Replies

1. 
   ring | Jun 26, 2005 06:34pm | #1

   Jim,

   Like most everything else there are pros and cons.  Can you afford to have 3 or 4 different sanders?  If so, then for sure 1 of them should be a pneumatic palm sander.  They are lightweight, never stop running, and are easy to control.  But they use a lot of air (can your compressor handle it?).  And they will not do the heavy-duty work you can get from a ROS.

   I don't know what your shop's needs are, but for many of us it is essential to have:

   belt sander

   random orbital sander

   pneumatic palm sander

   DR

1. 
   JimD | Jun 26, 2005 08:13pm | #2

   Thanks:Any recomendations on a pneumatic sander?

1. 
   ring | Jun 26, 2005 10:52pm | #3

   I've had a Dynabrade for years, and I can definitely recommend it.

   DR

2. 
   Handyman3 | Jun 27, 2005 12:07am | #4

   Jim , I am new to this forum, but I work in a cabinet shop and do a lot of sanding with an orbiter sander. The name brand the shop uses has a bad on/off switch, because I have gone thru 3 sanders. So when you think about getting one look at the type of on/off switch it is.  

3. 
   RickL | Jun 27, 2005 06:00pm | #5

   I'd look at theelectric  Festool ROS.  Dynabrde makes several sanders with different size orbits. Rarely do I see anyone mention this fact when recommending.  Think about it...does it make sense to fire up a 5 hp motor to run a small sander. A good electric is as good as an air sander. The advantage is fewer parts in an air sander plus wet sanding is not recommended with an electric sander.

4. 
   Walker1 | Jun 29, 2005 07:23pm | #6

   I was an automotive painter and bodyman for twelve years.I've logged more hours with a pneumatic orbital sander in hand than most ever will. Hutchins and Dynabrade are the best,my preference is Hutchins.When I left the body and paint buisness I took up woodworking as a hobby I thought it was great because I already had a big compressor and air sanders and went to work using them. One day I got an electric sander free with a machine I bought , I tried it and was surprised how far superior it was for sanding wood,I think its the higher rpm and tighter orbital action that makes the difference.W hile electric sanders have no place in a bodyshop,I believe the only thing pneumatic sanders do in a wood shop is create a worse dust problem,make more noise,and use more electricity. I know they use them in production cabinet and furniture shops etc.,but that has more to do with speed ,longevity of the machine and the saftey of air hoses over electrical cords in that environment. Hope that helps .  

1. 
   JimD | Jun 29, 2005 07:55pm | #7

   Thanks for your insight. I appreciate it.