A disc sander is a machine used to smooth wood, metal, and plastic materials. It is often affixed to a workbench, unlike small handheld sanders, and uses an electric motor to operate at a high speed. There are several ways to attach a sandpaper disc to a disc sander, such as hook and loop, adhesive backing, and spray-on glue. The disc sander is often used for rough finishing as it removes material at a rapid rate.
How does a disc sander work?
With medium course sandpaper, a disc sander is not meant to be used as a finishing sander. The large capacity of this sander makes it easy to remove a lot of material at once.
The speed of material removal can be increased or decreased by positioning the material to be sanded at different places on the face of the disc. The faster the sanding action, the closer to the center of the disc you should place the material. High-speed sanding takes great precaution. It’s very easy to burn material when it’s sanded at a fast rate.
Two types of handheld disc sanders
Handheld sanders come in two types: those that operate with a random orbit, and those that don’t. The latter are typically referred to as grinders or shapers. The handheld random orbit sander is also known as the oscillating orbit sander. This sander uses a circular disc that is rotated in an oblong, constantly changing motion. The change in orbit allows a disc sander to create smooth, flat surfaces.
Disc sanding equipment
A tilting table is included in some bench-mounted disc sanding equipment. The table tilt allows the operator to sand angles onto a workpiece simply by adjusting the table’s angle. This also helps to make accurate copies of the cut angle. The disc on the sander comes in various sizes, the bigger ones work better for home workshop projects.
Why use a disc sander?
Top-notch finish
Disc sanders are known for providing quick finishes due to their rapid speed. They create quality finishes on the metal or wooden material at hand. Your workpiece will be sanded well with this sander and have a smooth, polished finish that makes for a stunning final product.
A disc sander is a powerful tool that guarantees your materials are smooth, with no rough edges or coarse areas.
Versatile use
A disc sander is a versatile tool that can be used on various materials. Not only can it sharpen tools and blades, but it also can shape wood.
The disc sanders available on the market have a variety of disc wheels. The amount of grit on the wheels varies depending on what you’re sanding.
The sandpaper is attached to the wheel using an adhesive, so once you remove it, you can’t reattach it, so it’s recommended that you use it until the end of its service life before removing it.
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Disc sanders are a helpful tool for shaping wood rapidly and efficiently. They accomplish a higher level of accuracy and provide better high-quality results than manual sanding.
