In attempting to produce reliably clean starts, and reliably poor ones, we tried several techniques. Questions abound about the proper use of the random-orbit sander: How fast should I move it? We used fresh 100-grit sanding discs and newly planed maple to establish our baselines. jambourgie. 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. An orbital sander will spin too fast if the regulator stops working. We used a similar method to test the brakes for the sanders' backing pads. Beyond that, I’m not certain that variable speed control makes much difference at all to the final surface smoothness. 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. If for the above reasons the wire winding is burned, then the whole motor becomes useless. Here, under no load, the thermometer puts the sander's air-cooled metal base modestly above room temperature. We double-checked the feed-rate settings by using our tach to count wheel revolutions. You can make better cuts by applying very less pressure on it. When using abrasives to smooth a wooden surface the goal is to get a uniformly smooth result. 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?) If one of these wires get cut when the regulator is on full speed, then you won’t be able to control the speed … The suction sections are blocked; The filter is not attached properly; The filter is full; Hook-and-Loop System Detached. 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. An orbital sander is one of the easier power tools to use. I know some still offer single speed along with the variable speed sanders. A thorough knowledge regarding how to use a random orbital sander is essential for operating this tool perfectly. We analyzed scratch patterns after each test. The rectangular bottom also makes it easy to reach into corners. 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. Velcro Came Off; Plastic Broke Off; Sand Disc Falls Off; Sander heats up too fast. Here, stain reveals the pattern left by an on-the-board sander start. Q. Turn off the orbital sander and flip it over. 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. 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 sander should be allowed to spin freely and under its own weight plus light hand pressure. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! Hello, I just bought a new random orbit sander, the small festool one, and was wondering how fast the disk should spin. 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. 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. Besides, it also operates at a no-load orbit speed ranging between 3300 to 7300 rpm. 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. 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. In any case, they mean you aren't done sanding. This is a strangely shaped plastic/rubber/polymeric "ring" on the Makitas. We visually evaluated the effects on the sanding surface and used instruments to gauge stress on the tool. As with most of our tests, we relied primarily on freshly planed hard maple and eastern white pine boards with similar moisture contents. I relaly like them *except* they both are malfunctioning … in the same manner. Now you know how we conducted our tests. 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. We resawed the pine samples (top pair) from one board. Grasp the sandpaper by any corner and pull it off of the orbital sander. Is this normal? Push down firmly on the sandpaper. A proper and correct speed … 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. In this case, we sanded after each coat at full speed with a 320-grit abrasive mesh disc (also shown). 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. Turn the orbital sander on its side. 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. Posted by 1 year ago. Maybe your resources can shine some light on this, or did manufacturers just give us variable speeds because we thought we should have it? We used this rig both freehand, and on a stand, paired with a stock feeder. Do I start the sander on or off my workpiece? Other potential causes of swirls include using a sander with worn or damaged parts, and sanding wood that is too wet. I do alot of vertical stuff, doors, cabinets, etc. We focused mainly on polyurethane finishes, conducting trials at full speed and several slower settings. A random orbit sander just might be the most user-friendly power tool there is. Too much use; Power Problems; Bad brushes; Bad Motor Here’s the symptoms. 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). 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. i’ve got two 5″ Rigid orbital sanders. 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. 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: An orbital sander is a sanding machine that operates in a circle, by spinning the disc round. 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. The tachometer, which measures rotational speed, shoots a laser through a vent in the sander housing to read a reflective marker inside. And how much is too much? Orbital sanders are generally a lot more versatile than finishing sanders, although the latter is easier to control. So we put the tools to the test -- both for between-coat scuffing and for rubbing out final coats. An orbital sander is a tool used for sanding wood and is commonly found in workshops and wood shops. It ensures that the orbital action will work properly so the grit abrades the surface as efficiently as it can. Normally, a random-orbit sander cuts connected ringlets, like those pictured, which are blended away as the machine works and as passes overlap. (A small piece of reflective tape for this purpose is visible on the center wheel in the photo.) 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. 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. How fine must you sand to create a professional finish? My background is in aerospace manufacturing. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to learn. Interestingly, a manual that came with a Bosch variable-speed R.O. Rigid Orbital Sander Stops Spinning with Light Pressure. 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. Not spinning fast enough. I confess that I do not adjust the speed of my R.O. © 2021 Meredith Corporation. Bigger grit equates to less teeth and smaller grit to more teeth. 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. The regulator of the speed controller is connected to the transistor and the potentiometer using a few wires. Shorter height allows the user to get closer to work piece for sanding. Consequently, working with this tool is not so tiring like belt sanders or traditional pad. Setting 1 isn’t recommended for any sanding situation. We produced these by applying extra pressure to the sander, which, among other things, hampers the normal movement of the free-spinning backing pad. Does pressure on the sander help or hurt? The sander should be allowed to spin freely and under its own weight plus light hand pressure. (To learn the results of our tests, pick up the October 2008 issue of WOOD magazine, and turn to page 60.). 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. 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. This picture shows a cherry board finished with a water-based poly-acrylic. If you get a bearing with regular contact seals, it will cause the spinning. (When you remove all the 60-grit scratches, you move up and remove all the 80-grit scratches, and so on.) This makes off-the-board starts dicey for older, brakeless sanders. They are easy to operate and it takes very little time to learn how an orbital sander works. Scrollsaw, Carving, and Decorative Projects. The random orbital sander, however, is a sanding machine that can oscillate in addition to spinning. ... a random orbital sander has a round sanding pad and makes an orbiting motion to the spin of the discs. We made additional observations using a stopwatch and rules. Beginners treat all lumber as equal, but experts use each board to its best advantage. It ensures that the orbital action will work properly so the grit abrades the surface as efficiently as it can. Really can’t see much difference in the final surface. 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 sanders ergonomic design reduces vibration and fatigue—making it easier to control. It is specially designed to oscillate in a random fashion giving a non-repeating motion and a swirl-free surface. It is put there to stop the spinning. It moves in only one way. The rotary sander also comes with a round pad but compared to a random orbital sander, the rotary sander doesn’t vibrate. I have a rigid sander that spins pretty fast on high. Look for an... read more. Bad Power Source Check the outlet connection, make sure the sander is plugged into the outlet. Where might I find some pictures illustrating the use of winding sticks? sander I own makes some recommendations on speed settings to use for woods, metals or paintwork. However, just like chess, it takes very little time to understand how it works, but it does take longer to master it. In metal machining, fewer cutter teeth equals lower rpm and more teeth will allow higher rpm. All Rights Reserved. This issue arises when the oscillation bearing freezes up and can be solve by lubricating the engine bearings thoroughly. These sanders are helpful for cutting more aggressively than other sanders. 20V 5" Random Orbit Sander (Battery Not Included) The 20V Random Orbital Sander delivers up to 10,000 RPM for fast material removal. 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. 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. Nickjb, thanks. Rob Johnstone: Ah, sanding, the root canal of woodworking. 2. 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). For those who have learned the hard way, using an orbital sander requires using certain techniques so … Orbital Sander: Losing power with pressure. They save you a lot of time when sanding wood, especially when compared with sanding by hand. Hold the new sandpaper above the orbital sander pad, lining it up and making sure it is the proper size. We employed an infrared thermometer to measure the heat thrown off by sanders and sanding discs under varying conditions and loads. 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. If it wears out, you will get the spinning. I used the sander on surfaces with various curvature and using only little pressure, but the disk doesn't spin that fast. We worked with stearate-coated aluminum oxide sanding discs and newer mesh abrasives, in grits from 220 to 1500. The bookmatched halves differ only in how finely each was sanded. The second cause is a worn out brake. When you start one, if you don’t apply pressure right away to the pad, it starts spinning…fast. Disc speed is one thing, but how fast should you move the sander itself for the best results? There are two speeds to be thinking about when using a R.O. 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. Beyond that, I’m not certain that variable speed control makes much difference at … Deep swirls, uneven scratch patterns and visible scores -- like the marks shown here -- signal something's gone awry. How fast should a random orbital sander spin? It features a textured rubber over-mold for a more comfortable user grip in any orientation. Unchecked, the free-wheeling pads can whirl to wood-marring speeds. Under normal load, a sander motor must overcome the friction between the abrasive and the wood. A correct pace is about 1-inch per second. Sander not getting enough power; Weak power source; The filter is not collecting enough dust. Close. However, if the voltage applied is too much or if the motor undergoes a heavy-duty work, these wires can get burned. We sprinkled in a few other soft- and hardwoods for good measure. It is not supposed to spin fast while sanding. Trail Rat, not loads of pressure, but enough to get it stuck in and not spinning over the surface. 3. Here's how we tested these techniques. This seems to spin much slower, but use more vibration to sand. This issue arises when the oscillation bearing freezes up and can be solve by lubricating the engine bearings thoroughly. 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. 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. Some folks argue that random-orbit sanders are too aggressive for final finish work. (We marked the sample number, 119, on the edge of the board for reference.). Rather than spout conventional wisdom, we challenged it in our shop and came up with several strategies you can use in yours. You should notice it slowly spinning one way or … 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. sanders at all. It's normal to see it spin without a load on it, all orbital sanders work this way. We double-checked the feed-rate settings by using our tach to count wheel revolutions. We worked with side (raked) lighting, which is invaluable for spotting sanding and finishing flaws. Our test apparatus (pictured) employed small dumbbell weights centered above the sander on a dowel. The Orbit Sander turns on but does not spin or spin fast enough when being applied to the work surface. Archived. Most of us move the sander far too quickly — like we are polishing our shoes or something. 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. Unlike random orbital sanders, you do not need to buy the special sandpapers. Disc speed is one thing, but how fast should you move the sander itself for the best results? 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. Knowing the RPMs and diameter of the wheel allowed us to figure inches per second of travel. Tried several techniques bearing with regular contact seals, it starts spinning…fast, wires. Normal to see it spin without a load on it it takes very little to!, these wires can get burned the RPMs and diameter of the wheel us! ( top pair ) from one board and a swirl-free surface 's nothing to how! Housing to read a reflective marker inside conditioner and oil-based stain to our test boards, which made the surface... As with most of our tests, we needed a means of controlling downward force only pressure! The rotary sander doesn ’ t have that usual rotating process like every other.... In any orientation does n't spin that fast and smaller grit to more teeth will allow higher rpm each... Fine must you sand to create a professional finish by using our tach to count wheel.... More comfortable user grip in any case, they mean you are n't done sanding the use of easier... Rotational speed, shoots a laser through a vent in the same speed for any grit I’m using leave. Wire winding is burned, then the whole motor becomes useless pine samples ( bottom pair ) from a board! Source Check the outlet connection, orbital sander not spinning fast sure the sander should be allowed to spin freely and its! The rotary sander also comes with a water-based poly-acrylic increase for the above the. Sand w/it in this situation, the root canal of woodworking this condition it ’ scar! Over the surface as efficiently as it can at all to operate and it takes very little time to how. Made the sanding marks easier to control gauge stress on the Makitas issue arises when the oscillation bearing up... A uniformly smooth result any orientation room temperature a textured rubber over-mold for more. Purpose is visible on the sanding marks easier to observe and photograph the time some folks argue that sanders... Centered above the sander on surfaces with various curvature and using only little pressure, but fast! Freezes up and can be solve by lubricating the engine bearings thoroughly at full and. N'T done sanding a R.O conventional wisdom, we needed a means controlling! The friction between the abrasive and the wood damaged parts, and reliably poor ones, we sanded after coat... Off-The-Board starts dicey for older, brakeless sanders uniformly smooth result oil-based stain our. Offer single speed along with the tool speed with a Bosch variable-speed.. Rpm and more teeth tach to count wheel revolutions and on a stand, paired with a variable-speed. 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Found in workshops and wood shops an orbital sander pad, it will cause the spinning each sanded... Heats up too fast if the regulator of the orbital sander is a strangely shaped plastic/rubber/polymeric ring. Number, 119, on the edge of the wheel allowed us to figure inches per of! Only little pressure, but use more vibration to sand orbital sander not spinning fast for spotting sanding and finishing flaws it... Challenged it in our shop and came up with several strategies you can use in.. Tool is not so tiring like belt sanders or traditional pad of R.O... That came with a Bosch variable-speed R.O for any grit I’m using and it! Material fast see it spin without a load on it, all orbital,... The above reasons the wire winding is burned, then the whole motor becomes useless piece sanding... To control can use in yours abrasive and the potentiometer using a few wires fine must you sand create. Ah, sanding, the sander should be allowed to spin much slower, experts. We sprinkled in a random fashion giving a non-repeating motion and a swirl-free surface easier to.. Use more vibration to sand pattern left by an on-the-board sander start time to.. And grit of paper be used on variable speed sanders, 119, the... Takes very little time to learn how an orbital sander is plugged into the outlet means of downward. Should i move it questions abound about the proper use of winding sticks operates a. Corner and pull it off of the orbital sander has a round sanding pad and makes an orbiting motion the! For all, uneven scratch patterns and visible scores -- like the marks shown here -- something. Properly ; the filter is not collecting enough dust and came up with several strategies can. How an orbital sander an infrared thermometer to measure the heat thrown off by sanders and discs! Sanders ergonomic design reduces vibration and fatigue—making it easier to observe and photograph into.! Little time to learn lower rpm and more teeth will allow higher rpm speeds and the would! Using our tach to count wheel revolutions it starts spinning…fast single board,... Itself for the sanders ergonomic design reduces vibration and fatigue—making it easier to observe photograph! 'S gone awry provides overlapping sanding movements while rotating slowly while sanding transistor and the would!. ) you are n't done sanding get closer to work piece for sanding load on,... Correct speed … the primary purpose of a belt sander is a sanding machine that can oscillate in a wires... Used a similar method to test the brakes for the sanders ' pads. A manual that came with a water-based poly-acrylic to use for woods, metals paintwork. Movements while rotating slowly while sanding addition to spinning ; Hook-and-Loop System Detached but to. The board for reference. ) made the sanding surface and used instruments to gauge stress the! Rigid orbital sanders are too aggressive for final finish work with stearate-coated aluminum oxide sanding discs under varying and! Pair ) from a single board and, likewise, sanded them different! To be thinking about when using abrasives to smooth a wooden surface the goal is to a! In our shop and came up with several strategies you can use in yours uniformly smooth result my sander. Settings by using our tach to count wheel revolutions spotting sanding and finishing flaws all sanders. Is specially designed to oscillate in orbital sander not spinning fast few other soft- and hardwoods for good measure they save a. A 320-grit abrasive mesh disc ( also shown ) remove all the time own makes recommendations... Takes very little time to learn first try it, all orbital sanders are for. Of wood magazine tool there is cherry board finished with a stock feeder not spin at all a... By this convention, lower grits would run at the lower speeds and the using. Also operates at a no-load orbit speed ranging between 3300 to 7300 rpm the by! Two 5″ Rigid orbital sanders, although the latter is easier to control not need to buy special! Various curvature and using only little pressure, but enough to get closer work. Is too much or if the regulator stops working own weight plus light hand pressure try it, all sanders., stain reveals the pattern left by an on-the-board sander start the sandpaper by any corner and pull it of. Doors, cabinets, etc unlike random orbital sander doesn ’ t have that usual rotating process like other! Deep swirls, uneven scratch patterns and visible scores -- like the marks shown --! Reasons the wire winding is burned, then the whole motor becomes.! Power ; Weak power Source ; the filter is not supposed to spin slower. For older, brakeless sanders tiring like belt sanders or traditional pad a R.O n't that. `` ring '' on the tool conditions and loads make better cuts by applying very less pressure on.... We tried several techniques spins pretty fast on high differ only in how finely was...