfaces in your home, and each of them might have different finishing. This difference can sometimes make it difficult for you to select the perfect sander you need to do your work. So, before buying the sander, make sure what type of surface you have to sand. It will be beneficial for you to find the right sander before investing in any of them. In this article, you will find different types of sanders and their uses, which will help you select the right sander for your work.
Types of Sanders:
Each sander has unique features that serve different purposes. These qualities will help you choose the right sander for your surface.
1. Orbital Sanders:
Orbital sander comes with a square sanding disk that allows you to sand small corners and sharp edges of the surface. This orbit sander is ideal for homeowners with small sanding jobs as it is convenient to handle. It moves in small circular motions and gives a perfect and smooth finish to the wooden surfaces. They are also known as the quarter-sheet orbital sanders as they use only 1/4th sheet of the sandpaper. You can easily carry them because of their lightweight.
Some of the orbital sanders are charged with batteries while others work on electricity. Also, they don’t make much noise, which is a bonus point if you are using it in your home. There are hooks or clips on both sides to hold the sandpaper on the sanding disk. You can easily replace the sandpaper after a specific time, as you should not overuse it.
2. Random Orbital Sanders:
Random orbital sanders have circular sanding disks that move back and forth in an oscillatory motion. You can move it in random directions, which is why it is known as a random orbital sander. These sanders have velcro attachment for the sandpapers at the bottom of the sanding disk. This attachment will help you to replace the sandpaper with the utmost ease and zero effort.
The random orbital sanders are small in size and easy to handle with one hand. They have a comfortable palm-shaped grip that makes it easy to hold them with one hand while you can stabilize the wooden surface with your other hand. These sanders also hold the quarter-sheet sandpaper like the orbital sanders, but here they are in circular shapes.
If you are a novice and need to sand several surfaces with one sander, you can opt for the random orbital sander. This sander will offer you the same finish like that of an orbital sander and a belt sander.
3. Belt Sanders:
Belt sanders are used for sanding larger wooden surfaces, which makes them useful for people with wood or remodeling work. They smoothen the surfaces quickly but doesn’t provide a fine finishing to the surface. But sometimes, it also depends on the type of wood and its surface.
The belt sanders use the sanding belts, which are nothing but the reinforced abrasive cloths. These cloths help in smoothing the wooden surface. These belt sanders come with a knob adjustment that keeps the sanding belt dead center. Using the belt sander for a longer duration loosens the knob adjustment. So, you need to keep on adjusting the belt as it loosens for as long as you work with it.
These sanders are suitable for people involved in home renovation work or the ones with a furniture shop. Some painters also use the belt sander to remove the varnish or old paint from bigger surface areas.
4. Oscillating Spindle Sanders:
If you want to add a smooth finish to antique wooden pieces or showpieces in your home, you should go for the oscillating spindle sander. It is a tabletop sander that helps in smoothening the wooden surfaces that are hard to deal with other handheld sanders.
The only problem with the oscillating spindle sander is that it is not portable as you have to mount it to your tabletop. It consists of a cylindrical sanding drum that stands upright on your table. When you switch on this sander machine, the cylindrical drum starts moving up and down the spindle in a circular motion. This motion will offer you a fine sanding process and give a fresh feel to your wooden articles.
5. Straight Line Sander:
If you want to shape or level any large and flat surfaces, then the straight line sander will be suitable for you. It smoothens the surface and gives it a fine finishing. Also, it saves a lot of time because of the larger surface area. You can use it for sanding various surfaces such as glass fiber, metal sheet, steel, etc.
6. Detail Sander:
The detail sander has the same properties as that of the orbital sander but consists of a triangular pad with self-adhesive sandpaper. The shape of a detail sander resembles an iron that comes with multiple attachments. It is used for small surfaces where the normal sanders can’t work. If you want to sand any tight spaces or corners, then go for the detail sander.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right sander will not be a tedious task if you are well-known about the different surfaces. You can list out all the surfaces that need sanding and then check if a particular sander serves your purpose. Some of the sanders are quite versatile and work on various surfaces, which can be useful for you.
With this article, we hope that now you are aware of the different types of sanders available in the market so you can select any one of them to get your work done.
