Detail Sanders

[tbreaden]

I am looking to buy a detail sander any looking for advice. I need it for sanding mild steel and copper plate in tight places. I see some that says they will polish? What about the sandpaper do you have to buy brand name? Thanks, Todd

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by tbreaden

I am looking to buy a detail sander any looking for advice. I need it for sanding mild steel and copper plate in tight places. I see some that says they will polish? What about the sandpaper do you have to buy brand name? Thanks, Todd

I have a little Ryobi that I seldom use but it is handy. I cut triangles of sandpaper instead of using the precut ones. Coat them with rubber cement and they work fine, and I can have any grit I want that way. As for polishing, I suppose you could stick some Scotch Brite pad and/or cotton cloth on there for the last stages.

[Rasper]

With sandpaper you generally get what you pay for. Avoid that Chinese stuff. It's almost useless.

Richard

[tbreaden]

I have been looking at the Black & Decker mouse and the Skil Octo. They both have Attachments that mount on the front for different contours. I am wondering what one may be the best. I am also going to get the Ryobi because they are cheap. I use 3M Adhesive sanding discs and I wonder if I can cut to fit these sanders. Thanks, Todd

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by tbreaden

I have been looking at the Black & Decker mouse and the Skil Octo. They both have Attachments that mount on the front for different contours. I am wondering what one may be the best. I am also going to get the Ryobi because they are cheap. I use 3M Adhesive sanding discs and I wonder if I can cut to fit these sanders. Thanks, Todd

Of course you can cut anything you want to fit, including adhesive paper. I just use the rubber cement because I'm cheap, and it works great. What attachment works best obviously will depend on what you're sanding, but the trianglular shape on the Ryobi gets in just about anywhere.