QA

Question: How Do Random Orbital Sanders Work

This sander is a vibrating tool composed of a ball bearing mechanism where we come to fix a sanding round pad. This ball bearing allows the pad to rotate randomly. If the pad encounters hard points on the surface, it will go around it and work at it little by little with tiny orbits.

What is the difference between a random orbital sander and an orbital sander?

What is the difference between an orbital sander and a random orbital sander? An orbital sander moves only in a circular motion while the random orbital sander also moves back and forth. As a result of the two separate motions, it leaves less of a swirl pattern on the wood.

Are random orbital sanders any good?

The Dewalt random orbit sander is a quality tool. Great to grip and work with, this is a great tool that will last you a while. It will put in the work and never tire. The only issue is that it is a corded model so it will not have the same type of portability as a battery powered unit.

What are some downfalls of using a random orbital sander?

Cons More expensive to buy and operate. Sanding discs sometimes hard to find. Aggressive power can damage a workpiece. Hook and loop on pad can become dirty and fail to hold disc. Sanding pad can become damaged – may affect sanding quality. Circular pads prevent working in corners/tight spaces.

Is orbital sander supposed to spin?

Among the array of sander power tools, the varieties of random orbital palm sanders tend to be some of the most versatile and the most popular. Also, the random orbit sander has a round pad that spins as it moves in a circular motion, while the standard sander pad does not spin as it circles.

What is a random orbital sander when should it be used?

What is a random orbital sander used for? A random-orbit sander can sand the socks off your old vibrating sander when you’ve got to strip paint off furniture, prepare new molding, or clean up between finish coats. It can also smooth and clean metal and composite materials such as solid-surface countertops.

Do I need a variable speed random orbital sander?

Variable Speed I often slow a random-orbit sander down when working on veneered materials to reduce the likelihood of sand-through. I also run at a lower speed when using the sander to smooth a finish. Although it adds a bit more cost to the machine, variable speed is well worth having.

What is the most powerful random orbital sander?

If you’re looking for a random orbital sander, it’s hard to go wrong with our top pick, the Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander. It’s loaded with great features, has lots of power, is easy on your hands, and has one of the most effective filtration systems for these types of tools.

Can you use a random orbital sander for car polishing?

To polish your car with an orbital sander, you will need to use a random orbital sander. The name’s random orbital sander is due to the tool moving in a random pattern while spinning. The random orbital sander need’s to be equipped with a polishing pad, on which you can apply your finishing polish.

Why does my sander leave swirl marks?

A random orbital sander can leave swirl marks due to poor quality sandpaper, improper technique, or an inability to clear the dust from the surface.

Is orbital or random orbital sander better?

The random-orbit sander’s oscillations as it spins do not create a distinct pattern. This allows the tool to be used without concern for grain direction. When both tools are outfitted with 100-grit paper, the random-orbit sander removes more material than the orbital sander.

How much pressure does an orbital sander need?

Besides operating at no less than 90 PSI of air pressure, random orbital sanders should run with a minimum speed of 10,000 RPM. If you run the sander at a slower speed than this, swirl marks MAY also appear. But if you drop below 90 PSI at any time during your orbital sanding process, you WILL get swirl marks.

How fast should a random orbital sander spin?

A correct pace is about 1-inch per second. When you first try it, that speed will seem SO SLOW! 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.

Why does my Dewalt orbital sander keep stopping?

If the shaft becomes damaged and deformed due to heavy usage or rust build-up, it won’t be able to balance the rotor and the bearings. When this happens, your orbital sander will eventually stop spinning, so you’ll need to replace the shaft to get it working again.

What is the motion of an orbital sander?

The pad of a random orbit sander moves in two ways: It wiggles in a tight orbital pattern while it rotates. This combined movement leaves a random pattern of scratches running in every direction, overlapping, intersecting and becoming practically invisible.

Can I use an orbital sander between coats of polyurethane?

To sum it up, I believe using an orbital or palm sander with 220 grit sandpaper between coats of polyurethane is too rough to get a good polyurethane finish. (It’s always worth trying 400 grit sandpaper or higher to see if the outcome is different though!)Nov 25, 2020.