Orbital sander for final sanding

[MG David]

Currently, I do all my final sanding of clearcoat with 1200 then 2000 by hand using a wooden block and lots of water. I sometimes wonder if the time it takes means I do less than I should. After that I use an electric orbital polisher with foam pads and G3 and G10.

I have an electric 1/4 sheet orbital palm sander. I have not checked the spec of my one but the ones on Machinemart at the moment talk about 1.5mm orbit and 14,000 orbits per minute. Is such a sander suitable for final sanding of clearcoat before compounding?

 

[711jrp]

What orbital polisher do you have? I use 3m trizact 3000/6000 on a electric DA polisher with great results.

 

[MG David]

Its a bit like the one on this link. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILVERLIN...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2c897eaf0c

I know I could get a sanding pad for it and use velco discs but I was wondering is the sander already have would do as I have alot of conventional sheets of 1200 and 2000.

 

[the snooper]

no wanting to insult you, if you need that much sanding that you are considering using a sander maybe a little more practise getting the paint on flat would be a better option, I never need to flat a top just a quick polish with a machine to remove any overspray

 

[711jrp]

I wouldn't feel too insulted David, most of if not all the best paintjobs in the world are flat and polished to within an inch of their life it's just the layman doesn't know it.

 

[MG David]

I don't feel insulted. My spraying is getting better and with the door I sprayed recently I nearly didn't both to flat it. However, I always get some orange peal or specks of dust. I find if there is an area on a panel that needs some flatting it looks better if you do the whole panel.

Perhaps the 250GTO sold on Friday had seen a bit of flatting and polishing.

 

[langy]

I've yet to meet the painter that can get it perfect out of the gun, I flat & polish all my stuff till it looks like glass, nothing less will do.

 

[the snooper]

I've yet to meet the painter that can get it perfect out of the gun, I flat & polish all my stuff till it looks like glass, nothing less will do.

I wasn't referring to custom jobs where people want a glass finish but I don't know anyone that uses a sander to finish either

 

[langy]

I wasn't referring to custom jobs where people want a glass finish but I don't know anyone that uses a sander to finish either

Me neither mate, I wouldn't usea sander myself.

 

[Daz1968]

I have one of those silverline polishers but don't think its suitable for use with sanding discs, a da is much better. I have used p1500 on my da to flat a panel then refined it with p2000 and p4000 abralon discs, the polishing after is something I am still learning, but I only flat to remove dust nibs and any dry overspray, I am happy with the slight peel from the gun, although maybe in the future I may try to do something better.
I bought a mirka ceros and have found it brilliant and worth the money

 

[langy]

I have one of those silverline polishers but don't think its suitable for use with sanding discs, a da is much better. I have used p1500 on my da to flat a panel then refined it with p2000 and p4000 abralon discs, the polishing after is something I am still learning, but I only flat to remove dust nibs and any dry overspray, I am happy with the slight peel from the gun, although maybe in the future I may try to do something better.
I bought a mirka ceros and have found it brilliant and worth the money

Ive used the air version of the Mirka DA for the last 20 years and its a fantastic little tool, well worth the money. You don't want to use a sander if you wanna get it flat.

 

[brightspark]

hand finish is allways best

 

[Daz1968]

I have found it easier to get a consistent finish for polishing when using da, but I am not going for dead flat glass panels so also use an interface pad, maybe when I have more practice in will have confidence to flat more, it the fear of rubbing through or not being able to get the sanding scratches out that's holding me back at the moment, only on first project though

 

[MG David]

Ok I will leave the sander on the shelf and keep flatting by hand. Thanks for the comments.

 

[langy]

hand finish is allways best

I love a happy ending