What do I need in a sander?

hev_2

I have eight rooms that need skirting, doors and window frames sanding down before painting.

I've seen a pink palm sander that is a 105 watts Power Devil. Ebay is my friend, but not always a good friend.

Or should I just stick to sand paper and elbow grease?

Please be kind.

(BTW when I post on this board I get loads done, so hopefully this will get me moving again )

wallbash

Eight rooms ... with all that wood
My vote is a 1/3 or 1/2 sheet sander

gnatschuffed

Those palm sanders are great for small jobs and sanding nooks and crannies on furniture, window frames etc. but I think they would struggle on a big job like you're about to tackle. I bought a cheap Mc-Something palm sander from B&Q for £12 or something. It comes with a 3 year warranty and has been more than adequate for the little jobs I've done. I would look at hiring a proper orbital/belt sander and maybe buy one of those palm jobs for occasional use. I'm sure someone with more expertise will be offer some more detailed help. Good luck with the project.

LandyAndy

Admit it. All you've really done is find something to add to your collection of pink DiY tools and now you're looking for a justification to buy it.:D

hev_2

LandyAndy wrote: »

Admit it. All you've really done is find something to add to your collection of pink DiY tools and now you're looking for a justification to buy it.:D

Completely 100% correct!

But I do actually need to decorate 8 rooms which all have dark stained wooden doors and dark stained wooden skirting boards and unfinished wood windows.

And now I've posted it, I'm actually going to have to get on with it. Which is why this board is so brilliant. And, I may still look for a sander, but perhaps not a pink one!

andrew-b

Uhoh! You and your pink tools! Maybe you should invest in a can of pink spray paint? Or a pair of pink-tinted spectacles?

If you do buy a sander be careful that you don't mess up the profile your skirtings and architraves. A big sander in the wrong hands may wreck them. Personally i go for decent quality sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block (being a MSEr i have an offcut of wood i use rather than buying one!) and lots of elbow grease. Do go for decent quality sandpaper as it makes it so much easier. I found that you need to spend about £1 a sheet before you get decent quality sandpaper

Andy

hev_2

Thanks, andrew-b.

You are absolutely right - I saw a pink sander, and I looked at all the woodwork and I thought - wow! an excuse!

BUT I am taking your previous advice about going for a tool by effectiveness and not colour - see, I do learn.

And given how accident prone I can be, well, it's hard to blow up a piece of wood and a sheet of sandpaper (though the pink drill is doing nicely)

If it just needs a light sand to get it ready for painting then I don't need to do huge amounts of rubbing and so the sheet of sandpaper looks like it may win out. Sigh.

Do they do pink sandpaper? (only joking )

andrew-b

You really need that can of pink spray paint?:p

Andy

amandada

andrew-b wrote: »

You really need that can of pink spray paint?:p

Andy

I don't know about that but I have the pink glasses!