Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 56
are rarely found in home shops, so we won't cover them in this year's guide. Power When buying a random orbit sander, determine how aggressive it is by checking three things: the amperage, the offset and the number of orbits per minute. The amperage is a rough measure of how much juice the motor uses. This statistic can be misleading, however, because efficient high-power motors might not draw as much amperage as less powerful, less efficient motors. Check out the pad's "offset" or "orbit size." This is the measure of the size of the swirls made by the sander. Big offsets remove lots of material but leave a more visible pattern. Smaller offsets aren't as aggressive, but leave less visible scratches. The number of orbits per minute is also a measure of the aggressiveness of the sander. A variable speed model can help slow down a sander when you want to make sure you don't sand through a veneer surface. Another critical choice is the way the sanding pad attaches to the sandpaper. You have two choices: pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) or hook and loop. PSA is less expensive, but once you remove a sanding disk from the pad, it won't ever stick to the pad again. Hook-and-loop disks can be removed and replaced repeatedly. We recommend hook and loop for all home woodworkers because you'll waste far less sandpaper. Many sanders today have what is called a "pad brake." This feature slows down the spinning pad as it comes in contact with the wood. It further prevents you from easily gouging the surface you're sanding. If the sander doesn't have a pad break, it's a good idea to place the sander on your project before you turn it on. Dust Collection Also critical is dust collection. Some sanders have great dust collection; on other sanders the bag or canister is only for show. Find out how difficult it is to hook up the sander to your shop vacuum because that's the best way to suck up the dust. Also be sure to check out how many holes the sanding pad has, either five or eight. Does eight-hole sandpaper actually remove more dust? We're not sure, but it stands to reason that more openings will allow for more dust collected. Some of Porter-Cable's sanders deftly sidestep this problem with a novel sanding pad. The pad has five holes, but there's also a narrow trench connecting the holes so your eight-hole sandpaper will work just as well. PW PW OmmenKo: The following sanders have been tested or used by the editors of Popular Woodworking and have earned their recommendation. Occasional User We recommend either the Ryobi RS240 or Craftsman 11621 palm grip random orbit sanders for the occasional woodworker For $40 you get a tool that is lightweight, aggressive and has some nice features.The RS240 gives you the option of using either PSA or hook-and-loop sanding disks, while the 11621 is only PSA.These tools are plenty aggressive and fared well in our shop test. Serious Home Woodworker There are a lot of really great random orbit sanders on the market today though a handful stand out.The palm grip Makita BO5010 and its inline cousins the BO5020 and BO5021K are simply fantastic sanders. Lightweight, ergonomic and aggressive, the 5010 is also noteworthy because of its unequalled dust collection.The price is about $70, and the tool is worth every penny We also recommend Porter-Cable's 333 sanders, which are available in either a variable speed or single-speed palm grip model for $70 to $90. Advanced Woodworker or Professional For many of the woodworkers in this category the same recommendations as in the previous category still apply Many professional woodworkers will likely be using air-powered sanders for their ability to work all day long without heavy wear on the machine.We haven't covered air sanders here, but there are electric sanders that will take nearly the same abuse with equally professional results.The Fein MSF 636-1 random orbit sander is our personal choice.The sander is as aggressive as any on the market, and when coupled with a shop vacuum, you can say goodbye to dust forever The MSF 636-1 can hog off material with 40-grit sandpaper or polish a finish with 30-micron micromesh paper with equally impressive results. DO YOU NEED A DETAIL SANDER? Detail sanders seem like a great idea,especially when you don't own one and you need to sand something in a tight place. However, over the years we've read hundreds of complaints from woodworkers who say these little tools just aren't up to the job. We've tested a lot of these tools in our shop, and we understand the complaints. Detail sanders will never be as aggressive as a random orbit sander. But there are a couple models that stand out and have become favorites in our shop. The Fein Multimaster (MSXE 636-2) is the undisputed king of the heap.At about $175, it is the most expensive detail sander on the market. But you get what you pay for. In addition to aggressively sanding wood in tight spaces, the tool has a variety of accessories that stretch its usefulness.There's a paint-scraping blade, a grout removal blade, a tile-cutting blade, and even a woodcutting blade that has the same teeth as those on a Japanese pull saw. The Bosch 1294VSK is a less expensive alternative to the Fein. Costing about $135, the Bosch detail sander is not as aggressive as the Fein,in our opinion, but it can really get the job done. Also worthy of note is the Metabo SXE400, which is a random orbit detail sander.It's got a 3'/8" round pad,which will get you between spindles, but not into corners.We have yet to test one of these models, but we've always been pleased with the quality of Metabo's German tools. |
