DrumAdmin
There are different type of sanders that you can use for your wood working projects but the type of sander you use will depend on the nature of the work. In each step of wood work a different type of sander is used to obtain a perfect final project. Some of the different types of sanders include belt, detail and finishing sanders.
We have a nice video from SkilPowerTools explaining different types of sanders. But before you move on to video, let’s do a quick comparison of various types of sanders.
Here are details on the use of different types of sanders
Belt sander
This is the most basic sander especially when you are starting your wood work project. Belt sanders come in different sizes so you can choose the size depending on the size of your project.
A belt sander is used to make large pieces of wood even and this is the tool to begin your project with. When working on very large surfaces, a belt sander will be useful in helping you work quickly. This is because it is used for removing large chunks of wood in the shortest time possible.
The main use of a belt sander is preparing a working surface before wood work actually begins. It is often used for smoothening doors, table tops and generally uneven wooden surfaces before beginning wood work.
Detail sander
Just like the name suggests, a detail sander provides more detailed compared to a belt sander. This type of sander is used to give specific details to the project you are working on. Unlike a belt sander that is good for general wood work on flat wooden surfaces, a detail sander is used for working specific details on wood especially around the corners or inaccessible areas.
A detail sander has triangular pads and has interchangeable pads depending on the type of work. It also has curves and shapers and this makes it easy when trying to make fine details on the piece of wood. A detail sander is ideal when you want to smoothen the very fine details of your wood work. This sander goes to all the corners and inaccessible areas of the wood giving fine and smooth details. It’s ideal for chair spindles and other detailed wood work.
Finishing sander
This is the last sander you use after you have completed your wood work to give the pieces a perfect finish. A finishing sander works by moving the sander in very small circles in order to achieve an overall smooth finish of the wood. A finishing sander can perform different types of tasks keeping in mind that it is the last type of sander to use when working out a smooth final finish.
Unlike a detail sander that has triangular pads, a finishing sander has square pads ideal for final finishing. Just like a detail sander, a finishing sander is also good wood working on corners and hidden parts of the piece of wood. A finish sander is also good when working on delicate pieces of wood that can easily be damaged by other types of sanders. For instance, a finish sander is used when working on ply wood and very fine veneers to keep integrity of the wood.
