On 1/11/11 1:35 PM, Leon wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 1/11/11 11:54 AM, Leon wrote:
wrote in message
I guess the point I am trying to make here is that if you have a quality
sander you don't have to inquire as to which technique works best. I
suspect your sander may be marginal at best if you can not figure out how
best to get it to do an acceptable job.


I know it's marginal? It does a pretty good job with good paper and its
dust port does a much better job than expected from a cheap tool.
The only thing I wonder about is if there is an optimum technique.
If I could sum up your post, it's the sander, not the sanding; the tool,
not the technique. A great sander negates technique.

That has been my experience.


So, I think I may look into a better sander. They don't look to be that
expensive... I'm not looking to spend $170 for the Festool.

Seriousely, the PC SpeedBlock is such a good sander it is still available
today and predates the 70's IIRC, it is a finish sander but it will out
perform many ROS as far as agressive is concerned with rough grit paper.
You will need a mask or do as I did, stand beween the sander and a fan
blowing at your back. You can get one for less than $100.



So, even with your kick-ass Festool, do you go heavy or light?
Fast and sweeping, or slow like a street sweeper?

With the Rotex, I let the weight of the sander do the work and keep it flat,
if I apply uneven pressure I could easily dig a deep gouge in a matter of
moments, like a belt sander would do. I basically use it to make a mis-fit
conform or for initial sanding at 120-150 grits.

The Festool 400 series finish sander simply has the weight of my hand on it.
I move it at about 1" per second.

The Festool sanders start in the $200 range and they do have a ROS that you
can turn on and not hold, it can be guided with the tip of your finger, you
don't have to hold the sander. I cannot attest to whether it works well or
not but I have pushed one around a piece of wood with my finger. ;~)


thanks for the great info.

--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
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http://mikedrums.com

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