Mini grinders
This type includes miniature drills, which are also called engravers..
The mini sander, thanks to the variety of attachments, can be used for grinding, carving, polishing, engraving and drilling, both wood and metal. Also, this unit has the ability to connect a flexible shaft, which allows processing parts of complex configuration.
Multifunctional grinders
This type of aggregate is combined, since it can replace several tools: a polishing, vibration, deltoid grinder and a cutter.
The multifunctional sander easily turns into a cutter for metal, wood and ceramics if you replace the pad for grinding attachments with special knives.
Ultrasonic grinders
The ultrasonic sander is the smallest and quietest unit, allowing you to delicately remove material from the surface of the workpiece, layer by layer. The unit consists of an ultrasound source and an emitter with a ceramic file.
The ultrasonic micro-sander allows you to remove a layer of material several hundredths of a millimeter thick. Also, due to the fact that polishing occurs without reciprocating movements, the likelihood of removing excess is minimized..
What are the types of grinders
The grinding machine (CMM) is a tool that is indispensable for all kinds of finishing work: when polishing and grinding metal, wood, concrete, stone and other surfaces. Therefore, it is not difficult to guess that the choice of a grinder is made taking into account the types of work that are supposed to be performed in each specific case. Existing types of grinding machines allow you to level irregularities on various materials, eliminate differences in height, and perform rough and final grinding of surfaces. They differ not only in their design, but also in the principle of operation..
Drum instruments
A drum sander is best suited for scraping the floor. It is a professional and versatile tool. Usually drum CM is used for parquet (grinding and polishing before varnishing) and for wooden floors (removing old paint, leveling board height differences).
The drum type machine works with all types of sandpaper. An emery tape 20 cm wide and 70 cm long is installed on the drum, which is fixed with special clamps.
Brush Sanders
The brush grinder is a professional tool. It is used to polish, clean and grind various materials. Using a special mandrel shaft, various polishing and grinding attachments can be installed on the unit.
In addition, the unit can be fitted with a cylindrical nylon brush.
The brushing attachment allows you to structure the wood, that is, to artificially give it an aging effect, choosing softer and looser layers of wood, leaving dense.
Thanks to this treatment, the surface of the wood becomes embossed and changes color..
Angle Grinder
angle grinder – angle grinder (angle grinder). It is available from almost every master. Thanks to the variety of polishing, grinding and roughing attachments available for this tool, it can perform the following types of work:
- leveling of differences on wooden surfaces, as well as their grinding and polishing;
- peeling paint on concrete, wood and metal surfaces;
- cleaning metal surfaces from rust;
- leveling concrete walls and floors.
For concrete floors and walls, special attachments are used – diamond cups.
#MWShopTalk – Which sander is the best ?
Vibrating (flat) grinders
These devices occupy an intermediate place between tape and orbital BLs in terms of surface cleanliness. The vibration grinder has its advantages over other types of similar devices..
- Low price of equipment. Ability to use regular sandpaper sheets.
- The large flat sole of the unit allows you to handle a decent squaring of the material.
- Due to the simplicity of the design, the device has a low cost.
- CM sole configuration allows machining of inside corners.
In addition, the surface grinder provides a good quality of surface treatment, but is slightly inferior in this parameter to the orbital CM.
– MIRKA CEROS 650CV
.Mirka CEROS 650CV is an eccentric sander with a very modest size and weighs less than a kilogram. At the same time, its power indicators of 350 W and rotational speed up to 10,000 rpm with the possibility of their adjustment ensure high quality of work. The maximum disc diameter is 150 mm.
Low vibrations, low weight and ergonomics allow you to operate the model with just one hand without unnecessary stress. Mirka CEROS 650CV was awarded the second place in the rating for the optimal combination of power and extreme compactness. If you have to work in a confined space, then this model will become simply an irreplaceable tool..
General features
- Most modern grinders are equipped with a dust removal system: a construction vacuum cleaner is connected through a special branch pipe or there is a dust collection bag in the kit. This makes the work process cleaner, the tool itself is better controlled, and the consumption of abrasive equipment is reduced..
- By the type of power supply, the machines are divided into network and battery. The advantages and disadvantages of cordless sanders are obvious – mobility and independence from the mains, but the operating time is limited by the battery charge.
Orbital or eccentric sander which is better
We devoted our previous articles to screwdrivers, angle grinders, chain saws, jigsaws, mixers, spray guns, cross-cutters, jackhammers, perforators. Today, all our attention will be focused on the tool, wielding emery..
To grind or age a wooden part, remove paint and varnish, remove rust, grind off burrs, rub down putty, process plastic, polish a stone – all this and much more can be done with modern grinding machines. So, we offer the slogan: “Choose a grinder with us, choose like us, choose better than us!”
Grinding: This process is unpleasant for many, even at the mere mention of it. What can you say, grinding is a monotonous operation, time consuming, laborious, dusty, sometimes noisy, a little harmful, but, unfortunately, inevitable.
Fortunately, the materiel has not lagged behind for long: a highly specialized, relatively inexpensive tool – grinding machines, which we cannot do without, helps the workers to cope with the task at hand. The painfully familiar emery, fixed on a wooden block, or squeezed in the hands, remained in the past. The foremost workers of capitalist production have produced a lot, a lot of wonderful professional grinding machines designed for any occasion, not depriving the attention of home craftsmen – those who like to create something with their own hands. It’s really easy to understand the variety of grinders and make the right choice, the main thing is to know what a particular tool is intended for, and also clearly understand what tasks you will set for a grinder.
Random Orbital Sander vs. Finish Sander
It is customary to distinguish between three main types of grinding machines: belt, eccentric (orbital), surface grinding (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 are closely related to grinding “on duty” have in their arsenal a complete set of tools of this class. Belt sanders are heavy artillery for removing large layers from large surfaces. FSHM are focused on finishing. And ESHM are able to give an even better result, bordering on polishing, but, in comparison with vibration machines, they have a different principle of operation and a different filling..
– Bosch GEX 150 Turbo
.The second creation of the Germans from Bosch and the third place in the rating is the GEX 150 Turbo grinder. Its main advantage is its 600 W power, which, together with a rotation speed of up to 6650 rpm, ensures efficient and high-quality grinding of various materials. In the presence of a dust collector, to which you can connect a vacuum cleaner and get rid of dust in the course of work. Bosch GEX 150 Turbo is one of the most powerful and efficient grinders in the world. Yes, not the lightest, but the weight plays into the hands, so together with the anti-vibration system, the shaking is reduced to naught. Yes, not the quietest, but quite ergonomic, pleasant to work with, and most importantly – durable.
Electric file
There are special purpose belt sanders, the so-called belt files or electric files. Often used for deburring weld seams and sanding materials in hard-to-reach areas.
Only certain accessories are suitable for electric files, with a width of 9 to 30 mm.
Such belt sanders weigh much lighter than conventional ones – 1-2 kg.
– Metabo SXE 425 Turbo Tec
.The sixth line went to the slightly more impressive and powerful Metabo SXE 425 Turbo Tec eccentric sander. Power of 320 W and 12,600 rpm is responsible for high-quality grinding in it. In this case, the frequency of rotation can be adjusted depending on your own needs..
A dust collector and a power lock button are also present. The maximum disc diameter is 125 mm. The set includes an additional handle and a case for transportation and storage. Some may find the Metabo SXE 425 Turbo Tec a bit heavy, but the weight and design features are good at protecting hands from vibration, even during prolonged continuous use..
– Makita BO5041
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Makita BO5041 is a grinder model from a very popular brand. It’s a relatively lightweight yet powerful 300W unit that delivers 12,000 RPM. Many of those who tested Makita BO5041 note the high quality of its grinding, as well as the low level of vibrations, to reduce which there is a special protection. The secure Velcro keeps the discs from flying off. Problems with dust and waste are solved by a built-in dust collector. In the kit there is an additional handle, there is a blocking of the power button. Summing up, Makita BO5041 is a worthy representative of eccentric sanders and a popular model that combines a high level of performance with reliability and comfortable operation. Makita BO5041 Review.
Orbital Sanders
Eccentric sanders are considered the most efficient and versatile tool for polishing and sanding surfaces. In industrial production and in private use, they show the best result in the quality of surface treatment..
Polishing and sanding is possible thanks to a combination of rotational and eccentric movements of the sole. The sole rotates in an orbit and simultaneously rolls around its axis. Such complex movement of the abrasive allows for efficient grinding with a minimum of imperfections..
The machine weighing from 1 to 3 kg is equipped with a round sole with Velcro, to which an abrasive wheel on a felt basis is attached. The soles come in two sizes – diameter: 125 and 150 mm. Machines with a 125 mm sole are lighter, designed for a smaller area and for more delicate work than sanders with a 150 mm sole. Electric motors consume from 200 to 900 W – more power provides more performance.
When installing the equipment, it is important that the holes on the sole of the grinder coincide with the holes of the abrasive wheel, otherwise the process of dust removal will be difficult.
They are used for coarse or delicate sanding on large surfaces, for interlayer processing of materials and coatings, for polishing, processing large surfaces along and across the fibers. Often this type of machine is used in carpentry and car painters. With the help of ESM, volumetric, profile and curved surfaces are processed. Working with an eccentric sander is unlikely to spoil the workpiece: grind, burn the material or overdo it with the grinding depth. The level of noise and vibration is lower than other types of grinders.
The disadvantages are obvious: eccentric machines are not suitable for processing interior corners and recesses. Low performance compared to belt sanders.
Structural difference between the two machines
Both machines are capable of delicately sanding the surface with emery cloths. In fact, they do the same work, but there is a difference between them. They differ in both form and principle of operation. In FSHM, the surface is often rectangular (but it can be deltoid and square). And the eccentric one. the sole is round. Therefore, depending on the complexity of the grinding work and the shape of the workpieces, you choose a machine with a comfortable sole shape. For example, steps or shelves are quietly sanded with PSHM, thanks to the angular sole, you can reach any corner.
The eccentric clipper is used for working with both flat surfaces and radii, as well as wooden parts of various shapes. Orbital and eccentric grinders are used in construction workshops, in car services they perform not only finishing work for grinding wood, but are also convenient for all kinds of finishing work. But still, their main purpose is to ideally prepare the surface for painting or to give the details the required shape..
In fact, these are two identical instruments, however, there is some difference. The surface grinder (vibration) grinder will cope with any surface: wood, plastic, metal, walls (plasterboard). But she does it a little roughly, unlike ESM. In turn, the orbital sander will perform this entire list of works more delicately due to the fact that it has the function of additional rotation, which helps to hide the traces of grinding..
Grinder: vibrating or eccentric
expert of the category “Power Tools”
To get a smooth and perfectly smooth surface when sanding, I always recommend that craftsmen use two sanders. One is for primary, rough roughing, the other is for final cleaning.
If everything is clear with the primary processing. here you need to take a belt sander, then when bringing the surface to perfection, you can use one of two types:
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Vibrating (another name is surface grinding, or abbreviated. PShM);
Both are designed for sanding substrates at the completion of work. Which of these machines is better in which situation. vibration or eccentric sander? I will cover today in this article.
You will find out what their main differences are, how their design determines the capabilities of each device, what are their strengths and weaknesses.
The information provided will give you the necessary knowledge on how to grind surfaces of different shapes using these aggregates, and which one is more suitable for you..
Basic principles of grinding
These two types of grinders differ significantly in the principle of grinding. First, let’s review the vibrating tool. The mechanism of operation is quite simple, for cleaning the surface, reciprocating movements with an amplitude of 1-3 (low-power) to 5-8 mm (powerful) are used. This allows you to cope well with a metal surface or plastic, in contrast to ESM. However, PShM leaves traces on the tree and will not be suitable for opening with varnish, but only for coating with paint.
The principle of operation of ESM is that with the help of a round sole, not only vibration occurs, but also rotation around its own axis. Thanks to such a double movement, ESHM perfectly prepares the surface for varnishing. In the process of work, it does not leave traces of grinding at all. Models of this type ideally create the effect of abrasive grinding. Widely used for furniture restoration or decoration.
Pay attention to the parameters when choosing a grinder
It should be noted that both of these grinders for the most part perform finishing work and if you have the task of performing work on a large scale, then the wrong choice will bring you not only monetary losses, but also wasted time..
Vibratory or eccentric grinders can be of different purposes:
- For household use;
- Professional scope.
When choosing a grinder, you should pay attention to the following technical characteristics:
- Amplitude of the platform stroke. This is one of the main characteristics of grinders. Average vibration value. 2-3 mm. The higher the amplitude, the better the performance of the grinder, but the grinding becomes much coarser. That is, if you need a grinder for primary processing, pay attention to models with a high amplitude. For the finishing one. on the contrary, machines with an amplitude of 2 mm and below;
- Sole size. PSHM and ESHM soles come in different sizes and shapes, although there are generally accepted standards. for eccentric diameter 122 and 150 mm, for PSHM 187×90, 115×230, 114×105 mm. Models with small soles will help when working in hard-to-reach places;
- Speed control. Thanks to this function, you can customize the operation of the machine. initial or finishing, as well as choose the optimal speed for grinding a particular material. For example, if we are sanding soft wood or plywood, then it is recommended to choose a medium speed, and if we are sanding hard wood. high;
- Power. The power consumption of the machines can range from 130 to 900 watts. But, as a rule, for most jobs, a power of 200-300 W is quite enough, because such models are light and compact, conveniently controlled, and work with them is more comfortable;
- Fastening sanding paper. For a surface grinder, manufacturers have provided 2 types of fastening: a clip (similar to a regular latch with a spring, which is on most household-grade grinders) and Velcro (it is less hassle with it, since you do not have to cut the paper, it has a standard size, but the cost of such machines , like the consumable, above).
- Additional handle. For PSHM and ESHM, the additional handle is either cast or removable. If it is removable, it reduces the size of the device and allows you to work with the tool in one hand. Convenient when sanding small parts.
Summing up
Advantages of eccentric sanders:
- Cleaner surface sanding;
- Ability to grind curved surfaces;
- Polishing capability.
- Corner surfaces cannot be machined because the sole is round.
Pros of vibration grinders:
- Effective sanding of wood, stone, primer, metal;
- There is a wide selection of outsole sizes and shapes – rectangle or delta;
- It copes well with corner surfaces, leaves no frayed areas at the edges, close to the edging, in narrow places.
The minuses of PSHM include:
- Not such a high quality of grinding as that of ESHM. Often scratches wood.
If we talk about surface cleaning, then for more delicate sanding it is better to choose and use eccentric machines. They do better in the finishing phase and are designed for perfect sanding. Although their performance is much lower than that of vibration ones. However, the orbital instrument is indispensable on volumetric surfaces with curved and profiled details..
On a large area, it is better to use a vibratory sander, as its power and performance are much better. If you need to process a surface with corners, then you cannot do without a vibration machine. Thanks to the rectangular shape of the sole, corners and hard-to-reach places, as well as the edges of the product, are easily processed.