An extra-smooth finish on your next carpentry project, this easy-to-use sander is perfect. We’ll teach you how to use a random orbital sander, one of the most commonly used power sanders, for convenience and precision.
If you want to make your projects look professionally finished, you need to know the basics for using a random orbital sander.
Fortunately, it’s an easy process. There are three main parts of the tool that you need to understand: the pad, the sandpaper, and the speed settings. This article will help you learn how to use a random orbital sander so that you can get the best results on your next carpentry project.
Table of Contents
What is Random Orbital Sander
A random orbital sander is a power tool used to sand and smooth the surfaces of larger pieces of wood. It uses a circular pad and a small amount of power to spin in random directions so that it does not tear up the wood.
Random orbital sanders, also called disc sanders or random orbit sander, can be used on almost any type of wood, from soft pine to hard oak. However, they are not suitable for use on surfaces like metal or concrete where the risk of scratching is too great.
Most people use a random orbit sander for finishing a piece, so it’s important to choose the right wood for your project. Before you start, know what type of wood you intend to use and whether it’s been pre-treated with polyurethane or stain. This tool can damage unfinished wood or leave marks on poly-treated surfaces, so you need to take that into account before moving forward.
If you’re using a random orbit sander to sand the paint off of an old piece of furniture, it’s best to choose wood that will be stripped. The paint and varnish will be removed without encountering any damage.
Type Of Sander
There are two types of sanders available for use in the market today. The differences between them are important to know as they will help you determine which type of sander is best for your needs.
Disc Sander:
The disc sander utilizes a disc instead of sandpaper to remove material from your work piece. This type of sander can be used for anything with an intricate surface, including furniture and tile. A disc sander will stay cooler than a belt sander and is more accurate in its application because it does not have any moving parts like the belt does.
Orbit Sander
The orbit sander is a newer type of sander that combines the power of the disc sander with the control of a belt sander. This was created because typically only expensive tools had both features. The orbit sander is designed to give you both options, which means it has less heat and offers more control than either a disc or belt sander.
Drum Sander:
If you’re looking for a tool that gives you the most versatility, you might want to consider a drum sander. This type of sander is essentially an electric disc sander that has a versatile motor and uses it to power four different sanding drums. Combining the sanding drums with the motor makes this sander nearly as powerful as a disc sander, but it offers more versatility in how the tool can be used and can be used on many types of work pieces.
Rotary Sander:
If you want something that’s a bit more powerful and can be used for heavy-duty projects but are not ready to spend the money on a drum sander just yet, you might consider buying a rotary sander. This tool is designed to allow you to sand hardwood, metal, plastic, or hard rubber. A rotary sander is probably the most powerful of all tools used for sanding and will give you the most versatility for your money.
Belt Sander:
The belt sander uses a belt to transfer the motion from the motor to the sandpaper. This tool can be very powerful and works well on large projects and pieces of furniture. However, because the belt is so thin, it can be hard to work with if you need a lot of power behind your motor.
Palm sanders:
Palm sander is one of the most essential power tools used by woodworkers. It has been designed to make wood surface smooth and even. All you need is a palm sander, a sheet of sandpaper, and a little patience to achieve this task. A palm sander operates on the principle that when one rubs or drags an object over another softer object, then it will cause the two surfaces to wear away each other with every back-and-forth movement they do in contact with each other.
How to Use a Random Orbital Sander: 5 Easy Steps
Using the electric random orbital sander is a pretty simple process, so we’ll go over the steps you need to know in order to get the best results. Follow these five easy steps to use your random orbit sander properly:
Step One: Prepare materials
Before you start your next project, make sure you have everything you need handy. This includes items like a dust mask, safety goggles, work gloves, a pair of clamps and other tools.
Check your sandpaper to make sure it’s in good condition. Like any tool in need of maintenance, check the paper to see if it is frayed or over-worn and replace if necessary to avoid damaging your board and getting bad results on the finished product.
Step Two: Mount the sandpaper
Make sure you selecting the right size of sandpaper for your project. A random orbital sander has a number of paper sizes that are available, so make sure you choose the right one for your project.
After selecting the right sandpaper, make sure the paper is mounted onto your sander. This will ensure that it spins properly and does not get stuck between the pad and the base of your sander during use.
Related article: How to Replace Sandpaper on a Disc Sander
Its very important that the sandpaper gets a good grip on the pad, so make sure you hold the paper with both hands. If you have trouble getting a secure hold, get a pair of clamps to help secure.
Step Three: Set the speed setting
When it comes to setting the speed of your sander, there are a few simple steps that you need to follow. First, select the power tool by turning off your main switch and making sure the power is off.
Next, apply pressure to the trigger button on the tool. This should allow you to see the plastic disk inside of the sander. The lower the number on this disk, the slower your sander will spin.
You should be able to adjust your sander to between 1500 and 2500 RPMs depending on which model you use. Leave the disk out of your sander and set the speed to between 1500 and 2000 RPMs. With a slower speed, you will achieve better results with less power.
Step Four: Sand your work piece
When it comes to sanding your work piece, use even pressure with the sander. Use your free hand to apply pressure to one side of the work piece while you use the random orbital sander on the other side. Move the sander in a circular pattern, applying even pressure to make sure you are sanding your board evenly.
If you start to feel like your work piece is not getting enough sanding, slow down the speed of the sander so that it creates less friction.
Step Five: Clean up your project
After you’ve finished your work piece, clean it up. Remove the pad and clean it off with soap or detergent and then run it through the washing machine. The sander itself has very few parts that need cleaning and maintenance, but they do require some work to get rid of dust and debris.
How to Maintain Your Random Orbit Sander
Now that you know how to use a random orbit sander, it’s important to understand how to maintain your sander. Otherwise, you could find that your sander did not perform properly for one reason or another and ends up damaging your piece of furniture or project. (In which case, you’ll need to replace it.)
In order to keep your sander in good shape, follow these simple steps to ensure that you get the best results from it:
Step One: Inspect the sander head and belt.
Check the sander head and belt frequently. At a minimum, you’ll want to check these parts every six months. The belt should have enough tension to keep your sander spinning, but it should not be too tight or too loose. If the belt is loose, it will loosen over time, causing damage to your sander and potentially your work piece.
Also check the sander head for cracks. Cracks in the sander head can cause problems that you might not notice at first. For example, a crack in the sander head can lose pressure and cause parts to jam or come loose, causing damage to your work piece.
Step Two: Clean your sander regularly.
You’ll want to clean your sander after every use to prevent clogging of the mechanism. To do this, attach a hose to the sander and run it through the washing machine. This will clean the sander and maintain its performance.
Step Three: Check your belt regularly.
The belt needs to be replaced at least every six months if you plan on using this tool for long periods of time. The belt should be replaced with the same type of belt that came with the sander. You can also use different belts, but it’s important to keep them within a range to prevent damage from occurring due to variation in tension and friction between the belts.
Step Four: Check your sander head regularly.
The sander head is what deflects the sandpaper to create the desired effect. If it’s not working properly, you can easily fix it by simply removing the pad and inspecting it for cracks or pitting. If there are cracks in the sander head, they are likely to be very small. However, if you notice that the sander head is cracked in multiple places, inspect your belt as well to ensure that the pressure is going where it should be.
Step Five: Work with your sander by hand.
If you were using this tool on a small work piece, you can probably get away with hand sanding it. However, if you plan on using your sander to sand several large boards or furniture pieces, you’ll want to use the sander instead of by hand. This will allow you to maintain the belt and ensure your piece gets the best results possible.
Step Six: Don’t try to sand too large of a piece at once.
Using a random orbit sander to sand too large a piece of work at once will cause your tool to overheat. This can cause the motor to burn out and destroy the tool. Instead, use multiple smaller pieces of sandpaper to finish a large piece.
If you want to use the sander on a larger project, break it down. Use several smaller pieces and sand them one section at a time rather than try to do it all at once.
Conclusions
In conclusion, how to use a random orbital sander is easy: Just follow the steps above and you’ll be able to get great results that you can be proud of. Random orbital sanders are very useful for woodworking projects, so make sure that you have one on hand for future projects.
I hope in this article , you learned how to use a random orbit sander, as well as some effective maintenance tips. If you have any questions about your random orbit sander, or if you have any tips for using this tool, leave them down in the comments below.
