Defined as useful power tools that are used to clean, smooth and polish various surfaces, sanders are relied upon in various projects both domestic and commercial - from renovating homes to upcycling furniture.
With that said, one sander doesn’t fit all! With such a versatile range of applications, it should come as no surprise that there are various different types of sander. Keep reading as we discuss what some of these are and the tasks they would typically be used for.
Floor & Edging Sanders
These types of sanders are rather self-explanatory, as the clue to where and what they’re used for is in the name!
They can be used on various types of wooden floor surfaces, including parquet flooring, board flooring and even decking, with the purpose of smoothing the surface in preparation for varnish, polish or paint.
As for edging sanders, these are specifically used for sanding right along skirting boards or confined areas, such as stair treads. They’re able to sand such areas without causing damage to any mouldings, so that a floor can be seamlessly sanded from edge to edge.
Belt Sanders
When power is needed, belt sanders come into play. These feature an electric motor that spins a continuous belt of abrasive sanding material around two drums, making them ideal for heavy-duty tasks.
Most commonly, this involves removing paint or varnish from surfaces, or sanding large, coarse surfaces so that they can be made flat and smooth. They are able to smooth rough edges easily and efficiently, so are especially desirable when quick results are required.
Because of their power, however, it can be easy to over sand when using a belt sander, so other sanders may be used to finetune a sanding job started by a belt sander.
Orbital Sanders
Orbital sanders are a type of portable, handheld sander. They use circular motion to sand surfaces and can be used on both timber and metal, particularly for jobs where a smooth finish is required for applying paints or lacquers.
In order to operate an orbital sander, it’s held by a handle. They can also move faster than other hand-held sanders, such as palm sanders, achieving up to 10,000 orbits per minute - hence why they’re ideal for material removal (e.g. rust from metal or paint from wood).
Palm Sanders
Palm sanders are another type of handheld sander, however these are held at the top of the machine and are often more compact. They also use elliptical (circular) motion, although tend to use sheets with a finer grit than orbital sanders.
Because of their smaller size, they are commonly used for finishing jobs and lighter-duty projects whereby only fine sanding is required.
Reliable Tool Rental
If you live in the South West and require sanding hire, then look to us here at Rocket Rentals. With a wide range of woodworking and sanding equipment available to hire, we’re the tool hire experts you can rely on.
Get in touch with us today to enquire about our products.
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