If you are a person that enjoys working with wood, upgrading your tools is always a big step. And, this is one of the steps that everybody should at least consider.
Abandoning manual labor may not sound very appealing for some. After all, working with your hands is very satisfying and makes your DIY projects feel all the more rewarding. Some actions like sawing can take more time and effort than if you were to just use a power tool, but doing it manually brings a certain sense of accomplishment which is the exact reason why some people take up DIY projects as a hobby.
Sanding, however, is an entirely different matter. It is a boring, slow, and honestly, annoying process that can infuriate many a man. Luckily, powered sanding tools are there to help facilitate the process and save you plenty of time. In fact, there are many types of powered sanders, and you might be surprised by the number of options - there are literally dozens of different ones out there. But, the orbit sander is definitely the best choice for the first purchase.
What does it do? As with all the best things in life, the answer is very simple. In fact, it is right there in the name. It spins sandpaper. Alright, that was an over-simplification. To be more precise, it uses a hook-and-loop fastened sanding discs that are attached to the system that will simultaneously spin the discs around and move them in a random elliptic pattern.
They are designed this way for a simple reason - the elliptic rotation ensures that the abrasive paper will not go over the same line twice (unless you keep it there for a long period of time) and thus, ensure that no marks are created in the grain.
If you want to smoothen a surface as part of your DIY project, go with a random orbit sander. If you want to remove a finish from a surface that is too wide for the usual sanding pad, a random orbit sander is the best choice in most cases. However, if you want to sand thin edges, remove material or shape wood, there are better alternatives. Using a random orbit sander to remove material will leave you with a divot, and trying to shape wood with it will create facets.
But, how often do you need it? Well, quite often, when you think about it. Almost every single task that involves smoothing a surface can be performed by using this tool. And you know that almost every single project in your mind is going to need smoothing in the end. This means that you will definitely get your mileage out of the tool.
What about the sandpaper? Think of the sanding disks as ammo to be used for your power tool. Keep in mind that the sanding disks have small holes that are made to align with the power tool. It is designed this way so that sawdust can pass and be removed from the surface you are sanding. This means that you cannot just cut any ordinary sandpaper into shape and will have to buy packs of these sanding discs instead. They are not free, that is for sure, but they are not expensive either.
Keep in mind though, if you do not want to spend a lot of money, just go out there and buy 100-packs for every grit you are going to use. If you go for smaller packs you might end up paying up to a dollar per disc. Instead, buy a 100-pack and a disc can cost you as little as 30 cents.
When it comes to grits, for general use you should have 80, 120, 180, and 220 grains. These should work for almost any smoothing task that you might have in mind. And, if you have something more aggressive in mind, you can always purchase an extra 40-grain disc.
What to look for when making the purchase? Well, for starters you should look for a solid 5-inch model that sits comfortably in your hand. Test it out in the store if you can, as this is something that can be done quickly and easily. See how it feels and works in your hand and how noticeable the vibrations are. If the tool is vibrating too much, your hand is bound to go numb within minutes, and in that case, you’d be better off picking out a different model.
A feature that some random orbit sanders have is multiple speed settings. While this is a nice option to have, it is definitely not a must, so don’t pay it too much mind. However, you should not miss out on getting a dust port, and a good one. When working, simply attach a vacuum to it so that you can work faster and remove any airborne dust before you ever get the chance to inhale it.