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.
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.
Latest posts by Jodie Chiffey If you’re renovating your home, at some point, you’ll be thinking about buying a sander. A sander is great for working with different types of wood – whether you’re fixing a door that keeps sticking or leveling hardwood flooring, you’ll need a powerful sander that can make the job quick and easy for you. With our belt sander vs. orbital sander comparison, you’ll be able to tell which is the right choice for you.
The next type of sander we’ll be using today is this palm sander, which is also called a finish sander. “The last type of sander we’re going to demo is this monster, otherwise known as a 21” belt sander. Belt sanders are ideal for removing material fast and aggressively, so if that’s what you need to do, this is the sander for you.
pad sander vs belt sander Related Question:
What is a pad sander used for?
A pad sander is a specialized hand-held power tool used by woodworkers to smooth the surface of wood, usually on a small project or a portion of a larger project. This type of sander employs a small piece of fine sandpaper, and is used for detail and finishing work.
What’s the difference between a belt sander and sheet 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 belt sander worth it?
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 easiest floor sander to use?
Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, your best choice of floor sander is the random orbital sander from one maker in particular. Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, the best choice for do-it-yourself floor refinishing is the random orbital sander.
What’s the difference between an orbital sander and a 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.
When should I use a belt sander?
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 better than a belt sander?
For fine sanding work or rounding edges, the orbital sander is the tool for the job. It has much more flexibility than a belt sander and works well around corners. It can fit into corners, too, although a random orbital sander might be the better choice.
Why does my sander leave swirl marks?
A random orbital sander can leave swirl marks due to poor quality sandpaper, improper technique, or an inability to clear the dust from the surface.
What kind of sander Do I need to refinish a table?
It depends on the type of furniture, but generally, a palm sander or detail sander is the best option for refinishing furniture because their smaller shape accommodates both small and large projects. Rotary, random orbital, or belt sanders also suitable for medium and large woodworking projects.
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.
Can I use a belt sander on hardwood floors?
A belt sander for finishing a wood floor should be a hand-held one so you can move the tool around on the surface of the floor. Belt sanders will do a good job of leveling out the floor and preparing it for a finer sand.
What kind of sander Do I need to refinish hardwood floors?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.
Does an orbital sander actually 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.
What is better an orbital sander or vibrating sander?
But while random-orbits work more quickly than vibrating sanders, they can’t aggressively remove a lot of material—for that, get a belt sander for flat surfaces or a disc sander for curved ones.