Belt Sander

[acegot]

All of the single action high speed grinders are going to do the same thing. We have a Hitachi, Milwaukee, and 3 Makitas. All are between 6000 and 6500 rpm and are 15 amp. We run 50 grit 9 inch disks on a regular after market backing pad. The good thing about using 9 inch disks is that the contact patch is about the width of a deck board. Make long smooth passes in one direction until you get the hang of it. Once you get the hang of it you can cut in both directions but every once in a while the disk edge will catch and %$#^&. The Hitachi has a funny guard on the trigger that is sort of a hassle but it's overall height is a little lower so it gets under stuff a hair further. The Milwaukee has taken a back seat to the Makitas mainly because of the power. The Makita seems to be the most powerful of the bunch even though the stats are all pretty much the same. The dust gets a little crazy. I have found that having someone follow me with the vacuum hose right in front of the disk ( or where the dust is shooting out from) really helps in the cleanup. You will want to buzz the deck with an orbital with 80 on it. The Rigid 6 inch I feel is the most powerful. These are mean little machines and you will never want to see another belt sander.

I have & use the fiber backed sanding/grinding disc also. Very effective. The hookit pads & paper are only good for up to 4000 rpm or theyll get to hot if your working them hard & they'll start to melt & fuse togther & start coming apart. The fibre discs will work on your lower rpm machines, will just take longer. My higher speed hd Dewalt rocks with the fiber discs. The fiber discs last along time & are less expensive to use in the long run. The fibre discs are more for rough fast cutting, for more detailed & lighter sanding use the hookit (hook&loop) pads & paper.

[bigchaz]

What are you referring to when you say fiber backed?

[acegot]

What are you referring to when you say fiber backed?

Attached are pics of 7" fibre resin back disks, they are available in 9", better for decks. Also pictured are backing pads, 7" pad & 9" plate I use fot 9" discs & the 9" defelting pads. The discs are thick & well constructed, they last a long time. These items are always found at autobody supply stores & at select hardware stores & welding & industrial supply stores.

[Cappspressurewashing]

Attached are pics of 7" fibre resin back disks, they are available in 9", better for decks. Also pictured are backing pads, 7" pad & 9" plate I use fot 9" discs & the 9" defelting pads. The discs are thick & well constructed, they last a long time. These items are always found at autobody supply stores & at select hardware stores & welding & industrial supply stores.

Exactly what we use. What is the "defelting" pad? I know it is self explanatory but how well does it work and are there different grits? Thanks, Chris

[acegot]

Exactly what we use. What is the "defelting" pad? I know it is self explanatory but how well does it work and are there different grits? Thanks, Chris

Thry work well, there is only one grit produced in that size that I'm aware of. That is the coarses one. I made some from the red & green 17" drive pads, but they really arent coarse enough, burnishes the wood. You need to use low rpm though, 1-3thousand rpm. Here is link. http://www.gkdist.com/