DA Sander - what size and brand - The Hull Truth

kmako · 02-03-2010, 02:32 PM

I am going to be sanding the splatter coat paint job off the topside of my boat before spring. Can anyone recommend the appropriate DA Sander for the job.

Dynabrade pneumatics come to mind but they have varying sizes as well as finish level (rough, general, fine). Also 5" up to 8".

Really looking forward to this project

Kevin

oceandansar · 02-03-2010, 02:52 PM

I own a paint and body shop and we use 6" and buy the cheap ones on e-bay and have good luck with them

pfithian · 02-04-2010, 05:49 PM

I've used a new Kobalt pneumatic 6" DA from Lowes.

It is good quality and reasonably priced. I'd buy another.

1bandit · 02-04-2010, 07:30 PM

Don't waste your time with anything less than 6". The rigid at home depot is made by Metabo and a good tool. The Porter cable is a work horse that last forever and the Fein is the most aggressive. If you don"t have access to a two stage compressor you will be disappointed with pneumatic.

fireboat · 02-04-2010, 08:08 PM

Hutchins and Dynabrade are generally regarded as the two best air sanders. Astro makes a decent economy sander.
Whatever brand you go with, check the orbit diameter or stroke of the model you are looking at. Generally what you will see is 3/32 (for fine finishing only), 3/16 (good general purpose) and 3/8 (for aggressive removal).

bjm9818 · 02-04-2010, 10:08 PM

If going electric, Festool Rotex 150(6"). It has dual modes so you can switch from agressive to DA with a flip of the switch. I've owned it for almost three years and am totally impressed. The sandpaper is reasonable, have tons of different grits/uses, and much cheaper than the previous PC 6" I had.

Used with the vac I would say 95% of the particles are sucked up. They have a center 9th hole in the pad that blows air out while the outer 8 holes suck up the particles.

I origionally purchased it to strip the bottom paint off my formula. I have been beating the crap out of it for 2 1/2 year. In December I was using for several hours under high load and it actually caught fire. Mailed it back to Festool on a Monday for repair somewhere in the midwest regular mail from Philadelphia. Received it the following Tuesday fully repaired at no charge except my initial postage to them. 3 year parts and labor can't beat that!!! At 500 bucks Its not cheap but worth it!!!!