angle grinder / sander

[Ken Liden]

I need a good angle grinder/sander for moderate duty on wood. Obviously the 10,000 rpm small grinders are out of the question but what speed is about right. I find lots of angle grinders, angle grinder/sanders, angle sanders, and angle sander/polishers. The speeds are anywhere from 2800-6000 rpm. Any suggestions?

[Ken Liden]

I need a good angle grinder/sander for moderate duty on wood. Obviously the 10,000 rpm small grinders are out of the question but what speed is about right. I find lots of angle grinders, angle grinder/sanders, angle sanders, and angle sander/polishers. The speeds are anywhere from 2800-6000 rpm. Any suggestions?

[Ken Liden]

I need a good angle grinder/sander for moderate duty on wood. Obviously the 10,000 rpm small grinders are out of the question but what speed is about right. I find lots of angle grinders, angle grinder/sanders, angle sanders, and angle sander/polishers. The speeds are anywhere from 2800-6000 rpm. Any suggestions?

[Todd Bradshaw]

I never had any problems on wood with a big, high speed Black and Decker "Wildcat" but found that it was too fast for sanding epoxy. It tended to heat it up and smear it. I ended-up buying a Milwaukee polisher with a slower speed for epoxy sanding. It will also sand wood, but not as fast as the big one. These days, I will generally try the Porter Cable random orbit first. If it does the job, it's about 1/4 the weight of the big disks, which is really nice if you're grinding above your head on boat bottoms, etc.

[Todd Bradshaw]

I never had any problems on wood with a big, high speed Black and Decker "Wildcat" but found that it was too fast for sanding epoxy. It tended to heat it up and smear it. I ended-up buying a Milwaukee polisher with a slower speed for epoxy sanding. It will also sand wood, but not as fast as the big one. These days, I will generally try the Porter Cable random orbit first. If it does the job, it's about 1/4 the weight of the big disks, which is really nice if you're grinding above your head on boat bottoms, etc.

[Todd Bradshaw]

I never had any problems on wood with a big, high speed Black and Decker "Wildcat" but found that it was too fast for sanding epoxy. It tended to heat it up and smear it. I ended-up buying a Milwaukee polisher with a slower speed for epoxy sanding. It will also sand wood, but not as fast as the big one. These days, I will generally try the Porter Cable random orbit first. If it does the job, it's about 1/4 the weight of the big disks, which is really nice if you're grinding above your head on boat bottoms, etc.

[T.KAMILA]

In Sam Devlin’s book Devlin’s Boat Building he recommends the Makita 9207. Calls it “the most used and abused tool in the shop”. My tool book lists this machine as 9227 with electron speed control. That’s important for polishing. Milwaukee makes a similar one also with electronic speed control for the same price of $200.00. For my use I opted for a two speed $49.00 job from Sears. I’m not a pro and don’t see a lot of use for it after the boat is finished. Works fine for my intended use.

[T.KAMILA]

In Sam Devlin’s book Devlin’s Boat Building he recommends the Makita 9207. Calls it “the most used and abused tool in the shop”. My tool book lists this machine as 9227 with electron speed control. That’s important for polishing. Milwaukee makes a similar one also with electronic speed control for the same price of $200.00. For my use I opted for a two speed $49.00 job from Sears. I’m not a pro and don’t see a lot of use for it after the boat is finished. Works fine for my intended use.

[T.KAMILA]

In Sam Devlin’s book Devlin’s Boat Building he recommends the Makita 9207. Calls it “the most used and abused tool in the shop”. My tool book lists this machine as 9227 with electron speed control. That’s important for polishing. Milwaukee makes a similar one also with electronic speed control for the same price of $200.00. For my use I opted for a two speed $49.00 job from Sears. I’m not a pro and don’t see a lot of use for it after the boat is finished. Works fine for my intended use.

[Dale Harvey]

For accuracy you need weight. The old style BD with the round gearcase, was available in a two speed model. High speed is irrelivent when it comes to hogging off wood, as you bear down it slows down. Requires a light toutch with fine grit though. Pads are very important for fine work. I use the 7" 3M plastic drive center with seperate backup discs in several profiles. Available at better marine supplies or commercial autobody supply. Paid almost as much for the pad system as I originally did for the grinder!

[Dale Harvey]

For accuracy you need weight. The old style BD with the round gearcase, was available in a two speed model. High speed is irrelivent when it comes to hogging off wood, as you bear down it slows down. Requires a light toutch with fine grit though. Pads are very important for fine work. I use the 7" 3M plastic drive center with seperate backup discs in several profiles. Available at better marine supplies or commercial autobody supply. Paid almost as much for the pad system as I originally did for the grinder!

[Dale Harvey]

For accuracy you need weight. The old style BD with the round gearcase, was available in a two speed model. High speed is irrelivent when it comes to hogging off wood, as you bear down it slows down. Requires a light toutch with fine grit though. Pads are very important for fine work. I use the 7" 3M plastic drive center with seperate backup discs in several profiles. Available at better marine supplies or commercial autobody supply. Paid almost as much for the pad system as I originally did for the grinder!

[Iceboy]

Buy a single high speed grinder and adapt a common dimmer switch to control speed. I have used this for years and it works well.
Jimmy M

[Iceboy]

Buy a single high speed grinder and adapt a common dimmer switch to control speed. I have used this for years and it works well.
Jimmy M

[Iceboy]

Buy a single high speed grinder and adapt a common dimmer switch to control speed. I have used this for years and it works well.
Jimmy M

[doorstop]

I don't know if it is available in the states but here in Oz we have a productfrom a company called Triton that is a random orbital sanding attachment for a 4" angle grinder. It is simple to attach/detach and works very well. I have one and am very satisfied with it.

[doorstop]

I don't know if it is available in the states but here in Oz we have a productfrom a company called Triton that is a random orbital sanding attachment for a 4" angle grinder. It is simple to attach/detach and works very well. I have one and am very satisfied with it.

[doorstop]

I don't know if it is available in the states but here in Oz we have a productfrom a company called Triton that is a random orbital sanding attachment for a 4" angle grinder. It is simple to attach/detach and works very well. I have one and am very satisfied with it.