On 7 May 2006 13:02:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>I was wondering what is the difference - Buffer says it can sand but
>Sander does not say it can be a buffer?
Orbital sanders are totally different beasts to buffers/polishers - and
I've never seen an orbital polisher.
Polishers are a disk sander mechanism. They have a simple geared
rotation that causes a 6" pad to rotate in circles at around 3000 rpm.
With a rubber backing pad and abrasive they're a disk sander, with a
lambswool bonnet and a polishing compound, they're a buffer. Typically
they're manufactured with a lightweight 9" angle grinder mechanism
geared down from 6000rpm to 3000rpm.
An orbital sander doesn't rotate, it oscillates in a small circle
(coupel of mm across). The mechanism is a crank and oscillating bob
weight, not a rotating shaft.
Although simple orbitals are regarded as crude and prone to making
scratches, they're far easier to handle than a rotating disk sander. Rub
the edge of a dsk sander and you burn a large gouge almost immedately.
Polishing isn't too hazardous, as the compounds are soft and slower
acting, but you still need to be careful to keep that polishing bonnet
flat on the workpiece and not tilt all the load onto an edge.
--
Cats have nine lives, which is why they rarely post to Usenet.
Buiffer is usually bigger 6-8", OS (orbital sanders) &
ROS (Random Orbital Sanders) 5 - 6".
OS & ROS sanders have holes in the base, paper does too,
and the cooling fan sucks air through the base - collecting
"some" of the generated sawdust in a cartridge or cloth filter.
Buffers don't need that capability so don't have it.
Buffers often two handers, sanders other than belt
sanders are mainly one handers.
Some ROS have variable speed. Not sure buffers do.
You can get buffing pads for OS and ROS.
charlie b
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was wondering what is the difference - Buffer says it can sand but
> Sander does not say it can be a buffer?
>
If it's a variable speed sander, should say it can buff. Single speed types
would be fast enough to keep the wax liquid. Pretty small circles compared
to dedicated buffers, though.
Put a wool pad on the sander. It'll buff.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was wondering what is the difference - Buffer says it can sand but
> Sander does not say it can be a buffer?
>
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It is actually the one that is highly recommended to polish pinball
> machines. The 4" size is perfect for getting into tight spots and the
> orbital movement is important for playfields. I was just trying to
> understand why a sander would not work.
>
Compare the rotational speeds between a sander and a buffer. I don't know
myself, but I would suspect there may be a difference - the sander being
perhaps slower.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On 7 May 2006 17:58:52 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>this is an orbital polisher
>https://www.wenproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2
Looks like a cheap orbital sander mechanism with a polishing bonnet
bundled with it.
Probably does something, but I can't say it fills me with joy at the
prospect of using it.