Air powered DA or electric random orbital?

[fflintstone]

In the past I had a DA for bodywork. It is one tool I have not replaced since the fire. I never owed an electric random orbital. My general thought was that a DA is for bodywork and a RO is for woodworking.


I have always used ¼ and 1/3 sheet sanders for wood and didn’t see the need for an RO. Can an RO be used on car restoration? Anyone use a DA on wood? Do the two work at significantly different RPM’s?

 

[HAP]

I think if you were to compare a RO to a 1/3 sheet sander, you will be impressed by the RO as far as performance on wood...

HAP

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I use a RO all the time. Wood for sure. Also that B&D Mighty Mouse is great for corners. I use the RO on tool boxes and cars as well. Works fine, but I believe the DA is faster, which is good for cars, bad for finish wood and detailed tool boxes.

 

[rlitman]

They're the same thing. I use my DA all the time on wood, and it kicks the pants of any electric RA I've ever used.

 

[KenC]

Lot's of confusion in the terms, at least on my part.

A DA, is a random orbit sander when unlocked and strictly rotating when locked. So, an unlocked DA is no different that a RO.

Now air versus electric is another matter. .My little 5" RO palm air sander will do lots more work much faster than my 5" electric Porter Cable RO. and, it's lighter and smaller.

On the other hand, my 5" right angle Porter cable RO is a beast and works great with coarser grits

Bottom line, I use the big PC with 80 & 100 and the little air job with finer grits. Seldom use the electric palm sander.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I recently picked up a Dynabrade and I love the thing. Can also wet sand with the air.

 

[fflintstone]

I recently picked up a Dynabrade and I love the thing. Can also wet sand with the air.

what's a Dynabrrade?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

This is my specific model:

I've got a 5" Mirka Abranet pad on it now.

 

[Davefr]

I prefer the air powered DA for performance but an electric for convienance.

My Sioux 5" DA consumes 15 CFM!! That's a big load on a 5HP compressor.

An electric 5" DA sander plugs into any 120 VAC outlet and runs almost as good.

 

[Modifieddriver]

I bought a Porter-Cable electric RDA sander. One of the best power tools I ever bought.

Plus you won't run your compressor to death.

 

[cnc-me]

Dynabrade or similar random orbit air sanders are the way to go for wood.
Your hand is farther away from the pad, with the electric pad sanders and they are harder
to control. We used to run Porter Cable 330's for years, they are good, but once we tried
the Dynabrades the PC's all sit in a drawer. Just make sure you have a compressor that
is big enough as they are air hogs.

 

[fflintstone]

I had never heard of Dynabrade. Ok so I just learned of an American made air powered DA, the question is which model? 5” or 6”? Vacuum or non-vacuum?

 

[HAP]

To the OP. I think you have noticed that no one has even mentioned any comparison with the the 1/3 sheet sanders. IMO they are obsolete.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

5 or 6" doesn't matter too much imo, you can always swap pads. I bought a 5" pad for mine just because the sanding discs are a little cheaper. I would either get one with a vacuum port, or a self vacuuming one. Even if you don't use it, the option is there. The self vacuuming ones tie the air exhaust port into the vacuum port to help **** the dust out.

 

[fflintstone]

5 or 6" doesn't matter too much imo, you can always swap pads. I bought a 5" pad for mine just because the sanding discs are a little cheaper. I would either get one with a vacuum port, or a self vacuuming one. Even if you don't use it, the option is there. The self vacuuming ones tie the air exhaust port into the vacuum port to help **** the dust out.

I was wondering about the cost of abrasives. I assumed 5” disks were cheaper, but a 6” might last longer (more surface to abrade/load up) probably a wash.

 

[Jsf721]

I can only coment on the electric DA and the best one out now is the Rupes. I do not own one yet. But I did try one at a training day/open house at Detailers Domain. It is the newest technology. The orbit is such that it corrects paint faster than anythnig I have used before. I own a PC, Flex and Griots Garage DA. I evolved in that order. The Rupes blows them all away. it is on my list of things to get. Hopefully by the summer.

 

[Chuck122]

I prefer 5" it is better for the Nooks and cranies. I may also point out that hook-and-loop pads make it easier to re-use sandpaper than stick-on as the latter will not stick once covered in dust.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

The most important aspect of paper life is quality for sure. I usually use 3m abrasives, but I've been trying out Mirka paper since it's a lot cheaper while still being considered one of the high end papers. So far I'm happy with it. I also recently picked up some of their Abranet finally, but haven't used it yet. Supposedly it lasts a very long time with no clogging. You just need to get some special interface pads, because it eats backing pads up.

Definitely hook and loop pads. Be careful though, 3m hookit and hookit II are not compatible I'm told.

Another random note, I found that using 80 grit on a random orbit on aluminum makes for an interesting finish. If you go lightly and evenly it's like a cross between a turned and brushed finish. If you're more heavy it's a nice matte textured finish.

 

[Chuck122]

+1 on mirka i found that the basecut series don't last as long as Qsilver series. +1 on the 80 gr on aluminium

 

[rlitman]

5 or 6" doesn't matter too much imo, you can always swap pads.

No you cannot just swap pad sizes. The counterweight is matched to the pad size.

 

[rlitman]

Lot's of confusion in the terms, at least on my part.

A DA, is a random orbit sander when unlocked and strictly rotating when locked. So, an unlocked DA is no different that a RO.

Basically. There are DA sanders out there that can be locked into a single action rotating only mechanism. But when people think Dynabrade, they're thinking of a palm sander that is DA only. Yes, that is RO. Same thing.

Dynabrade or similar random orbit air sanders are the way to go for wood.
Your hand is farther away from the pad, with the electric pad sanders and they are harder
to control. We used to run Porter Cable 330's for years, they are good, but once we tried
the Dynabrades the PC's all sit in a drawer. Just make sure you have a compressor that
is big enough as they are air hogs.

The PC 330 is a truly venerable sander, but it's orbital action leaves more swirls than an RO, and it cuts slower. It also has no vacuum capability, is way heavier than an RO, and sits higher, all three of which increase operator fatigue.

The Dynabrade is a serious production sander. If you read the manual and do the math, they expect that you can put your palm down on the lever at the beginning of an 8 hour shift, and lift it at the end, on 5 days a week, and after 5 years of this, it should need an overhaul.

One continuously operating Dynabrade will just about completely consume the air output of a REAL 5HP compressor. My 7.5HP compressor came out of a body shop where it ran two sanders on and off. It has no problem keeping up with one (I have several, but only use one at a time).
Basically, a better 60 gallon, or just about any 80 gallon model should run one.

If that's the only thing you want that requires such a large compressor, then maybe you'd be better off with electric. If you cannot compromise, and need the performance of a real DA, check out the Mirka Ceros. I'm not sure how well the electronics would hold up, but being brushless, I would expect that the moving parts should last about the same as pneumatic.

That one is way expensive for a sander, but if you think about the cost of the compressor to run one, and the electrical cost, it doesn't seem so bad any more.

 

[fflintstone]

This:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX0U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX2I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The only difference is 3/16 or 3/8 orbit. What is better for what?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

No you cannot just swap pad sizes. The counterweight is matched to the pad size.

This makes perfect sense, and double checking, they do use different part numbers on the 5 and 6" version. I have an email out to Dynabrade asking of any ill effects. I have noticed no difference between using the 5 and 6" pads on it.

This:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX0U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX2I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The only difference is 3/16 or 3/8 orbit. What is better for what?

A smaller orbit will cut a bit slower, but provide a finer finish. The 3/16 in pretty well in the center of the available orbit sizes.

 

[senlow]

This:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX0U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KJEX2I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The only difference is 3/16 or 3/8 orbit. What is better for what?

Hell Fred, you need both. The 3/8" orbit is for medium work, and the 3/16" is for finishing work. Hutchins is another US manufacturer to consider.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Well he better grab a 3/32" too then.

 

[fflintstone]

The Hutchins has a "700" model with a 5/16 orbit.

Any opinions on the Mirka sanders?

 

[fury9]

Thanks OP!

 

[fflintstone]

Thanks OP!

your welcome, I don't know what for, but your welcome.

 

[motormitch]

I was curious to see what people think is better for DA sanders and body work, self generated vacuum or externally generated?

 

[rlitman]

My sanders are self generated, because that is more convenient than hooking up a vacuum, but I have one that I pulled the guts out of the venturi so that it is "no vacuum" which I use for wet sanding. An external vacuum sander would be fine for this too, but the self-generated vacuum ***** all sort of wet gook into the vacuum port if you use it to wet sand.

 

[sandman67]

Try Joest Abrasives.. They own the patent on multi-hole discs and they have a nice foam backer built onto the disc. Works incredible. It is now available in the US...

 

[rlitman]

Mirka has a mesh type disc that works the same way.
Norton makes a "sand dollar" disc that is foam backed (the abrasive disc itself). It's actually a pretty good product for floor finishing.