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Short Summary
Main recommendation: For beginners, buy a random orbit sander first, and treat the other sanders in this video as worthwhile additions once essential tools are in place. The video covers four affordable sanders that expand what a shop can do: a combination strip and disc sander, a stationary-style disc sander with a table, a spindle sander for inside curves, and a detail sander for tight spots.
Key Points
- The four affordable sanders covered are: 1) a combination one-inch strip sander and disc sander, 2) an 8-inch disc sander with a table, 3) a spindle sander for inside curves, and 4) a detail sander.
- The combination strip/disc sander is presented as the speaker's favorite, used almost as often for small pieces, tight slots, freehand shaping, and sharpening tools as for the disc function.
- A disc sander with a table is mainly for sanding outside curves and keeping edges square, and it can sand bevels and miters.
- The spindle sander handles inside curves and large holes, and its oscillating motion helps prevent scratch patterns.
- The detail sander is lightweight with a pointed tip, making it suited to tight corners and areas where a heavier random orbit sander is hard to control.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Before buying specialty sanders, get the basic essential tools first; the speaker recommends the random orbit sander as the one sander for beginners.
- For a disc sander, keep the table in use to make sure sanding stays square to the board face; tilt the table to sand bevels and use the included miter gauge for miters.
- For a disc sander, the speaker buys 120-grit adhesive-backed discs and leaves them on until they wear out, because a peeled-off adhesive disc cannot be reused.
- For a spindle sander, pick the spindle diameter that most closely matches the curve, drop it in place, and sand; keep the table flat to keep edges square.
- For a handheld belt sander, keep it in constant motion to avoid gouging; for more control, turn it upside down and clamp it to the workbench so you control the workpiece instead.
- The disc sander's 8-inch diameter is unusual, since most hobby-grade tools now use 5-inch discs; the speaker says the extra diameter adds little when sanding curves.
- A stationary belt sander with a four-inch-wide horizontal belt is suggested as an option, and some models include a disc sander that could be used with coarse and medium grits; the speaker has not owned one but says many people love them.
- The speaker suggests that Velcro converters might allow replacing adhesive discs, but says they are not sure about this.
Bottom Line
Start with a random orbit sander, then add specialty sanders based on the work you do: the combination strip/disc sander for versatility, a table-equipped disc sander for curves and squareness, a spindle sander for inside curves, or a detail sander for tight spots.
