[Klein.E]

The DA air powered sanders require "gobs" of CFM air, 10 to 15 CFM to operate.
The small shop will not have a compressor that large, so we all have electric ROS.
On the other hand, the best sander I've ever used, and it was recommended by a professional custom door maker, is a discontinued Milwaukee 1/2 sheet sander.
Ebay has one and If I didn't already have two, I'd snatch it up immediately:

Milwaukee 6014 Heavy Duty 1/2 Sheet Random Orbital Sander for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Milwaukee 6014 Heavy Duty 1/2 Sheet Random Orbital Sander at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

View attachment 461211

Compared to the Craftsman 1/2 sheet sanders, I have 3, the Milwaukee vibrates far less and won't tire your arm out.
I don't know how Milwaukee does it, but they are great.
There are "straight line" sanders also used in automotive body shops, but air powered.
I can't find any electric straight line sanders.

I have a small air linear sander that I just purchased these days, haven't tried but it's pretty cheap, made in Taiwan, old stock. Seems people don't like to use linear sand in China Haha. Automotive painters usually use linear sander to level filler and primer coat, I'll try if it works good on bare wood and top coat. I hope it can leave less sanding marks.

As for sheet oribit sander, I use it barely. It always leaves swirl marks, maybe my sheet sander is crap or I don't use it very well. But I do know some automotive painters use small 3x4 sheet sander on buffing work, with a soft interface pad. Maybe I'll try a new one later.

For electric linear sander, what I can call to mind is festool LS130, it's a pity that one is discontinued.

 

[yomanbill]

As generally used, RO and DA are the same, but DA is actually a broader, more encompassing term. All RO (Random Orbit) sanders are DA (Dual Action), but Dual Action includes both passive RO and driven "Rotex" type motion.

Dual Action means the pad motion has both rotational components and orbital components. Random orbit is a subset to that, where the orbital motion is passive and dictated by frictional forces between the abrasive and the workpiece.

The big confusion comes from the fact that some people use the terms DA and RO as though they are different even when they are applying them to the same motion. Ignoring the gear-driven Rotex sanders for a moment, all pneumatic and electric sanders may be called either RO or DA.

Yes. Sorta, but not exactly (referring to electric only. I don't know about air powered). Yes. RO (random orbit) is dual action in that it rotates and vibrates at the same time. But what is left out is that the term Dual Action came about years before RO when these tools had separate dual action modes that was switchable. You could set the action to be either a straight line motion or a circular motion, but not both at the same time. I have two of these setting on the shelf. The later appearance of RO pretty much made these obsolete.

 

[QC Inspector]

For what it is worth Mirka make random orbit sanders in both electric and air powered. The air powered ones are roughly a third the cost of the electric and appear to have the same "stuff" driving the pad, just the motor is different. I have a Dynabrade RO from a long time back and it is a great tool except because it is a model that doesn't have dust collection I use it outside. It pretty much slows to a stop when it is subzero and I have to bring it in for both of us to warm up before going back out for another round. The Mirka electric has the dust collection port and it works extremely well. It has convinced me to get the dust collection parts for the Dynabrade so I won't have to go outside unless I want to to. I bought the Mirka because it has some of the lowest vibration characteristics around so with anti-vibration gloves on I can sand for much longer. A cheaper sander without gloves has my hands tingling in minutes.

I'll also recommend you start using anti-vibration gloves even if you don't have any issues now. I have found the Impacto Air Gloves to be the best and wear them when doing anything that has vibrations. String trimming weeds, lawn mowing, reciprocating saw, jig saw and chain saws etc. Prevent yourself from getting nerve damage to your hands because it doesn't heal once you get it.

Pete

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Rick,

This was a great read. You mentioned that your Dynabrade sanders were 40 years old. Do you think any technological changes have been made that would result in newer sanders consuming less air? Also, if you were buying a new pneumatic DA today, what would you buy?

Pneumatics don't use as much air as is claimed. Back at my dad's workshop, we could run 2 of the old metal body Dynabrades off of his retail quality (aka not true 5 hp) compressor. In my shop, I not only could run 2 of the newer plastic body sanders from my compressor, but the compressor would even cycle. It's fear mongering by people that don't like air sanders.

 

[Quickstep]

Pneumatics don't use as much air as is claimed. Back at my dad's workshop, we could run 2 of the old metal body Dynabrades off of his retail quality (aka not true 5 hp) compressor. In my shop, I not only could run 2 of the newer plastic body sanders from my compressor, but the compressor would even cycle. It's fear mongering by people that don't like air sanders.

Id like to try a pneumatic DA. What would you recommend? And by recommend, I mean best performer, or most efficient, not lowest cost or entry level. You know - buy once, cry once…

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Id like to try a pneumatic DA. What would you recommend?

I'm sorry, but I haven't looked at sanders since 1999 when I did a review of them for American Woodworker Magazine. Back then, the only 2 brands I would recommend were Dynabrade and MasterPower (created by former Dynabrade engineers). I don't remember how it happened, because it was against the rules, but I somehow kept the MasterPower sanders and gave them to my father. He still has them.

As I look through Google pictures, there's a couple things that strike me. Stick to the 5" disks. There's no need to go to 6". Some sander bodies look like they are really narrow where the rotary vane rotor would be located, suggesting a small diameter motor. Those will consume more air and have less power.

I know it's taboo these days, but I don't like vacuum. I also prefer PSA disks over hook and loop, but you could actually get both pads, as they are considered a semi-consumable part.

 

[Klein.E]

For what it is worth Mirka make random orbit sanders in both electric and air powered. The air powered ones are roughly a third the cost of the electric and appear to have the same "stuff" driving the pad, just the motor is different. I have a Dynabrade RO from a long time back and it is a great tool except because it is a model that doesn't have dust collection I use it outside. It pretty much slows to a stop when it is subzero and I have to bring it in for both of us to warm up before going back out for another round. The Mirka electric has the dust collection port and it works extremely well. It has convinced me to get the dust collection parts for the Dynabrade so I won't have to go outside unless I want to to. I bought the Mirka because it has some of the lowest vibration characteristics around so with anti-vibration gloves on I can sand for much longer. A cheaper sander without gloves has my hands tingling in minutes.

I'll also recommend you start using anti-vibration gloves even if you don't have any issues now. I have found the Impacto Air Gloves to be the best and wear them when doing anything that has vibrations. String trimming weeds, lawn mowing, reciprocating saw, jig saw and chain saws etc. Prevent yourself from getting nerve damage to your hands because it doesn't heal once you get it.

Pete

Thanks Pete, I'm watching 3m Xtract electric sander. I heard many good reviews of it. Like low vibration, low noise and very dust collection.

 

[QC Inspector]

Thanks Pete, I'm watching 3m Xtract electric sander. I heard many good reviews of it. Like low vibration, low noise and very dust collection.

Does 3M disclose where they are made? Mirka is made in Finland.

Pete

 

[Klein.E]

Does 3M disclose where they are made? Mirka is made in Finland.

Pete

Nope, maybe Taiwan, maybe US, who knows. But there are some vids on youtube that compared Xtract to Mirka deros and Festool ets, seems Xtract is the winner by lower noise and vibration but better dust collection. What I'm worried is I saw a few reviews on Amazon, some guys said they got this one and it stopped working just in one year.

 

[Quickstep]

For the cost of a Deros or Xtract + $500 one could have a pretty good run at a pneumatic DA and a big compressor that could also be used for a paint sprayer and other air tools.

 

[woodnthings]

Pneumatics don't use as much air as is claimed. Back at my dad's workshop, we could run 2 of the old metal body Dynabrades off of his retail quality (aka not true 5 hp) compressor. In my shop, I not only could run 2 of the newer plastic body sanders from my compressor, but the compressor would even cycle. It's fear mongering by people that don't like air sanders.

This Ingersol Rand sander uses 17 CFM according to the product description:

Ingersoll Rand 311A Dual-Action Angle Air Sander, 6" Adhesive Pad, 12,000 rpm, 0.25 hp, Side Exhaust - Power Disc Sanders - Amazon.com

Ingersoll Rand 311A Dual-Action Angle Air Sander, 6" Adhesive Pad, 12,000 rpm, 0.25 hp, Side Exhaust - Power Disc Sanders - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

That's more air than even a 5 HP compressor can deliver, depending on the pressure.

This one is double the cost but takes 1/2 the air, only 8 CFM.

Ingersoll Rand 4151 Random Orbital Air Sander, 3/16" Orbit, 6" Vinyl Pad, 12,000 RPM, 0.2 HP - Power Random Orbit Sanders - Amazon.com

Ingersoll Rand 4151 Random Orbital Air Sander, 3/16" Orbit, 6" Vinyl Pad, 12,000 RPM, 0.2 HP - Power Random Orbit Sanders - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

What's the difference?

 

[Quickstep]

I think the specs on Amazon may be a little suspect. It also says the 5141 AC adapter current is 8 amps.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I think the specs on Amazon may be a little suspect. It also says the 5141 AC adapter current is 8 amps.

You previously asked me what sanders I would recommend. Because you didn't ask what sanders I would say to stay away from, I took the lazy way out and didn't expand on it any further.....but I almost did. I deleted it.

The two sanders in my 25 year old test that I was going to say to stay away from were Ingersol Rand and Sioux. Just because you know how to make a great diesel compressor, doesn't mean you know how to make a sander.

 

[woodnthings]

think the specs on Amazon may be a little suspect. It also says the 5141 AC adapter current is 8 amps.

That puzzled me too.

You previously asked me what sanders I would recommend. Because you didn't ask what sanders I would say to stay away from, I took the lazy way out and didn't expand on it any further.....but I almost did. I deleted it.

The two sanders in my 25 year old test that I was going to say to stay away from were Ingersol Rand and Sioux. Just because you know how to make a great diesel compressor, doesn't mean you know how to make a sander.

I was asking "What's the difference".?
It baffled me as well, when iI said it has an 8 AMP rating.
No air powered sander I seen or used need an electrical connection!
Is the issue with Amazon and it's "write up" specialists?
I have an old air powered sander, it may be an Ingersol Rand? I'll need to run out and look.
So, Rick, why are they not any good? And is your 25 year old test still relevant?

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I have an old air powered sander, it may be an Ingersol Rand?

No wonder you seem to hate pneumatic sanders.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

That puzzled me too.

It baffled me as well, when iI said it has an 8 AMP rating.
No air powered sander I seen or used need an electrical connection!

Because the Amazon listing is for several different sanders, not just pneumatic.

 

[woodnthings]

No wonder you seem to hate pneumatic sanders.

Where on earth did you get that impression?
I haven't used one in 20 years and that was an a car fender.
I never said I hate them, ever. For the first time here, you are mistaken!

 

[Quickstep]

I’m just learning about pneumatic sanders, but from what I’ve gleaned from various sources, there’s Dynabrade and there’s everything else.

I’ve been looking at pneumatics because I wore myself out trying to compare the electric ones. And, because everyone who has a pneumatic seems to love it. Except of course for woodnthings who apparently hates them 🤣😝