I’m a novice and I’ve been doing repairs with my variable speed drill and a 5" padded disc I bought at the auto parts store. I’m ready to move up to a variable-speed sander that accepts the usual pads. Which one should I buy?
I’ll use it for board repair and other projects around the house. I do larger repairs than basic dings. I’ve reglassed fins, fixed delams, and broken board. I don’t do a high volume. Just what I and my friends do to our boards.
I searched the forum index and found a recommendation on a Harborfreight sander for $25. Can it really be any good for that low a price? I’d rather not spend a couple hundred on the DeWalt and others but so far I haven’t found too many options.
Has anyone used a speed controller on a standard low-price angle grinder?
Ryan, I’ve been buying various power tools (mostly for carpentry and fine woodworking) for over 35 years. In my experience the tools that cost the most are the cheap ones. They break sooner. They give you headaches, because they don’t perform as well as quality tools. And you end up buying more of them, so they end up costing more.
As far a grinder/polishers: I have a Milwakee, and it has performed great. But with any power tool that’s used for sanding resin and fiberglass, you have to keep the motor clean using compressed air. Electric motors don’t like that stuff.
You might call a glassing shop and ask them what brands they use. Professionals who need to keep maintenance, and tool replacement costs down, usually buy the tools that work the best and break down the least. Good luck. Doug
Get a expensive, overly heavy sander and learn to destroy your projects.
No need to get a 25-35 dollar HF sander that functions well and lasts over 5 years.Get the brainwasher like most here got suckered into.that way you to can be a club member.Herb
Someone said once…“the cheapest tool is the high priced one you didn’t buy in the first place after replaceing the cheap one that didn’t last.”
Or something like that.
I use a Makita 7 inch Sander/polisher. Should last me a lifetime if i care for it properly. One sander for sanding and polishing…only one you’ll ever need. I think I paid around $200 for it. If your serious make the investment now and you wont have to pay more later.
I have 3 HF cheapies I bought when introduced in 98’.I’m still using the first.the other 2 are still in the box new.I have Sanded over 1000 boards + tons of fins ,not to mention general gun and household projects to boot.
Like I said, buy the overly priced job so you can be a club member.
I also have a Makita 2 speeder,and a variable Hitachi,both reliable and both made in China!
by the way your overly priced jobs are made in China too!Probably the same factory.Herb
I have heard other people having to replace the HF sanders after a year or two. You get what you pay for. I’m sure they work OK but why take the chance of wasting money to pay for something that you could have invested in in the first place.
Never mentioned where my Makita was made. Not sure why that is an issue.
I have one sander for boards and house painting and any other crap that comes up. You have 5. I think I come out ahead on the cost issue there my friend.
If your HF has lasted 3 years, I’m sure it’s more than good enough for what I’m doing. Like I said, I’m a novice so I’m not doing a lot of work. Just the occasional need for me and my friends.
Since you’ve got 2 new in the box would you be willing to sell one?
My HFs were bought over 4 years ago when they intro-ed them @HF.I bought them as throw aways.I planned on using them for 3-5 boards ,then toss.Suprizingly the first one has lasted the stay to this day.You paid 200 dollars for your China built sander.I paid 30.In fact my 3 HFs were only 90. That’s less that either of my other two cost(which if you paid 200 for you Makita you paid too much).My Makita I bought at HF for 100 dollars at their annual sidewalk sale,and my Hit. from Home Depot for 150. That’s 340 dollars total not including tax for 5 .I plan on driving all 5 to hell just like the past 6 or 7 sanders I have killed including a Skil.a Sears,a milwalkee,to mention a couple that have hit the graveyard thanks to me.
Sanders are that ,disposable!
You have 1 good sander that will last you for home use “maybe” your life time.That’s good for you.
MY Moral to this thread,
" Don't pay more to achieve same goal".
I’m glad the Makita works out for you.I’ve had mine for like 7 years with only a brush replacement,and a cleaning or two.
Just don’t put down a sander you haven’t used just because you paid more.Herb
Depends on how many boards you want to do. I used one of those small angle grinders on my first board to grind the laps down. Worked ok, wouldnt recommend it. I’d say go for the high end tools. They last longer, and theres nothing like a professional tool. I use a Milwaukee and I love it.
Thanks. I checked out the website. They have a few models to choose from. I just asked about buying one of yours because it sounds like they were making decent product when you bought them. The quality may or may not be just as good now. I thought I might pick-up a piece of proven equipment if you were willing to part with one.
No worries. I will give them a look. I live just a couple of miles from an HF store in Huntington Beach.
I think I’m going the low price route. At 30 bucks and with endorsement from a few people here and in threads in the archives, I don’t see how I can pass it up. I won’t use it whole lot so it should last me a while. If it were $100, it would be a different story. I appreciate quality tools as much as the next guy and I know how an inferior tool can loose it’s value real quick if it messes up your work. I’ve been getting along with a disc on a 3/8" drill. I don’t see how this could be any worse. At $30 it’s worth the risk.
I guess there’s no guarantee that the next two of the three won’t last even 1/2 as long as the first.
What I did to give my first one alittle more life was to keep it blown out(air pressure wash),and I removed the head and replaced the gear goop w/ a better quality gear grease.I used Slick-50 grease.It helped the moving parts right away.I use it in all my tools and my truck’s front end,which is still like new @ 10years and 180,000 miles.
If the sander you buy from HF (if you do my simple treatment steps) dies within the first 3 years (after their warranty expires),I’ll give you one of mine for free.So I’ll only have 4 more sanders to kill.
Drew, Sorry to be a d*^k to you man.I’m not feeling the best right now and sometimes angry feels better than pain.Herb
Not an angle grinder…A fullblown sander, perfect for surfboard use.
It’s a third the wt. of a Milwalkee.1/2 the wt. of a Makita.The grip is grooved ,and the overall size is more compact.The dynamics are superior for said purpose.
Like you said there’s nothing wrong with professional products.Herb
I don’t mean to sound like I’m trying to bring up the global economy issue (again) - just thought it’s interesting that an oriental sounding sander like “Makita” is actually manufactured in US while a US sounding sander like “Milwaukee” is actually now made in Mexico.
If it matters, you have to actually read the label on each type of tool regardless of the brand. Several brands outsource various items within their product line so you can’t assume all the tools of a certain brand are made in the same place.