Electric Sander Newbie!

Frank99

I need to sand down some ceilings and walls and it is taking me some time at my age.

Is it worth going down the electric sander route and and would anyone recommend what i could look for, i have never bothered to get an electric one but i do sand quite often in the home and garden so i wonder if it might be a good investment and certainly save time.

I don't really know where to start and i assume normal sandpaper would not be usable with an electric version.

FreeBear

What sort of plaster is on the walls ?

Sanding walls/ceilings is a very messy job, and some types of plaster sand easily (dry wall), whilst others don't. They will all clog up sanding pads pretty darned quick too.

You can get sanding heads & poles made for the job - e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/sander-head-84-x-240mm/11587 - Won't kick up as much dust as a power tool.

donemedosh

I Did the same thing a few years ago when we were "doing up the house" I bought a cheapish sander & used to cut my own pads from standard sheets just need the type that have clamps at the ends. (look at screwfix 876GF) Ok for the walls but maybe freebears idea for the ceiling is better than a sander

twopenny

A reciprocal sander for large areas, you can get cheap sheets if you look around or cut your own.
I have a palm sander for doors and windows, also garden furniture. I've adapted the cheaper sand disks to fit.
I also use a hand sander plastic thing that i can cut sheets for. Good for some quick bits.

Effician

Best sander i have used for plaster is a Mirka ceros 650cv  with the abranet disks, not cheap but speedy & none clog, the abranet disks last ages as well.

As i say not cheap but i would class it as an investment.

Frank99

FreeBear said:

What sort of plaster is on the walls ?

Sanding walls/ceilings is a very messy job, and some types of plaster sand easily (dry wall), whilst others don't. They will all clog up sanding pads pretty darned quick too.

You can get sanding heads & poles made for the job - e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/sander-head-84-x-240mm/11587 - Won't kick up as much dust as a power tool.

Thanks, it walls are just like a skim but a bit bobbly in places with a couple of dents that need filling. 

Frank99

donemedosh said:

I Did the same thing a few years ago when we were "doing up the house" I bought a cheapish sander & used to cut my own pads from standard sheets just need the type that have clamps at the ends. (look at screwfix 876GF) Ok for the walls but maybe freebears idea for the ceiling is better than a sander

donemedosh said:

I Did the same thing a few years ago when we were "doing up the house" I bought a cheapish sander & used to cut my own pads from standard sheets just need the type that have clamps at the ends. (look at screwfix 876GF) Ok for the walls but maybe freebears idea for the ceiling is better than a sander

Thanks, this looks like a possible item i can get from Screwfix!

Grenage

Frank99 said:

I need to sand down some ceilings and walls and it is taking me some time at my age.

Is it worth going down the electric sander route and and would anyone recommend what i could look for, i have never bothered to get an electric one but i do sand quite often in the home and garden so i wonder if it might be a good investment and certainly save time.

I don't really know where to start and i assume normal sandpaper would not be usable with an electric version.

My Bosch orbital sander has served me well for many years.  I recommend using them with a wet and dry vac connected to the exchaust; it keeps the dust down to a very low level and helps stop the paper clogging up.  A roll of the green aluminium oxide paper goes a very long way.

!!!!!! sanding by hand.