The Sand Man

I sand a lot of wood, I'm always re-finishing something, or I've a client doing the same. Or two clients doing the same.

I've found a few tools to make the job of sanding faster, easier, and the results better. My workhorse is a 6" Fein random-orbit sander.




Sure, I started using the $70 random orbit Porter Cable or Makita sander, just like everyone else. The Porter Cable is a good little palm sander for a weekend hobbyist, some here-and-there paint prep, or a piece of clean fir; but, under heavy, continuous wear, it's a disposable tool.

The Fein isn't for everyone, it's pricey, a bit bulkier, and a lot more powerful. It's greater power though, allows me to start sanding with lighter grit pads, which eliminates successively finer rounds (as I try to reduce first-pass swirl markings).

A terrific Fein accessory is the umbilically attached vac, which sucks away the majority of the dust, and makes working inside tolerable. (The Festool brand offers a similar product pairing.)



Even with Edge sanders, Profile sanders, and Multi-tools, a project often demands hand sanding. Rockler carries a line of hand sanding aids called "Tadpoles". Molded plastic pieces, that fit to rounded moldings and corners. They're cheap, four pieces to a five dollar bag.



The photo shows two tadpoles, one partially wrapped with sandpaper (the concave piece without).

Finally, to fill nail holes or what have you, I use ZAR woodfill, which comes in a squeeze tube, and in different colors. I've never found a woodfill that takes stain perfectly, but the Zar will darken and assume some of the color. I usually apply it heavily, wipe it later with a moist rag, and then sand it flush (before staining).

Back to the projects....