should i buy a sander with shop vac attachment?

vote4Pedro

i'm doing the basement and have an old school sander from circa 1980s. that looks like .. anyohw, it doesn't work very well.. it essentially just a glorified vibrator. i find and hand sander to be much more effective.

i was wondering if technology has changed such that i should invest in a modern sander with a shopvac. i like the idea of having

1. less elbow grease from me
2. shop vac attachment


please advice.

tx

oh'mike

You want a Random orbit sander ----They are round--have a velcro pad to hold the paper and remove stock so much faster than a pad sander you will be thrilled.

Porter Cable---(I have 5 of them)---Makita---DeWalt all make dependable units--I'm sure orhers here will fill you in---Mike---

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vote4Pedro

so is it fantastic? am i looking at not having to karate kid, wax on, wax off, again?

vote4Pedro

how will this one work?

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CKQBEPMCMAU

oh'mike

Take my word for it you will be in love----You will brag to all your friends about it--women will crowd around as you sand ---And of course you will become handsome and rich.

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oh'mike

Porter Cable has two models---I think that is the cheap one with less power---Check and see--

I have the better units.

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Maintenance 6

Mine apparently didn't come with that option........ I've been robbed!!

DrHicks

I've got a DeWALT random orbital sander. I really like it!

One of the features I like is that, when you remove the unit's dust catcher (relatively useless) there is a small round fitting that I attach the shop vac tip to. It's a little unwieldy to be sanding with that hose attached, but is a heckuva lot better than blowing dust everywhere!

GottaFixIt

I have the PC in the link. It works well. I've put many hours of use on it.

It's powerful enough to run 60 grit and not bog down too badly.

2 downfalls, though:
When using the "Filter Cup", the dust leaks badly out of the bottom right near the connection point.
When using with a shop vac(and even sometimes when not), the adapter slides onto the sander with only a friction fit O-Ring. It pops off very easily & often. I've been thinking about running a set screw into it, but haven't gotten around to it.

Bottom line is that it's a well built machine with a small design flaw that I would definitely recommend for a DIY'er.

BTW, I bought this at my local Lowes for $40 and added the 2nd year service contract for $6.

vote4Pedro

i'm looking forward to it.. right now my basement looks like cocaine den with all the powder..

tho i prob wouldn't complain if it's really a cocaine den.. sadly, if it was a cocaine den, i'd prob wouldn't post in DIY forum about a sander.. woot..

vote4Pedro

got a ryobi from home depot for 30 bucks. from the attachment, it seems like the best fit for my shop vac. the DeWALT had a rectangular dust port which will not fit my shop vac. being home depot, PC wasn't carried. looking forwarding to using it

jschaben

If the question is whether to buy a sander with dust collection, the short answer is yes. The long answer is definitely. In the old days if you breathed in sanding dust, while not particularly healthy, it was just wood dust. With todays manufactured stuff, it's hard to tell what all you would be breathing in, whatever Chinese glue is made of I suppose. Whether you buy a Random Orbit, 1/4 sheet finish sander or belt sander, it makes no difference, they all have their purpose but all require some sort of dust management. For the job you are doing, a Random Orbital would probably be the best choice for most of it but they don't like getting to close to a perpendicular surface. JMHO

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vote4Pedro

i have my hand sander to finish the job.. just want to get this ish done..

DrHicks

Sounds good! If you're not using it every day, that sander should last you a good long time.

vote4Pedro

i'm baffled as to why i never bought buy a sander YEARS ago. this thing makes sanding a breeze. it's still semi untolerable without hooking up a vacuum or shopvac to it... but much much better than when i was doing it by hand.