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Best sanding tool? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 year ago by Froghut to c/[email protected]

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Our roof has these wooden support beams which are a pretty rough cut wood, I was wondering which electrical sanding tool would be the best for something like this, an orbital sander, belt sander...? Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If you have several tools on hand, just try each of them out on it and see which you like best. Don't overthink it.

Aside from that, in general a belt sander tends to be a more agressive tool than an orbital sander. You might use the former first, then switch to the latter for the final smoothing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I second this. Doesn't look like there is much to remove to get it smooth. I'd be starting with a belt sander and you might get away with a single pass with a medium grit. But if taking too long, use a coarse grit with belt sander and switch to orbital for final finish. Depending on what finish is going to be applied (if finishing is the intent), finish sand with #180 for oil based or #220 for water based.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

What needs sanding? Also, the difference in appearance of the right support beam vs the left shows the importance of getting the picture from the correct angle fellas (perv comment)

[–] Heliumfart 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would use a seven inch disc on a large angle grinder. It's super aggressive, def will be the fastest. A bit hard to control, and easy to have it dig in, so practice where you can't see it. Your arms will feel the burn after.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Unless they are going for a distressed finished look, this is a horrible idea. Even with experience there is no way you'll get a flat finish; without experience you'll have deep pockets and very uneven, rounded corners. Maybe slightly faster than a belt sander, but it'd be negligible and definitely not after all the finish sanding that will be required after.

[–] Heliumfart 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've done several timber frames and refinished a dovetail log home with an angle grinder. You can achieve a flat finish with care, and the time difference over a belt sander is far from negligible. But it is perhaps a bit tricky for a beginner.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I hear ya. The inferred beginner part was more what I was getting at.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Though not sure what their intentions are. If you are just trying to save getting splinters then use whatever is most aggressive sure. But I got the impression this was going to become an attic room otherwise why even bother?

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