Good DA sander for use occasionally

[streetglider]

My son and I are working on a motorcycle project together. We need to prepare the tank and a few other parts for paint. I am looking for a decent DA sander that is not $200 since we will not use it very often. I have seen the IR 311G and IR 311A that seem reasonable though I don't know the difference between the two. Any suggestions for us? Thanks

 

[Hammer1963]

I do not have the part number handy, but HF has a pretty good 6" palm sander. I would avoid the old style long handle sanders. If your main use will be using the sander on a motorcycle, I'd seriously consider a 3" palm sander. The best value I have found is the Cornwell CAT325 - 3” Palm Sander. Works great.

 

[1969]

CP870 on Amazon for $47.26, free shipping.

 

[Lx460]

It's not so much the sander but how much compressor you have to run it. Running it for a minute and waiting to build pressure for 4 minutes gets old real quick.

 

[saltygills]

I'm a collision tech...I use a hf and a snapon....the snapon is worse on my wrist (carpal tunnel) but cuts better...I've used the hf for years...for what you are doing just cheap out...if I can use it day in and day out for a couple years you should be alright

 

[streetglider]

I am going to look for the Cornwell 3" sander but will eventually need the bigger one for work on cars too. I have had pretty good luck with HF tools too since I don't work them too hard. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[RV8guy]

Dynabrade can be had for less than $200. It's the best made and will last a long time. They also make sanders for other brands. Dotco is one of them. There are some other that I can't think of right now.

 

[BTMSUP]

Dynabrade can be had for less than $200. It's the best made and will last a long time. They also make sanders for other brands. Dotco is one of them. There are some other that I can't think of right now.

Not sure they are the best made. That is quite a statement for anything.

 

[streetglider]

I have a Bel Aire 60 gallon 5hp two-stage compressor. I realize we will have to wait on it at times.

 

[1969]

I have a Bel Aire 60 gallon 5hp two-stage compressor. I realize we will have to wait on it at times.

You should have plenty of air; also, you honestly don't need a $200.00 DA. Almost any $50.00 DA will be just fine. The biggest improvement after you get one would be buy a 3M pad for it and chuck the one that comes on it.

 

[Kev442]

CP870 on Amazon for $47.26, free shipping.

Imagine my surprise when I went hmm, maybe it's time for a new one and saw a picture of my old, perfectly fine one!

As for air consumption, my air compressor will catch up and shut off using a blow gun steady to clean the garage floor. I can't recall my compressor shutting off while using the DA, they use that much air.

 

[BTMSUP]

To the OP, it all depends on what you want to use it for and how good of a finish you want when you are done. Your body prep will be more important than anything else. If you plan to use it for more projects don't go cheap. I have 4 DA's and they all do different things well.

 

[RivennHewn]

I bought my son a HF unit for his car project.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked.

I used it last week to buff out a zinc table top.

So far, it's been great!

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-57-amp-heavy-duty-dual-action-variable-speed-polisher-69924.html

 

[90zcar]

Hf one here. Had it for a couple years. Guy I know needed one asap and offered me a lot of money for it so I sold it to him. Went out the following week and bought another hf one and had money to spare.
They work great. Just use good paper. I don't care for the hf stuff. I use the norton paper


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BTMSUP]

I bought my son a HF unit for his car project.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked.

I used it last week to buff out a zinc table top.

So far, it's been great!

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-57-amp-heavy-duty-dual-action-variable-speed-polisher-69924.html

This is a buffer not a pneumatic da.

 

[dnschmidt]

The very best DA available is the AirVantage. Not cheap but they are in my opinion better than Dynabrade and last forever.

 

[BTMSUP]

The very best DA available is the AirVantage. Not cheap but they are in my opinion better than Dynabrade and last forever.

My vote would be for the Hutchins metal bodied one. I think they are a 4500 series. Or national Detroit makes nice ones and are USA made.

 

[RivennHewn]

This is a buffer not a pneumatic da.

A sanding disc doesn't know the difference.

For one tank, it will work just fine.

 

[streetglider]

Thanks for the replies. We'll post a picture of the tank when it's done unless it looks really bad.

 

[rlitman]

The very best DA available is the AirVantage. Not cheap but they are in my opinion better than Dynabrade and last forever.

As said above, "best" and now "forever" are pretty extreme statements.

If you read the service manual from Dynabrade, regarding their Supreme line of sanders in industrial use, and look at the number of service hours between overhauls, they imply that you can put your palm down on their sander at the beginning of an 8 hour shift, and put the sander down at the end of your shift, and expect 5 years of use like this every weekday before you need to overhaul the air motor (and there's a parts kit sold just for this purpose). For many professionals, this is a lifetime of use.

Both have good products. Hutchins makes an equally good DA, as does Mirka. There are others that are just as good too.

As stated above, a quality pad is important. 3m makes good pads. So do the quality DA manufacturers.

 

[BTMSUP]

A sanding disc doesn't know the difference.

For one tank, it will work just fine.

I don't think you understand what a DA does. Not the same at all.

 

[dnschmidt]

AirVantage makes 3M's sanders. The gentleman that designed the AirVantage sander was the chief designer at Dynabrade. The Dynabrade Supremes were designed by him. He is a personal friend of mine. Hutchins use to make great sanders. Their new lightweight models as well as Dynabrade's Sprit sanders ****. The Supreme's and the Silvers are very good.

 

[RivennHewn]

I don't think you understand what a DA does. Not the same at all.

I guess I didn't just sand a table top, and then polish it then.

With the same tool.

 

[crab]

I wouldn't think you'd need one for a motorcycle tank.

 

[BTMSUP]

I guess I didn't just sand a table top, and then polish it then.

With the same tool.

You essentially used it as a grinder not a DA. With your logic a sanding block, air file, DA, grinder are all da's because you could sand with them.

 

[1969]

You essentially used it as a grinder not a DA. With your logic a sanding block, air file, DA, grinder are all da's because you could sand with them.

Your quickly making friends I see.

 

[BTMSUP]

Your quickly making friends I see.

I do what I can.

If someone doesn't know what a tool does or how it is used then they should refrain from giving advice about said tool.

 

[1969]

I do what I can.

If someone doesn't know what a tool does or how it is used then they should refrain from giving advice about said tool.

Looking at some of Riven's posts, I feel quit confident he has a good grasp on what a tool does, or does not do.

 

[BTMSUP]

Looking at some of Riven's posts, I feel quit confident he has a good grasp on what a tool does, or does not do.

I apologize if I have offended you or your pal in some way. But from the comments in this post I could easily debate that. I however care more about having internet buddies. So again I am sorry.

 

[RivennHewn]

You essentially used it as a grinder not a DA. With your logic a sanding block, air file, DA, grinder are all da's because you could sand with them.

Well,…..oh never mind.

Sorry for the distraction OP

 

[tank4114]

I apologize if I have offended you or your pal in some way. But from the comments in this post I could easily debate that. I however care more about having internet buddies. So again I am sorry.

the tool he linked has a DA (dual action) so you just look like a fool
now if the tool only rotated like a grinder or a normal polisher your argument would be valid but it is not

 

[littleponderosa]

Have an old IR 311 that has worked just dandy for me. Always has worked for me but I'm by no means a body/paint guy. Don't think I paid over $40 years ago. If I had a different skill set, maybe I would be unhappy but that isn't the case.
I'll wait to be schooled from someone about what a pos I have.
Bill

 

[bdelmar2]

I bought a HF da, was like $50.

I'm not a body guy, and I didn't use it that often.

I did some small areas, bumper covers and small dings and what have you on cars I sold - maybe 10 repairs, a front clip on a maxima, and a ranger pickup bed.

I did do something I almost never do and loaned it out. They had it for a couple three days. I know they were painting some large truck tanks (pump truck). I oiled it before I gave it to them, and asked that they oil it - but who knows?

I was stripping my 94 olds 88 down to bare metal/plastic and was about halfway through when the da gave up the ghost. Lost all power and was junked out inside.


I went to my local paint store and bought a Hutchins da, I think its a model 600, and was about $150 if I remember correctly.

It finished the Olds with no issues, and I've used it on a couple other small things since. If it does encounter issues I can get parts for it, but often I discover parts end up being such a large portion of the replacement price they don't always work out financially.

Anyway, I guess only time will tell if the Hutchins outlasts the HF by 3 times as much or not, but I suspect it will. It doesn't cut as fast as the HF, but seems smoother. I believe they both have 3/16 stroke?


Like the OP I just wanted something for occasional use when I got the HF da, and it did last me for 3 to 4 years of what I consider light use, but it sure sucked when it died and I had to buy another one.

 

[dnschmidt]

Actually the term DA is very badly used. What this really means is a dual-action sander. What everybody uses the term to mean is a RANDOM ORBIT SANDER. These are not the same. A true DUAL ACTION sander has forced planetary gear rotation along with the orbital rotation. Examples of these are the Festool ROTEX and the National Detroit 900 Mudhog. On these tools it is impossible to stop the rotation of the pads as they are gear driven. They are FAR MORE AGGRESSIVE than a random orbit sander. On a Random Orbit sander the rotation of the pad can be easily stopped.

 

[tank4114]

personally i wouldnt use something like that but for the past 5 years i been using dynabrade and rupes and neither have let me down im a body guy so these get used daily

 

[dnschmidt]

The Rupes is in fact a DA (Dual Action) machine. It pad is driven by a planetary gear system.