Anybody ever used this Sander

[azbison]

Take a gander at this sander.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=92158

Has anybody ever used one?

I can see where it might be handy, but I can also see where if it's too aggressive it can ruin a piece.

[unixpro]

Yeah, I have one. It's one of the tools that just sits on the shelf. It can't get into the corners the way I want to and it's not all that easy to control. I've got other sanders that do a better job.

[azbison]

Originally Posted by unixpro

Yeah, I have one. It's one of the tools that just sits on the shelf. It can't get into the corners the way I want to and it's not all that easy to control. I've got other sanders that do a better job.

thanks for the info, what sanders do a better job on the small detail pieces?

[waynemn]

Jim

I do a lot of intarsia and also lots of small pieces.

First sanding I do for larger pieces is with a 1x42 inch belt sander. I use a 60 or 80 grit sandpaper to get the rough shape.

Then I use a Craftsman 3D sander. This unit has 3 rotating sanding pads that sort of float round the work piece. It is variable speed and can get done to quite a low speed. The unit is made in Gernmay. The sanding pads are stuck on with hook and loop. The sanding pads are available from about 40 to 1000 grit.

I only use one of the three pads, the one under the speed control. The other two I just leave them without sanding pads. My first past with this sander is about 80 grit, then 120, and then 220. It does remove quite a bit a material quite fast. The variable speed I like for getting into small places and I do not want to take off to much material.

I got mine off ebay. They are running about $15 to $25, and some have free shipping.

I also use the Intarsia Detail Sanders form Roberts Studio. These are are steel bands with sanding strips between the ends. One unit is flat and the other is bowed. I also use the bowed unit by folding the sanding strip in half and then can get into v-shaped area of work.

Hope this helps,

Wayne

waynemn

[JohnB]

G'day Jim,
Never used one, but have seen them and often wondered how you'd make use of one.
I tended to associate them more with metal work, sort of an electric file. Maybe the angle grinder body is what gave me that idea.
They'd be noisy little buggers.

[unixpro]

Originally Posted by azbison

thanks for the info, what sanders do a better job on the small detail pieces?

Well, it depends on what you mean by that. For the very small, delicate pieces, I tend to hand-sand. Larger than that and I move up into one of my many, many sanding options. I have a quarter-sheet, a half-sheet, a random-orbit, a hand-held belt, a bench belt, and a V Drum sander (Stockroom supply -- an excellent investment, IMHO). In special-purpose sanders, I have the small HF model you listed, a Dremel contour sander, and (as of last Friday) a Fein Multimaster. All have their places, but I still find myself often resorting to the EG-1 method (Elbow-Grease mark 1).

One of the nice things about scrolling, though, is that it usually doesn't require much sanding. You can finish sand the boards prior to cutting. The cuts themselves don't usually require much, if anything, in the way of sanding if you're using a high-quality blade with a sufficient tooth count and aren't burning the wood. If you're careful on the glue-up and don't allow much (any) squeeze-out, you shouldn't have much that actually requires sanding.

Of course, this is just my opinion based on my personal experience and preferences. Your mileage may vary.

[Rolf]

We have one at work, (pneumatic) It is great for taking the burr of metal projects.
The problem with it for me is that it is hand held. When I shape I preffer to hold the piece I am shaping with both hands and the sander is fixed to a bench. I have more control that way.

[Steviegwood]

I was thinking of getting one very similar to that sanding file to touch up the insides of stacked ring boxes as I sometimes do not get them to match up perfectly. Steve

[Rolf]

Steve you would do better with an oscilating spindle sander for that.

[dankc908]

I see that it "Removes stock at 2300 feet per minute". That equates to 38 1/3 feet per second. The way I work I'd make short work of an 8 x 10 cutting in about 15 seconds!