Sanding could be a very labor intensive job but the only way to getting good, quality finish is to start with a smooth, even surface. Fortunately, there are many power tools on the market that will do the dirty work while saving you tons of effort. Nothing beats a belt sander when it comes to taking off substantial amounts of material. It’s a tool you need for getting wood into shape, stripping off paint or varnish and smoothing out edges and corners.
Most sanders utilize a three inch by twenty-one inch belt. As the belt turns, it quickly strips off layers of finish or wood. The coarser the sand paper you use the more material it will remove. If not handled properly, a belt sander can gout a wood or cause serious injury to the operator. Always wear eye protection and get the sander up to full speed before lowering it on to the surface. Better yet, choose a model with a slow start up feature to eliminate this problem. Move it back and forth parallel to the grate and work with short over lapping strokes. Don’t apply excessive pressure; let the sander do the work in preparing the wood. Because you’ll be changing often, look for a sander with an easy release and a tracking adjustment to assist you in lining up the belt.
Once you got the heavy sanding out of the way, its time to turn to a finish sander to complete the job. A random orbit sander is great when you need to sand large areas quickly and efficiently. The circular motion helps ensure a uniform finish over the entire surface. Make several passes over the wood, gradually transitioning from courser to finer sand paper with each pass. For more control, you want a sander to let you adjust the orbit settings to whatever stage you’re at. Variable speed control is important too, it enables you to operate at slower speeds in places that require more detail. For working the smaller areas, check out a block or sheet sander. It provides a better finish and the square shape allows you to work right into the corners. Another benefit, it utilizes standard sand paper you can cut to fit. As you work with your sheet sander, try to cover each part of the wood from different directions to make sure you get an even finish. If you’re working on something with a lot of nooks and crannies such as a chair, there are number of profile sanders you can use.
These have a definitive shape for getting into corners and between features a lot more efficiently than you can, by hand. Now, what about surfaces other than wood? Well, you rest assure there is a power tool built for the job. An angle grinder comes in handy for doing metal working and construction projects. Buffers come in two types, high speed rotary or random orbital and can be used on everything from floors to car finishes. Because you maybe working long hours on the job, look for one that’s comfortably designed and easy to use. For most homeowners, one or more of these tools is a wise investment. For what they do, the cost is minimal and the amount of time effort that you save is worth every penny.
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