Belt sander or random orbital? Please advise!

[Eric The Viking]

D+M have an apparently good offer on two different AEG belt sanders at the moment, and I'm tempted. The slightly smaller one looks much the better bet - variable speed, and easily obtained belts too. The bigger one is probably too chunky for me, and the belts are less easily obtained.

My main question though is, if I can buy only one sort, what type might I need for the first steps of finishing: a belt sander used gently and carefully, or a random orbital one?

This will be for general use, mainly for hardwoods for face frames and door panels, to take a lacquer, polish or oiled finish. I'm OK with elbow grease where necessary, and I do understand the limitations of powered sanders, but I'm hoping to speed things along a bit, as I've a fair bit of fitted stuff to do this year.

Is it one of those 'whatever you get on with best' things, or is there a definite 'you should use this for this, and that for that'?

Thanks,

E. (revealing the inner novice, again!).

PS: I've had several non-random orbital jobbies, and don't really like them for anything other than smoothing rough plaster: noise, dust, clogging, little rings in the finish, etc.!

 

[gc]

Looking for a belt sander myself, saw the AEG ones at D+M aswell and was looking into the smaller one. Found shop on eBay has them for 67 quid delivered. Dont have link for it though, seems good deal.

 

[matt]

I don't own nor have I used a ROS (although I have a cheap B&D that I think is a wannabe ROS) but I do have a Bosch (blue) belt sander which I wouldn't be without. I think the answer may be you should consider owning both, however, that begs the question which first?

 

[Jacob]

I've found that my belt sander (Bosch Gbs 75AE) with coarse grit, removes material and can flatten a surface (better with the sanding frame) much faster than my ROS (Bosch GEX 150) but with finer grits the ROS removes material much faster and produces a much better finish than the belt sander. In fact the belt sander is not really much good for fine finishing at all, so they make a good team.
The belt sander also is brilliant for tool grinding (40 or 60 grit) as it sits upside down on a bench quite conveniently due to the square shape, and runs a lot cooler than a grindstone. You wouldn't need a Tormek.

You need both really!

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Yes both. Belt sander will not really do fine sanding well. The first to buy would be a decent ROS. The metabo 450 turbo has two osculating settings that deals with heavy removal and and fine removal quite well. Then when you can, add the belt sander to your kit.

 

[OPJ]

As others have already said - ideally, you'd buy both... :roll:

I find that my 6in Metabo ROS isn't great for use on narrow boards (it's very easy to tip, unbalanced, over an edge) and, wide boards of pine or glued-up table tops, it leaves an uneven finish... My belt sander (Makita 9404) is better at creating a flat surface; you just need to ensure you're sanding with the grain, all the time.

If you went for a belt sander, do you think you could also stretch to a smaller, sub-£100, 5in ROS? A belt sander would be fine for painted finishes, IMO. You'd really benefit from owning a ROS when working with real wood.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Thanks to everyone -- really helpful thoughts.

@ Olly, yes, good idea: I've just noticed Axminster have quite a good range of pretty inexpensive ROSes.

So I'll probably get a belt sander first (the AEG looks good value and the right size for me), but will go back and check the corners of the piggy bank too...

Cheers,

E.

 

[gc]

I should have made clear the reference to the eBay sale is in no way linked to me just saw it while looking for myself and thought should point out since you were looking at same one.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I should have made clear the reference to the eBay sale is in no way linked to me just saw it while looking for myself and thought should point out since you were looking at same one.

I took it as being helpful, and I will go and look, too.

Many thanks.

E.

 

[Blister]

My vote is for ROS

Belt sanders can and will eat wood if you are not very careful when you get to the end of a stroke and can end up with a hollow if you have slightly too much pressure on the front of rear rollers when changing direction

PS , Dont ask how I know this #-o

I noe have 2 Matabo ROS I am now happy and the wood is too :mrgreen:

 

[sometimewoodworker]

My vote is for ROS

Belt sanders can and will eat wood if you are not very careful when you get to the end of a stroke and can end up with a hollow if you have slightly too much pressure on the front of rear rollers when changing direction

PS , Dont ask how I know this #-o

I noe have 2 Matabo ROS I am now happy and the wood is too :mrgreen:

With you on that. They will also dig groves with the edge of the belt if not kept horizontal. If you can get one with a frame it will tame the beast.

Here is a video review of a tamed beast

Mine has mostly be relegated to inverted use for tool and knife sharpening. SWMBO is happy, as is the wood

 

[János]

Hello,

The two kinds were developed for different purposes. Belt sanders for flattening boards and efficiently removing large amounts of material. Random orbit sanders were developed for car finishing, e.g. for fine sanding and polishing of paint. Some, like Rotex can handle rough work through a switchable sanding action...

A sanding frame is a valuable addition to a belt sander (I found it essential). A random orbit sander produces a high surface quality finish, but almost useless on narrow surfaces, like board edges or door frames. Nowadays I use neither in my cabinet work and restoration; a belt sander is too cruel, a random orbit sander can not be used to sand in corners and at inside edges...

A simple palm grip orbital sander is better for furniture work than a random orbit one, in my opinion.
And look for variable speed in every sander, so you would be able to use them on heath sensitive surfaces, like plastic, paint and lacquer. Finding a plam grip sander with variable speed will be hard job, tough.

By,

János