Our belt sander vs. orbital sander gives detailed information enabling you to make the most suitable choice. A belt sander is more effective for large materials, while the orbital sander is ideal for small spaces and pieces of furniture. Belt sanders have a continuous loop sand belt circulating between two rotating drums, while an orbital sander has a rectangular head that rotates to get rid of the undesired material.
In this piece, we will examine the differences between a belt sander and a random orbital sander. While we’ve written on these pages about orbital sanders and random orbital sanders in the past, we’ve never compared or contrasted with a belt sander. Random orbital sanders are not as powerful as a belt sander and will strain to remove some materials that belt sanders would find easy.
Simply put, you should get a belt sander if you have large jobs, but you should get an orbital sander if you have small or rounded jobs. If you are worried that you don’t have a delicate enough hand for a belt sander, the orbital sander is the better choice. Get a belt sander if you have big jobs or get an orbital sander if you have small jobs.
To help you overcome any sanding struggles, here is helpful information on the best electric sanders for wood and when to use them. There is little difference between sanding requirements and you will likely use both belt sanders and sheet finishing sanders. There are four main wood sander types: belt sanders, random orbital sanders, disc sanders and finishing sanders.
belt sander vs random orbital Related Question:
Which is better orbital sander or random orbital sander?
The random-orbit sander’s oscillations as it spins do not create a distinct pattern. This allows the tool to be used without concern for grain direction. When both tools are outfitted with 100-grit paper, the random-orbit sander removes more material than the orbital sander.
What is a belt sander good for?
What are Belt Sanders? Belt sanders are multiuse tools. They are commonly used for trimming to a scribed line (photo), sanding very rough surfaces, leveling surfaces (like a replacement board in a hardwood floor) and freehand rounding and shaping.
What is a random orbital sander best used for?
With the vibrations in tiny circles, the random orbital sander is used for ultra-smooth sanding. It can be used on wood, plastic or for metal working. A random orbital sander can be used for various applications from painting jobs to restoring headlight transparency.
Do I need a belt sander?
Belt sanders are highly effective tools for removing roughness and preparing woodwork for less aggressive tools in the process like random orbit and finishing sanders. It is crucial to belt-sand with the wood grain rather than across it. Otherwise, the belt sander’s lateral action can ruin the work.
What is the difference between a belt sander and regular sander?
In a nutshell, belt sanders are on the powerful side, able to strip down a piece of wood in a short amount of time. Orbital sanders, on the other hand, are finishing sanders that are used to get wood ultra-smooth.
Which type of sander is best?
Orbital Sanders Are the Best Type of Sander for Fine Jobs As you may have guessed, the orbital sander operates using an orbital action. This is the best hand sander for fine-finish sanding, but it is not efficient for jobs that require the removal of a lot of stock on a large surface.
Is a random orbital sander supposed to spin?
In general, a random orbital palm sander is for more versatile tasks than a standard orbit palm sander, which is mostly used for finishing purposes. Also, the random orbit sander has a round pad that spins as it moves in a circular motion, while the standard sander pad does not spin as it circles.
Why does my Dewalt orbital sander keep stopping?
If the shaft becomes damaged and deformed due to heavy usage or rust build-up, it won’t be able to balance the rotor and the bearings. When this happens, your orbital sander will eventually stop spinning, so you’ll need to replace the shaft to get it working again.
What are the biggest sanding mistakes to avoid with a sanding machine?
Avoid pushing down with too much pressure on the sander. However, doing this can cause issues like swirls, cut-through, uneven sanding and other problems, such as excess heat and loading.
What is the difference between a dual action sander and a random orbital sander?
So, what’s the difference between a DA and an Orbital Sander? There is no difference, a DA sander (dual-action), is an orbital sander. The dual actions are combined, they are (1) the circular rotation of the head, and (2), the orbital or oval movement of the head.
Why is it called a random orbital sander?
A random orbital sander (also known as a palm sander) is a hand-held power tool which sands in a random-orbit action. That is, in constant irregular overlapping circles. This technology was first commercially utilized in 1968 by Rupes Tools.
Can a random orbital sander be used as a polisher?
You can use an orbital sander to polish your vehicle. You need to make sure that it is a random orbital sander, and that it has variable speed settings. The power type of the random orbital sander comes down to your preference and the budget that you’re working with.
Which is better orbital or palm sander?
As compared to a palm sander, orbital sanders are more massive tools, which means that palm sanders are smaller and more lightweight. The motions of orbitals are Circular and orbiting, and palm sanders only have orbiting motion. If you want to work with larger pieces, orbital sanders are better than palm sander.
What grit sizes are commonly used on a belt sander and why?
Choosing the Right Sanding Belt Grit The heavier the job, the coarser the sanding belt you’ll need. 40 to 60 grit is best suited for the heaviest work. When you’re performing tasks such as smoothing surfaces or removing minor blemishes, you’re better off using sandpaper with 80 to 120 grit.
Will a belt sander remove paint?
In light of these requirements, random orbital sanders and belt sanders are both excellent choices. Paint removal can be done with these types of sanders. In addition to being potent enough to easily sand old paint and rough paint, they are also fast enough to deliver a high-quality finish in the end.