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Difference in sanders
- Thread starter PoorOwner
- Start date
jallyn
Well-known member
It looks like dual action spins a round sanding disk as well as vibrates. Random orbital does not spin. Someone with more experience will have to answer the usage question, but it looks like the dual action has more power and makes quicker work.
Zeke
Well-known member
1/4 sheet vibrating sanders go in small circles. If you leave it in one place and pull it off the work after a real quick buzz, you can see the marks. The DA allows the pad to rotate while vibrating so that those mini circular marks are eliminated. Some DA sanders you can lock up so they become a single action just like the 1/4 sheet.
BTW, I have a 1/4 sheet Makita fitted with a round pad so I can use 6" self adhesive discs. I like that 10 times over fussing with the clamps which always seem bot get sanded smooth by the paper. For that reason alone, buy the round sander and avoid hood and loop if you can as the paper is way more expensive. I buy rolls of round sheets with up to a 100 sheets to a roll for like 10 bucks.
BTW, I have a 1/4 sheet Makita fitted with a round pad so I can use 6" self adhesive discs. I like that 10 times over fussing with the clamps which always seem bot get sanded smooth by the paper. For that reason alone, buy the round sander and avoid hood and loop if you can as the paper is way more expensive. I buy rolls of round sheets with up to a 100 sheets to a roll for like 10 bucks.
BaMaDuDe87
Well-known member
Usually a sheet sander or "palm sander" is used for more delicate work. They are usually smaller and can get into tighter places and square corners. 99.9999999% of the time they are used specifically for wood working.
The Dual Action (in the sense that I think you are talking about here) or sometimes called random orbital sanders are used for removing material faster and leave a much better finish since they move in a circular motion instead of a back and fourth motion. Used for wood/metal/etc.
The Dual Action (in the sense that I think you are talking about here) or sometimes called random orbital sanders are used for removing material faster and leave a much better finish since they move in a circular motion instead of a back and fourth motion. Used for wood/metal/etc.
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1990 Grand Wag
Well-known member
What's the differences in usage between a 1/4 sheet sander that jitters randomly
And a 5 or 6" Round dual action sander? Is dual action and random orbit the same thing ?
A dual action sander rotates and oscillates (think eccentric motion). A 1/4 sheet sander only orbits (it doesn't "jitter" although it may appear that way), and were/are sometimes referred to as orbital sanders. Hope this helps.
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