The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: shredso on May 23, 2007, 08:08:35 pm

Title: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: shredso on May 23, 2007, 08:08:35 pm: I'm buying a sander this weekend. Any tips on what I should get? I'm using the BYOAC book for the plans and I'm using 3/4" MDF (wish i got something lighter). My angles on the control panel are a little off, so i figured i would sand them. I'm hoping I can get away with a $50-60 finish or orbital sander. Will I be sanding for hours without a belt sander? I heard MDF sands pretty easily. Thanks.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: leapinlew on May 23, 2007, 10:25:44 pm: Belt sander sands super fast

Orbital sander is much slower

I have both
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: javeryh on May 23, 2007, 11:35:16 pm: MDF practically melts under pressure from a sander. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area or wear a mask - the dust is brutal.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: ScottS on May 24, 2007, 12:08:09 am: Get a random orbit sander, the bigger the better. You can speed up material removal by using coarser grit sandpapers. With a random orbit sander, you're probably limited to 40 or 60 grit. Still that should be plenty fast enough.

I have a 3x21" belt sander and I wouldn't recommend it for this task; too difficult to control.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: NiteWalker on May 24, 2007, 11:33:49 am: I'd go with a random orbit and 60 grit.
One of the best sanders out there. (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=27526-353-1295DVSK&detail=cr&lpage=none)
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: ChadTower on May 24, 2007, 11:35:47 am: Tempting. My sander sucks, took hours to strip a simple flat cabinet door.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: NiteWalker on May 24, 2007, 11:40:21 am: For that chad, you're probably better off with a belt sander. Porter Cable just released a mini belt sander (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-371K-14-Inch-Compact/dp/B000HX2TEU/ref=dp_return_1/103-2223005-5317408?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi&qid=1180021102&sr=8-1) I'm in love with because I don't have the need for a full size belt sander.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: ChadTower on May 24, 2007, 11:42:07 am: Cool, I'm going to watch that. I'm in the same boat, don't need a full size belt sander but could use a really good small one.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: NiteWalker on May 24, 2007, 11:44:17 am: There will probably be a father's day sale soon, so watch for that. Some items are already advertised with a 25% off discount like some bosch jigsaw blades and a few workmates. A while ago the sander went on sale for $99 shipped. That's a good price for it.
Title: Re: Fixing mistakes and sander question
Post by: javeryh on May 24, 2007, 12:03:13 pm: I'd be sold if there was an easy way to mount it perpendicular to a worktable for accurate edge sanding.