Wood grinder: the choice of a home craftsman. How to choose a wood grinder: types and scope Choose a vibrating surface grinder for wood

Work on construction or repair is not complete without the purchase of a wood grinder. But which one to choose? Most often, the tool is selected according to the ability to work with a specific material, the size of the area of the treated area, the presence of hard-to-reach areas.
For professional construction or repair work, you will need a high power wood grinder.
Wood grinders are:

tape;
vibration;
orbital;
corner;
renovators.

Belt sander for wood

It helps to quickly remove large layers of material, polish boards, and grind parts to fit.
These units have high power and allow you to quickly and efficiently deal with large areas, and the master must have a professional skill in working with such a tool so as not to spoil the result.

Vibratory Wood Sander

The larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe working sole, the faster you can grind a particular area. Usually the sole has a rectangular shape, but some models are equipped with a triangular wedge for working in hard-to-reach areas. The higher the vibration speed of the grinder, the lower the quality of grinding.

Eccentric (orbital) wood sander

Eccentric CMM is designed for fine processing in the final stage of working with wooden objects.
The design of the orbital sander helps to produce circular and translational movements of the sanding pad.
One of the varieties of eccentric sanders - the delta sander has a delta-shaped working surface, which makes it easier to work in hard-to-reach areas.

Angle grinders for wood

Angle grinders are very efficient in work, thanks to a productive engine and a high speed of rotation of the grinding disc.

Renovators for woodwork

Angle grinder does not know how to work with internal corners. Renovators (multifunctional tool) are more suitable for this.
The renovator can:

to polish;
create slots;
clean walls, floors and ceilings from linoleum, tiles, paint, plaster.

Manufacturers are constantly working to increase the functionality of renovators. Depending on the model, the renovator can operate either from the mains or from the battery.

Where to buy a wood grinder cheaply

You can buy a wood grinder inexpensively in the Shuriki online store. A wood grinder, the price of which will not empty your budget, is already waiting for you!

A wood sander is an indispensable tool for finishing work. Thanks to its use, the process of polishing and grinding wooden surfaces is greatly accelerated. The unit itself is convenient and compact, which makes it possible not only quickly, but also to qualitatively level walls, floors, furniture and other wooden surfaces.

To date, there are four types of grinders, which differ in scope, design, principle of operation and other criteria. For carpentry and joinery, as well as repair and construction types of work, the following types of grinding machines can be used:

LSHM - belt grinders;
VShM - vibratory grinders;
OShM - orbital sander;
Delta grinder.

The choice of a machine is directly affected by the scale of the upcoming work (for home or professional use).

Belt sander

The belt sander is ideal for professional use.

The design of the tape type includes two rollers (leading and driven), which, in the course of their movement, actuate the tape fixed on the sole of the tool. Depending on its pricing policy, this tape can be made from various materials.

An important technical characteristic of all grinders is their speed, which depends directly on the power of a particular model. For LSHM, this value can be in the range from 500 W to 1200 W at a speed of 75-500 m per minute. Most manufacturers equip their products with a special regulator that allows you to control the speed of the tape.

The dimensions and other features of this tape also depend on the capabilities of the tool. Therefore, in the selection process, the following factors must be taken into account:

Lenght and width. The larger their value, the more functional the model is. However, with the growth of these indicators, the mass of the machine, as well as its parameters, also increases.
The degree of granularity. Usually, professionals recommend having several of their varieties in stock, which are designed for fine and rough grinding. Thus, you can count on the expected result of the work.

In general, LSM are industrial units with a fairly high power. With their help, you can process large areas in a short period of time and as a result get a perfectly smooth surface. It will not be easy for a person without experience to control the grinder, which can lead to damage to the wooden surface.

Belt-type machines are ideal for rough and fast processing of wood, metal and plastic surfaces.

Vibratory grinder

The most popular variety among all grinders.

In terms of the frequency of processing wooden surfaces, the vibration machine is slightly inferior to the tape type. With its help, the final (finishing) stage of grinding wooden, plastic, metal or stone flat surfaces takes place.

The main part of the machine is a plate that makes frequent reciprocating movements. The rotation of the shaft itself is translated into translational movements of the platform due to the vertically located motor.

What to look for when choosing this tool:

Sole quality. The grinder should have a perfectly flat, high-quality sole with a clear geometry. Cheaper options include a plastic or steel platform, expensive ones include magnesium and aluminum alloys.
The material from which the cover is made. A porous polymer overlay is considered best, while rubber works worse with a plane.

The vibrating grinder qualitatively processes any surface. This is the best option for processing hard-to-reach places.

Orbital sander

The Bosch GEX 125-150 AVE model has a power of 400 W, which will easily stretch the sole up to 15 square meters. cm.

An orbital or eccentric machine is distinguished by a round sole, while the sanding element itself is attached with a special Velcro. The unit includes a counterweight and an eccentric that actuate the sole in several directions.

The product can work in two ways:

By orbiting;
By rotation along the axis.

Axial movement in most models occurs by inertia, less often by force. As a result of its complex movement and the high speed of the machine, a high quality surface is obtained without a single flaw. Dust is removed outside through special holes on the grinding wheel, as well as on the sole itself. To collect it, containers or a vacuum cleaner are used.

Model features:

The power of the grinder can vary between 200-900 watts. The higher the value, the more productive the tool will be.

Forward speed. Grinders with adjustment can have this indicator in the range of 4000-14000 rpm, without adjustment - up to 12000 rpm.
Sole type. If delicate grinding is required, then you should not choose a large sole, which also has a dead zone and an amplitude of up to 7 mm. For processing convex surfaces, it is advisable to use an elastic plate.

The compact sole is able to handle even hard-to-reach surfaces.

Plate material. The optimal choice is a metal plate, which has high strength and reliability, conducts heat well, and is also particularly stable.

The orbital type is designed to carry out the process of polishing and grinding at a high level.

Delta grinder

This type of grinder is designed to process surfaces not only from wood, but also from metal, plastic and stone. According to principle

Compact and versatile delta sander.

they work similar to vibration models. Their feature is the shape of the plate, which makes it possible to produce high-quality grinding work even in hard-to-reach places.

The movements of the sole are carried out at high speed and have a reciprocating look. For both home and professional use, it is advisable to choose a powerful model with the ability to control its speed. Thus, it becomes possible to work with several types of surfaces.

A wide range of modern products allows you to choose models with special holes for dust removal, the possibility of installing additional nozzles, swiveling soles and other work features.

The delta grinder is designed for polishing and cleaning any surface, even in hard-to-reach places.

Important details. Before choosing a particular model, it is worth checking all moving parts for backlash, as well as the degree of accuracy of fitting the body components.
Noise and vibration level. To evaluate these indicators, it is worth turning on the selected model directly in the store. Only in this way can the performance of its work be assessed.
The cost of accessories. It is worth clarifying in advance what the cost of possible repairs, consumables and components that may be needed in the process of work will be.

Do not rush into choosing a grinder. Only after carefully weighing all the pros and cons, you can purchase a quality tool that allows you to carry out repairs at a high level.

We have devoted past articles to screwdrivers, angle grinders, chain saws, jigsaws, mixers, spray guns, trimmers, jackhammers, perforators. Today, all our attention will be riveted to the tool, wielding emery.

Sanding or aging a wooden part, removing paintwork, removing rust, grinding off burrs, wiping putty, processing plastic, polishing stone - all this and much more is within the power of modern grinders. So, we offer the slogan: "Choose a grinder with us, choose like us, choose better than us!"

Grinding: This process causes discomfort for many, even at the mere mention of it. What can I say, grinding is a monotonous, time-consuming, painstaking, dusty, sometimes noisy, a little harmful operation, but, unfortunately, inevitable. Modern requirements for finishing work have reached unprecedented heights, no one questions the fact that the planes must be perfectly even and smooth. Finishing high-tech coatings are increasingly striving for thin layers and only emphasize the flaws of the base. Even enlarged, with a finished decorative coating, sheet building materials have to be joined, after which sealing / puttying or sealing of the seam follows, followed by grinding. Domestic builders-finishers and shop workers (manufacturers of furniture, “carpentry”, stone products, bulk polymers, metal) are slowly but surely getting used to new standards, unknown before.

Fortunately, the materiel did not lag behind for long: a highly specialized, relatively inexpensive tool helps the working people to cope with the task - grinders, without which we can no longer do. In the past, the painfully familiar emery, fixed on a wooden block, or clamped in hands, remained. The leaders of capitalist production have brought to the surface many, many wonderful professional grinding machines, designed for any occasion, without depriving home craftsmen who like to create something with their own hands. Understanding the variety of grinders and making the right choice is actually not difficult, the main thing is to know what a particular tool is intended for, and also clearly understand what tasks you will set for the grinder.

It is customary to distinguish three main types of grinders: belt, eccentric (orbital), surface grinders (vibration). All of them have their own specialization and form a kind of cascade of possibilities, directed from fast rough processing to delicate finishing sanding. Many of those who "on duty" are closely connected with grinding have in their arsenal a complete set of tools of this class. Belt grinders are heavy artillery for removing large layers from large surfaces. PSHM are focused on finishing processing. And EShMs are able to give even better results, bordering on polishing, but, compared to vibration machines, they have a different principle of operation and a different filling.

Belt sanders

Above, we inadvertently called the belt grinder heavy artillery, in fact, it would be more appropriate to say "tank". The working element of this well-recognized tool is an abrasive tape, glued in the form of an endless ring, which moves along two end rollers and clearly resembles a track of a caterpillar machine. Such units are relatively powerful, they have a relatively simple reliable design (angle gearbox plus V-belt transmission), a low center of gravity, and a solid speed of movement of the abrasive material. With the help of a belt grinder, you can easily remove a layer of material of several millimeters, make an edge or rounding on the workpiece, remove old paintwork or rust. She is subject to: wood, metal, polymers, mineral building materials ... Clean the floors from paint - yes, correct the planed timber - please, align the putty wall with marriage - no problem. However, it should be understood that high performance is not the best friend of quality, there will definitely be scratches and shells. For finishing grinding, it will be necessary to use an orbital or surface grinder.

It's no secret that the performance of an electric tool is directly proportional to the power consumption of its motor - the higher it is, the more we can squeeze out of a particular unit. In the case of LSHM, the consumer has the opportunity to choose from models with an engine from 0.5 to 1.2 kW (Skil Masters 7660MA - 1200 W).

Please note that the instrument of Chinese brands is often declared with inflated engine power indicators, or if there are indeed sounded watts, then they are not balanced with the rest of the characteristics of the device. Record-breaking power is boasted by those manufacturers who have nothing more to show, except perhaps for the heavy weight and bulkiness of the “unique” product.

The next important characteristic for a belt grinder is speed. Obviously, it also needs to be taken into account to determine the capabilities of the tool. A fast machine will do more, but it will not be possible to crush it if the outstanding speed is not backed up by additional power. The notorious torque is to blame, which says that the more speed a tool has, the less power it has left. A responsible manufacturer carefully balances these characteristics, making them mutually changeable, which is sometimes the responsibility of smart electronics. The belt speed in these grinders can be in the range of 150-550 meters per minute (Fiolent MSHL1-100 - 550 m/min.).

The question may arise, why even release smart, but relatively weak LSM? It's just that a super-productive (fast and at the same time strong) car is more difficult to control, it is heavier, larger, more expensive. With it, with excessive pressure, it is easy to spoil the workpiece. In turn, maneuverable high-speed lightweights are convenient in a short time, often “in place”, to process a surface of a large area. If you still don't know what loads await the grinder - choose a slower model that can be pressed a little, so it will be more versatile. Even more versatile are LSMs with the ability to preset the speed mode (Sparky MBS 976, DeWalt DW433). Among them there are options with smooth or stepped adjustments.

It's time to talk about electronic systems that help in the work of belt grinders. These machines are not rich in electronic stuffing, compared to other types of electric tools. Everything is usually limited by controlling the speed of the belt. The switch responsible for this function is in the form of a slider or a wheel with divisions. There are models with overheating protection (Metabo BAE 75). With some stretch, this can include the function of fixing the start button in the on position.

Much more interesting is the situation with mechanical "bells and whistles". The kit may include a stand or special clamps designed for stationary mounting of the tool (very convenient for processing small parts). The grinding frame serves as a kind of limiter, which helps to avoid damage to the workpiece. A rip fence or miter fence is useful for getting a precise bevel or flat, parallel surface. The thin front roller in some LSM (Black & Decker KA88) has a small diameter, which minimizes the dead zone in the inner corners. Automatic centering of the tape (the cunning barrel-shaped shape of one of the rollers) does not allow the latter to treacherously slide at the most inopportune moment. An additional tilt or removable handle will significantly increase the functionality of the machine in “squeezed” places - sometimes noticeably.

Special attention should be paid to the dimensions of the working plane - the sole, respectively, the length and width of the tape. Wide soles (100 mm) are characteristic of powerful professional models, making them more stable and productive. The hobby class is usually limited to 75 millimeters. The long and wide sole of expensive LSHM has a complex structure, consisting of a substrate and an elastic plate, which allows you to have a constant uniform contact of the emery with the part, such a tool “keeps the plane” well. It is necessary to mention the “ribbons” with a narrow tooling - these are the so-called “electronic files”, which are not very powerful and versatile, but specialists appreciate them for their unprecedented compactness (for example, Makita 9032 with a tape only 9 mm wide).

There is a dust removal system in all tape machines, but not all of them work equally effectively. The fight against dust is carried out either with the help of a vacuum cleaner connected through the nozzle, or by collecting it in a bag, built-in filter. Of course, a vacuum cleaner is preferable, especially when sanding mineral substrates. In ultra-cheap models, the impeller responsible for air intake does not cope with its function, the channels quickly become clogged, and a lot of harmful “torment” remains in the air.

Surface grinding (vibratory) machines

If we take into account the cleanliness of the processing of parts, then surface grinders occupy an intermediate position between belt and orbital grinders. With their help, the final grinding of flat surfaces made of a wide variety of materials is carried out - plastic, wood, stone, metal ... Due to the relatively large working plane, the PSM is suitable for working with serious quadrature. The secret of the popularity of vibratory grinders lies in their moderate cost, the availability of equipment elements, as well as the absence of dead zones of processing (a flat outsole easily handles corners).

The main working body of a surface grinder is a plate, which makes frequent reciprocating movements with a small amplitude. The motor in such machines is located vertically, which makes it possible, using the eccentric-counterweight tandem, to translate the rotational movements of the shaft into translational movements of the platform.

Most vibratory grinders traditionally boast a 150-300 W motor, they are quite maneuverable, moderately light and compact. A similar level of power plant is almost always enough. However, such unanimity of manufacturers would be at least strange - there are models with a power of up to 600 W (Makita 9046). They are, of course, heavier and larger, but they can work at low speeds for a long time without overheating.

The most important indicator of PSHM is the amplitude of the sole. In different models, it may vary, although it is invariably a relatively small value. On average, in the class, the platform moves by 1-3 mm; in more mobile models, figures of 5-6 mm may appear (Festool RS 100). A large amplitude helps to grind the surface faster, but such processing will also be rougher.

Another nuance is the frequency of the sole. At high speed, the machine quickly removes a relatively thicker layer, and at a lower frequency, it is easier to achieve a precise finish sanding. Some manufacturers make the platform movement frequency changeable, exceeding 20,000 strokes per minute (Bosch GSS 280 AE L-BOXX), which allows you to adapt to the processing of various types of materials, to the characteristics of specific surfaces.

When choosing a vibratory grinder, special attention must be paid to the platform. With its dimensions, everything is quite simple, there are two options: a kind of "standard" and "mini" models - the plate area is about 100 mm 2 (Makita BO4557, Sparky MP 250). Toddlers are well suited to tight, cramped spaces. Obviously, the sole must be of high quality, perfectly flat, with clear geometric shapes. Budget machines are equipped with a platform made of steel or high-strength plastic, and more expensive analogues are equipped with cast platforms made of alloys containing aluminum or magnesium (Festool RS 100). A good sole is precisely balanced, which is easily determined by a low degree of vibration when working without load (idling). It is also important what the lining is made of, the most suitable option is a porous polymer, it “holds” the plane better than rubber.

In a separate class, vibrating grinders with a deltoid platform are distinguished, they are popularly called “iron” (Hitachi SV12SH, Makita BO4565). Due to their miniature size and good “passability”, they are used for processing objects with small details and complex surfaces, such as furniture, carpentry, stair elements, car body. Their triangular platforms are swivel - you can continue to work with an unevenly “eaten” emery petal (Festool Deltex DX 93E) or removable (with a quick installation of another type of platform - for concave / convex surfaces, for structuring, polishing, rubbing).

Emery can be attached to the site in different ways. It is more convenient when the paper is fixed with Velcro, but special equipment is relatively expensive. The option with spring-loaded clips is somewhat more complicated, but you can use inexpensive sanding paper, cut with your own hands (you only need to make holes for dust extraction in the right places).

The fight against fine dust, which is inevitably formed when working with a grinder, poses many challenges for developers. They have to work hard to protect all mechanisms. In this case, a special sealing of the motor is used, protected bearings and switches, an impervious housing, a system of channels with forced dust extraction. In order for dust to be removed from the working area and not saturate the air, it is sent to a collection bag or filter, in most cases a vacuum cleaner can be connected to the nozzle - this is the most effective method of protection.

Eccentric (orbital) sanders

This type of grinder is designed for high quality processing. Delicate grinding and even polishing is their forte, although the performance of such machines can be as impressive as those of vibratory machines. They will cope with any material, most often you will meet ESHM at woodworkers, car painters. In working with profile, volumetric, curvilinear objects, eccentric grinders have no equal, they also have no problems with planes. The only place where such a machine fails is in the corners and small recesses - the “plate” simply will not reach there.

As well as surface grinding units, "orbitals" have an eccentric and a counterweight, with the help of which the circular grinding plate performs not only movement around its axis, but also along the "orbit" with a small amplitude. Interestingly, the axial movement usually occurs by inertia, and in some models, it is forced (by means of a gear transmission - Kress 900 MPS). Such a complex movement of the working blade, coupled with the highest rotation speed, just allows you to get a surface of excellent quality, without recesses, waves and scratches.

From 200 to 900 watts - this is how much modern ESHM motors consume. Those that are more powerful, of course, will also be more productive, they can easily pull a larger sole, up to 150 mm in diameter (for example, a 400-watt Bosch GEX 125-150 AVE or Interskol ESHM-150/600E).

Bosch GEX 125-150 AVE

Orbital machines also have differences in translational speed. If we talk about rotation, then this figure can be from 4 to 14 thousand revolutions of the eccentric per minute for models with adjustment (Metabo SXE 425), and about 12,000 for models without it. If we talk about the concept of "fluctuation" - then these figures will be half as much. In fact, everything is simple here, the higher the speed, the rougher the processing will be, but the faster the work can be done.

The eccentric of orbital machines may not have the same "span" - from 2 to 7 mm (Festool WTS 150/7 E-Plus). This is called the amplitude of the oscillation. The smaller it is, the less vibration the device generates, the more compact the plate goes, the smaller the area we process, but the cleaner the grinding will be. In some ESHM, the operator can set a certain amplitude, affecting the performance and fineness of grinding.

Compared to their counterparts (LShM and PShM), "orbitals" are usually well stuffed with electronics. We have already talked about setting the speed and amplitude, in addition to this, a professional instrument is equipped with an automatic frequency maintenance system (Bosch GEX 150 Turbo) so that it does not fall under load - this is constant electronics. Some models have an electrodynamic brake (AEG EX150ED K), which, after turning off the “start” button, instantly stops the work plate, preventing damage to the workpiece and reducing the possibility of injury. For powerful professional machines, an inrush current limiter (Makita BO6040 ), which smoothly accelerates the tool, preventing a starting jerk and protecting the network from a short-term, but increased load at times.

Very nice options include a removable network cable, adjustable or removable front handle, fixing the start key, and functional dust removal.

Be sure to pay attention to the type of sanding sole. Firstly, if you need especially delicate processing, do not chase after a large plate, by the way, it has a larger dead zone and an amplitude of about 5-7 mm. The plate, made of metal, has stability, high strength and excellent heat dissipation. The elastic plate will cope well with convex surfaces. All of them have Velcro for fixing emery and dust extraction holes. These holes from individual manufacturers may be different in size, quantity and location, according to this feature, you need to select the appropriate equipment.

If the financial issue is not of the last importance, then for a home workshop you can purchase a model from the category of "hobby". Good copies are offered by Makita, Black & Decker, Skil, Sparky, Bosch. Look towards the domestic manufacturer - Interskol, Fiolent have noticeably improved in terms of the quality and functionality of their tools.

Pay attention to the weight and dimensions of the product of interest, especially if a lot of work is planned "in place", on weight, on outstretched arms. Give preference not to a very powerful machine, but to a faster one, it will be lighter, more compact and cheaper. But for regular operations on a workbench, the large weight of the device will be more of a plus than a minus.

Be sure to thoroughly “feel” the grinder, find the most suitable ergonomics for you. Decide on the type of main and secondary handle, most likely you will have to choose between a “mushroom” and a “bracket”. See if the switches are conveniently located and how they work, how easy it is to change the equipment, if the power cord is in the way.

Check the moving parts of the product for play. Look at the accuracy of fitting the body parts. Turn on the machine in the tool shop, at least at idle, evaluate the level of noise and vibration. Take an interest in the cost, assortment and the possibility of interchangeability of consumables.

Weigh all the pros and cons, take your time with the choice, then the whole repair will go smoothly.

On the farm, you often have to grind something, clean off the old paintwork. Most of all work with wood. Few manufacturers sell perfect products. Except a carpenter. And if there are perfectly processed boards, then their price is such that you involuntarily want to grind them yourself. Even taking into account the fact that the work is boring and uninteresting. Therefore, a wood grinder is one of the tools that should be in the home arsenal.

Types, purpose, features of work

There are different types of grinders that do the same type of work but with different results. There is a tool for rough (preliminary), medium (intermediate) and fine (finish) grinding. Part of the tool can even perform.

To choose a wood sander, you first need to decide what type of work you need it for. For rough grinding - smoothing out irregularities, differences in height - one type is suitable, for finishing grinding - bringing to the ideal - another type. Moreover, both tasks can be solved using different types of equipment.

angle grinder

The well-known grinder can also be used for grinding wood. With the function of rough grinding, it copes well. Of all the possible tools, this one is the most productive. If you need to quickly level large wooden surfaces - grinding the floor, walls, log cabins - this is work for the angle grinder. Minus - the surface is very uneven, it takes a long time to level all the pits and humps. If it still “passes” on a log house, then for any carpentry work the result is unsatisfactory. If only it is possible to purchase another tool, it is not worth using an angle grinder for grinding wood.

For wood, red emery circles are used - this is a special abrasive

For grinders there are special nozzles for grinding wood. The best option is petal or plate-shaped circles with sandpaper of different grain sizes. When they are installed, the working plane is below the protective cover, it is safe to work, you can move in any direction. It is necessary to carefully handle places with protruding heads of nails and self-tapping screws. We lower the tool from above, carefully move it. A sharp movement easily breaks the grinding wheel, so be careful.

By changing the grain size of the grinding wheels used, it is possible to carry out coarse and medium (intermediate) grinding. The work will take less time than if any other wood sander is used. But it may take more time to bring to a flat surface, since, with a lack of experience, there will be more flaws.

When sanding wood, the sandpaper is clogged, the speed of work is reduced. In addition to slowing down, there is another sign - the smell of burnt wood. It is not necessary to immediately change the disk, you can restore its performance. To do this, grind the metal for several seconds. Everything stuck - resin, wood fibers, dust - burns out, the surface is cleaned, the processing speed increases again. This trick, by the way, can be used with other grinders.

If you often have to clean and change circles, a Velcro nozzle is installed on the grinder. Replacing the sandpaper is much easier and faster - peeled off / stuck - a matter of seconds. But working with a nozzle is more dangerous. Due to its height, the grinding area is above the level of the protective cover; it does not fulfill its functions. During the start, it happens that an unreliably fixed circle or even the nozzle itself flies off. They have a small weight, injuries are not serious, but it's still an injury. An angle grinder with a smooth start helps to reduce the risks, but all the same, you need to work with gloves, protective clothing with tightly buttoned sleeves, boots that cover your legs, and goggles.

Belt sander

It is called so due to the fact that the sandpaper has the form of a tape, continuously moving with the help of rollers. Therefore, such a wood grinder is also called "endless".

A wood belt sander is designed for rough and intermediate surface leveling. By setting sandpaper with a finer grit, you can achieve a medium finish. This is enough for joinery that does not go under painting. To bring it to perfect condition, you need a different type of wood grinder. Moreover, to eliminate long longitudinal scratches, you will have to carry out stepped grinding, changing the grain size several times - the scratches remain deep.

A belt sander is good if you need to remove the old coating - paint varnish

What is the advantage of a wood belt sander? It has good performance. The tape on it is installed in such a way that it turns out to be sanded close to the wall with one side. What are its shortcomings? Due to the design, not all points can be "reached". For example, corners, shaped recesses, grooves and other small details. It is not always possible to “crawl” between two parts (when processing railings, for example). Another drawback is that most of the belt grinders have a solid mass, it is difficult to work with them on weight, sanding vertical surfaces. But on a horizontal plane - they are the most productive.

The next disadvantages are a high level of noise, not the biggest grinding spot. It is so noisy that it is extremely uncomfortable to work without headphones. Why a small spot of polishing, because in appearance it is quite large? Even with a large belt width, it only sands in the center - the front and back part is not used due to the fact that it is raised to feed the rollers.

There is a belt sander for wood features in the work. To reduce the depth of the furrows that it leaves, it must be driven along the fibers. Then finishing polishing takes less time. And one more thing - if you gape in the process of work and leave the machine in one place for a long time, a solid “pit” is formed. Despite this, it is the most productive wood sander that is often used.

Orbital (eccentric)

The orbital sander for wood has a round sole with Velcro, on which sandpaper discs are attached. The discs are the same as for the grinder, so they are interchangeable. There are holes in the sole of the machine to remove dust. Dust is collected in a bag, a cassette-type container, almost all models allow you to connect a construction vacuum cleaner.

The work of an eccentric wood sander is based on the simultaneous rotation and movement back and forth (reciprocating movements). This achieves a fairly good speed for intermediate and finishing wood processing. When working with a grinder of this type, the platform moves in a spiral or orbit. Therefore, this tool is also called orbital sanders.

Eccentric sanders are good for processing curved or profiled surfaces - the machine is small in weight, it makes little noise, it is easy to control, the angle of the disk can reach recesses, cutouts, etc. With all this, it also handles large planes at a good pace. When using coarse grit sandpaper, it can be used for both coarse and intermediate sanding. The speed is less than that of the tape, but also quite acceptable. There are such machines with different radius of movement (eccentricity) - from 3 to 8 mm. By selecting this parameter, the main purpose is determined (more on this below).

The disadvantages of this type of machine are the impossibility of processing in the corners. The round platform is simply not included. Also - there is an area of uncertain grinding along the edges - it will not be possible to grind close to a wall or a vertical surface.

Vibrating

The sole of a vibratory grinder can be rectangular or triangular. During operation, it makes circular movements with a small amplitude - it vibrates, which gave the name to this type of equipment. This wood grinder is used for fine finishing - for varnishing or painting, but it has low productivity.

A vibratory wood sander with a rectangular surface allows you to process large areas, but with its help it is not possible to grind wood near vertical planes and walls - it starts to beat against an obstacle. Triangular in this regard is more suitable for working in corners and hard-to-reach places, but you still can’t bring it tightly to the wall.

Another disadvantage of vibrators is the so-called "lambs". If a grain of sand or other solid fragment gets under the surface, it leaves small circles on the wood - “lambs”. It is difficult to remove these traces. You have to use sandpaper of progressively smaller grit, gradually removing scratches. But if in the process something gets under the sole again, the process repeats again. Therefore, before work, the surface is thoroughly cleaned and a plyos is usually connected - for quick and timely removal of foreign fragments.

Oscillation

Strictly speaking, this is not a grinder, but you can grind with it. Moreover, those places that are not available for other types of machines are corners (even sharp ones), places directly at vertical walls. For grinding, a triangular platform of a special shape is installed on the tool, on which sandpaper on a self-adhesive basis is fixed.

During operation, the platform moves in a horizontal plane with a very small amplitude - the vertices of the triangle deviate by about 1.7 ° (this is an average of 2.5 mm). Due to this small movement, polishing occurs. Such a machine can be sanded in corners and close to vertical surfaces. Moreover, you can remove not only wood, but also smeared and dried glue. In general, an oscillation machine is used for finishing grinding in hard-to-reach places - due to low productivity and a grinding spot, it is unrealistic to process more or less large surfaces with it.

What type of grinder to choose

Summing up, we can say that for housework and construction, ideally, two grinders are needed - for rough and fine finishing. The most commonly used pair is tape + eccentric. If you are planning to start making furniture, then you cannot do without an oscillatory one.

If you do not like the result of the belt sander, you can purchase two orbital sanders with different eccentricities. For rough grinding, a tool with an eccentricity of 6-8 mm is suitable, for finishing grinding and even polishing - 2-4 mm. The only downside to this solution is that good eccentric sanders are expensive.

If the budget is limited, and the farm has a grinder (angle grinder), rough grinding can be done with it, and for intermediate or finishing use orbital or vibration. Just keep in mind that vibration is the least productive, albeit the cheapest. If possible, buy an orbital one - it is more versatile and gives better results.

Technical Selection Criteria

Any tool is divided into classes that differ in working resource (and price). So a wood grinder can be household or professional. Household are designed for short continuous work with interruptions. Basically, it is recommended to work no more than 3 hours a day, periodically taking breaks of 15 minutes.

Professional models are designed to work for 8-12 hours, breaks are rarely needed or not needed at all. The working resource of such a tool is many times greater. For this, durable and reliable (read - expensive) materials are used. In addition, the productivity of such equipment is much higher, as a rule, there are a greater number of adjustments.

When choosing, the first thing to decide is what class your car should be. I must say that some manufacturers have a good household class, and some also have semi-professional lines. This is an intermediate class, as a rule, for private use it is optimal in terms of price / quality combination. Some models are used even by professionals.

General selection options

Although wood grinders differ, there are some common points that you need to pay attention to when choosing. Here they are:

These are the general points that you need to pay attention to. Now about what is important for different types of grinders.

Tape

When choosing a belt sander, you need to look at the following parameters:

You also need to pay attention to how convenient it is to change the tape. There are also models that allow you to quickly change the brushes. Sometimes spare brushes are even included.

Popular models of belt grinders

Manufacturer	Model	Power	Tape dimensions (width/length)	Belt speed	Weight	Price
Interskol	LShM-76/900	900 W	76 mm / 533 mm	250 m/min	3.2 kg	55-90 $
Makita	9911	650 W	76 mm / 457 mm	270 m/min	2.6 kg	100-150$
Bosch	PBS 75AE	750 W	75 mm / 533 mm	350 m/min	3.5 kg	120-160$
Interskol	LShM-100/1200E	1200 W	100 mm / 610 mm	400 m/min	5.6 kg	100-150$
Makita	9404	1010 W	100 mm / 610 mm	440 m/min	4.7 kg	200-270$

Eccentric (orbital)

In addition to all the general parameters described, there are some nuances in choosing an eccentric wood sanding machine:

The selected model still needs to be tested in the store. To do this, install a disc of sandpaper on the platform and turn on the tool. Vibration should not be felt at all. This means that it is well balanced and will work comfortably.

Popular Random Orbital Sanders

Manufacturer	Model	Power	Disc speed	Platform Oscillation Frequency	Disk size	Platform travel (eccentricity)	Price
Makita	BO5031	300 W	12000 rpm	24000 counts/min	125 mm	2.8mm	90-120 $
Makita	BO5041	300 W	12000 rpm	24000 counts/min	125 mm	3 mm	100-200$
Metabo	SXE450 TurboTec	350 W	13100 rpm	8500 rpm	150 mm	6.2mm	185-220$
Bosch	GEX 150 AC	340 W	12000 rpm	24000 counts/min	150 mm	4 mm	175-220$
Bosch	GEX 125-1AE Box	250 W	12000 rpm	24000 counts/min	125 mm	2.5mm	70-90$

Vibrating

First of all, you need to choose the shape of the sole. It can be rectangular (most often), square or ironing. The system for attaching sandpaper here is clamping, just a piece of sandpaper of the right size is pulled and fixed with clamps. For normal operation of dust removal in stretched paper, holes must be made in the right places (holes in the platform). It is best to connect a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, since the presence of dust under the platform leads to a large number of scratches. That is, instead of grinding, we get a damaged part. This is an important point.

What to look for:

The vibration grinder is used only for finishing grinding and is characterized by low productivity. Only paper with fine grain can be placed on it. Rough processing should be carried out with another tool.

Popular models of vibratory grinders

Manufacturer	Model	Power	Platform Oscillation Frequency	Tape (sole) dimensions	Platform stroke	Price
Interskol	PShM-115/300E	300 W	10500 counts/min	230x115mm		35-50$
Makita	BO3711	190 W	22000 counts/min	228x93mm	2 mm	60-75$
Makita	BO3700	180 W	20000 counts/min	230x93mm	2 mm	50-60$
Bosch	PSS 200AC	200 W	24000 counts/min	230x93mm	2 mm	50-70$
Hitachi	SV12V	300 W	20000 counts/min	228x114mm	2.4mm	100-130$