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Buying Guide – Sanders & Grinders
Buying Guide – Sanders & Grinders
Download PDFSanders & Grinders : To add a finishing touch to your project
Having sanders and grinders will make you save time and energy by helping you quick and consistent results. Whether you are a seasonal or regular worker, a good sander is an essential part of your workshop. Meanwhile, the grinders serve a myriad of useful functions, from rust removal and polishing, to blade sharpening and buffing.

Random Orbit Sander
A random orbit sanders features a round pad that moves in a random pattern to prevent gouging, and can handle any job, from rough to finish sanding. Random orbit sanders are among the most polyvalent of all sanders types and are usually available in four models:
- Palm-grip: Compact and lightweight; perfect for smaller projects like sanding drywall or stripping furniture.
- Pistol-grip: Larger and more powerful; offers smoother finishes; perfect for working on tabletops and casework.
- Right-angle: Heavy-duty; work quickly for rough sanding.
- Pneumatic sanders: Powered by compressors; powerful and versatile.
Our recommendation: Bosch - 6-1/2-amp 6-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Vacuum Port - 1250DEVS

Belt Sander
Belt sanders use a pulley-driven loop, and are perfect for removing large amounts for wood quickly. They are your best ally when it comes to large areas and rough sanding, such as sanding doors, tabletops or other uneven areas.
Our recommendation: Makita - 4 X 24 Belt Sander - 9403

Finishing/Sheet Sander
A finishing/sheet sander features a squared-off sanding pad that moves in a circular motion. They are perfect for delivering fine and smooth finished to materials such as veneers and plywood. In addition, because of their square base, finishing/sheet sanders work well when it comes to sanding corners.
Our recommendation: Hitachi - 1.7 Amp Orbital 1/4 Sheet Sander with Cloth Dust Bag - SV12SG

Detail Sander
Also called a corner sander, a detail sander features a triangular sanding pad that can sand curves and profile shapes with ease. These sanders are perfect for sanding in tigh spots, like around chair spindles.
Our recommendation: Bosch - Corner/Detail Sander Kit - 1294VSK

Power and Sandpaper
Sanders are powered with electricity, batteries, or air compressors. Electric sanders are usually more portable and economical, making them more convenient for moving between jobsites, or rooms of your home. On the other hand, pneumatic sanders are generally more powerful and work faster, but require a compressor, which may be difficult to transport. Regardless of the power source is the better fit, you will need to determine which type of sanding accessory is the best for you. Surfaces range from very fine to rough and coarse, depending on the task you need it for.
Our recommendations:
Bosch - Detail Triangle, Hook & Loop Sanding Sheet, Red, 80 Grit (25pk) - SDTR082
Samona/ROK - 3pk 100 Grit 3" x 18" Sanding Belt - 44852
Features
Sawdust Collection: Whether you are sanding a corner or sanding a wood table, sanding creates a considerable amount of sawdust. You must look for sanders with bags to collect dust or ports that allow you to hook the sander up to a dust collection system or wet/dry vacuum to whisk away debris.
Trigger Lock: A trigger lock allows you to keep the unit locked on the ON position without having to manually depress the trigger, freeing up your hands to concentrate on guiding and controlling the sander.
Clamps: The clamps are often used with smaller portable sanders. They allow you to lock sanders in an upside-down position to create a sanding stand. Rather than bringing the sander to the wood, a clamp lets you bring the wood to the sander for small, delicate items.
Pad Brakes: Pad brakes allow you to lift your sander from the work surface and to put it back down without gouging the material. Once it is in place, you may want to remove them to ensure the highest-quality performance.
Types of grinders

Bench-Top Grinder
Bench-top grinders are perfect for heavy-duty polishing, sharperning, and grinding. Most of the time, they feature two wheels, one with a lower grit for coarse work and the other with a higher grit for finer, more detailed results.Their wheels generally range diameter from 5" to 10" and spin at roughly 3,500 RPM.
One important thing you may want to consider when buying a bench-top grinder is the purchase of a diamond wheel dressing tool. This type of wheel is used to produce sharp, new edges on your grinding wheels for optimal performance.
Our recommendation: DeWALT - 6" (150mm) Bench Grinder - DW756

Portable/Angle Grinder
Most of the time, portable/angle grinders are generally smaller than bench-top grinders and have only one wheel, ranging from 2" to 7" in diameter. This type of sander often has a side handle that makes them easier to hold with two hands.
Our recommendation: DeWALT - 4-1/2"/5" High Power Small Angle Grinder - D28114N
Grinder Wheels
Grinders can be used for removing both non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as various applications with paint, rust, concrete, wood, marble, slate, stone and tile. They can also polish and brighten metal, buff, grind, sand, cut, and notch. Even more, you can use them to level or deburr surfaces. The key to such versatility lies in the grinding wheel. Also, knowing which wheel will be more effective for specific tasks is essential for achieving the right results. Take a look at the chart below to help you choose which wheels you will need to use for a specific job:
Wheel Type | Use and Points to Consider |
---|---|
Aluminum Oxide |
|
Buffing |
|
Cutoff |
|
Dry-Cut |
|
Fibre |
|
Flapper |
|
Grinding |
|
Sanding |
|
Silicone Carbide |
|
Tuck Pointing |
|
Wire/Brush |
|
Features
Water Trays: Grinder with water trays provide a convenient place to cool down metal, when you grind, helping to prevent it from overheating
Variable Speed: Motors that allow for variable speed let you grind on slower speed to prevent heat buildup.
Vaccum Attachment: A grinder with a vacuum attachment allows you to connect it to a vacuum to eliminate the large amounts of dust created when tuck pointing brick.
Gearing: Metal gear housing can aid in high-torque applications. Grinders with machine-cut gears generally last longer and require
less maintenance and saving money over the long run, despite a slightly larger investment to begin with.
Lighting: Built-in lamps offer better lighting of the work area for increased accuracy.
If you wish to have more information regarding our selection of band saws and table saws, contact us!
Come visit our store in London, Ontario !
Federated Tool – Retail Store
(click on the address for directions)
Toll Free: 1-800-387-0608
Phone: (519) 451-0100
Fax: (519) 451-9376
Email: sales@federatedtool.com
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