I just got the Dewalt VS random "hook and loop" orbital sander, and it is
sweet. I had the 1/4 sheet DeWalt already and that puppy is gawd aweful
noisey and vibrates your arm something terrible when you are using it, and
whenever I did use it I would always hand sand afterwards because it would
not leave a surface ready for finishing. The random orbital is sweet for
changing paper too, the pads I got just press on, not adhesive, but like
velcro, this is very nice. Dust collection with this one seems to be 10
times better too even if I'm just using the bag it came with. It also has
vacuum hose attachment capability too.

The random orbital one leaves a very smooth finish compared to the 1/4 sheet
sander too.

First question is do this type of sander leave a surface smooth enough for
finishing? (with a fine grade paper of course)

Second question why are they called "hook and loop" sanders? I don't
understand this name, don't see anything on it that looks like a hook or a
loop.

Third question, what is the 1/4 sheet sander good for now? Should I sell it
or give it away, can't think of any situation where it will be more useful
than the random orbital model is or do a job the random orbital wont.

thanks in advance for your replies,

RangerPaul

yes, the sanded item is ready for finish if you use the corect
sandpaper, 150 grit usually does the trick. Hook and loop mean it is a
velcro type system. as far as the 1/4 sheet, well, i have one too,
sitting on the shelf doing nothing. just can't seem to chuck it.

"joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
yes, the sanded item is ready for finish if you use the corect
sandpaper, 150 grit usually does the trick. Hook and loop mean it is a
velcro type system. as far as the 1/4 sheet, well, i have one too,
sitting on the shelf doing nothing. just can't seem to chuck it.

I have some shaped foam pads for my palm sander; the paper goes over them.
I have only used it once, but they are good for concave surfaces that a ROS
couldn't get into.

Thanks Joe,

I guess I will give the 1/4 sheet sander to my son, he's starting to get the
bug. At least if he gets it free he wont feel as stuipid as I do for letting
the lower price steer my decision the first time, I could have afforded the
random orbital then, it is only about 30 bucks more. Live and learn.

So.....if there isn't a situation where the 1/4 sheet sander will work when
a random orbital wont, and I can't think of a thing myself, I'm going to
give it to my son. If for no other reason I can't see going back to cutting
and mouting 1/4 sheets on that thing, I was an instant fan of the hook and
loop, even before I knew what it meant.

Thanks again Joe,

RangerPaul


"joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
yes, the sanded item is ready for finish if you use the corect
sandpaper, 150 grit usually does the trick. Hook and loop mean it is a
velcro type system. as far as the 1/4 sheet, well, i have one too,
sitting on the shelf doing nothing. just can't seem to chuck it.

In article ,
"Ranger Paul" wrote:

Second question why are they called "hook and loop" sanders? I don't
understand this name, don't see anything on it that looks like a hook or a
loop.

Velcro is a trademarked name - similar examples of terminology would be
Kleenex vs. facial tissue and Xerox vs. photocopy. Hook and loop is the
mechanism that was invented with Velcro. Stiff plastic hooks on one part
grab onto the fuzzy loops of the other.

Just one word of warning: Don't overheat the sanding pad by using too
fine a grit to remove coarse surface imperfections or by pressing too
hard against the surface - you'll melt the plastic hooks and they'll no
longer grab the loops. At that point you'll have to replace the hook pad
to get it to stop Frisbee-ing (yet another example of trademark vs.
terminology) the sanding disks across the shop.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 15:44:36 -0600, "Ranger Paul"
wrote:


So.....if there isn't a situation where the 1/4 sheet sander will work when
a random orbital wont, and I can't think of a thing myself,

Think inside corner. You can't get a round sander into a square
corner. Now, you should sand those places before assembling, but
sometimes we forget... If you had a better quality 1/4 sheet sander
you'd want to keep it regardless.


-Leuf

I have both. Square fits places that round won't go. It also seems that it
is easier to do edges and narrow surfaces without rounding them over with
the quarter sheet.
"Ranger Paul" wrote in message
...
Thanks Joe,

I guess I will give the 1/4 sheet sander to my son, he's starting to get
the
bug. At least if he gets it free he wont feel as stuipid as I do for
letting
the lower price steer my decision the first time, I could have afforded
the
random orbital then, it is only about 30 bucks more. Live and learn.

So.....if there isn't a situation where the 1/4 sheet sander will work
when
a random orbital wont, and I can't think of a thing myself, I'm going to
give it to my son. If for no other reason I can't see going back to
cutting
and mouting 1/4 sheets on that thing, I was an instant fan of the hook and
loop, even before I knew what it meant.

Thanks again Joe,

RangerPaul


"joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
yes, the sanded item is ready for finish if you use the corect
sandpaper, 150 grit usually does the trick. Hook and loop mean it is a
velcro type system. as far as the 1/4 sheet, well, i have one too,
sitting on the shelf doing nothing. just can't seem to chuck it.

Good points Leuf & CW, Perhaps I will hang onto the old 1/4 sheet sander
after all. That's one big reason I like these newsgroups. Hearing from
others sure does make a difference sometimes.

Thanks you two!

RangerPaul

Excellent tips on applying pressure and using the right grit paper, things I
may have never figured out.

However, your depth of knowledge concering word definitions and trademark
infringement etc do suggest a certain lack of time being devoted to the art
of beer drinking.

Great comments Owen, thank you sir!

RangerPaul


"Fly-by-Night CC" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"Ranger Paul" wrote:

Second question why are they called "hook and loop" sanders? I don't
understand this name, don't see anything on it that looks like a hook or
a
loop.

Velcro is a trademarked name - similar examples of terminology would be
Kleenex vs. facial tissue and Xerox vs. photocopy. Hook and loop is the
mechanism that was invented with Velcro. Stiff plastic hooks on one part
grab onto the fuzzy loops of the other.

Just one word of warning: Don't overheat the sanding pad by using too
fine a grit to remove coarse surface imperfections or by pressing too
hard against the surface - you'll melt the plastic hooks and they'll no
longer grab the loops. At that point you'll have to replace the hook pad
to get it to stop Frisbee-ing (yet another example of trademark vs.
terminology) the sanding disks across the shop.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

On 15 Jan 2006 13:17:16 -0800, "joe" wrote:

yes, the sanded item is ready for finish if you use the corect
sandpaper, 150 grit usually does the trick. Hook and loop mean it is a
velcro type system. as far as the 1/4 sheet, well, i have one too,
sitting on the shelf doing nothing. just can't seem to chuck it.

Now I am wondering what I may be missing. I have a 1/4 sheet finishing
sander (Bosch) and use it occasioanlly on plywood but prefer to hand
sand through all of the grits on hardwoods. I always assumed it was
the lack of airborn dust and being able to hear the radio while I
worked away that kept it on the shelf.

Warren