Are You Choosing The Right

Orbit Diameter For Your Job?

Getting the best results from your sanding jobs starts with selecting the right orbit diameter for your orbital sander. Although all the 3M pneumatic sanders have .28 HP and can turn up to 13,000 rpm, they all use different orbit diameters.

Here are some tips to follow when choosing sanders for your next project:

We know your time is valuable. We'd love for you to read the whole blog, but if you don't have time, check out our 30-Second Summary

Heavy Duty Removal

When your project calls for extreme heavy-duty removal on wood or composites, you can use a 5/16" diameter orbit or even a 3/8” diameter orbit. You should also choose a coarse abrasive between 40 to 100 grit.

Remember, this requires a firm hand to keep the sander from moving around. Apply firm downward pressure to ensure you're fully engaging the sanding on the surface. This process creates massive amounts of dust, so be sure to use dust extraction to keep the air clear and reduce clean up later.

Best For Most Uses

The most commonly used orbit diameter falls in the medium to fine grit range of 80-400. It's best suited to the 3/16” diameter sander. This action is smoother with good stock removal and gives you a decent finishing capability.

Most hand sanding falls in the medium size orbit range. Finishing wood leaves a stainable scratch starting at 180-220 grit, while buffing paints or Gelcoat can start after finishing with 800 grit. While not as much dust is created, it's still important to use dust collection to minimize cleanup. It has the added benefit of extending the life of your sanding discs since you aren't cutting up the dust repeatedly.

Fine Finishing

When working on a project that requires fine finishing, you want to use a 3/32" orbit. Not many of these are specified in pneumatic since the action is so limited, but most lightweight electric sanders use this orbit since it doesn't require much horsepower to drive the pad.

The 3/32” orbit is best for feathering paint or sanding between coats of finish because you can move around pretty freely without worrying about cutting through. Don't use this sander with anything coarser than 120 grit in a production operation. This is very time-intensive and doesn't deliver the results you need.

Going Beyond Compressors

For operations with compressors that can't run a pneumatic sander or multiple tools, there are now electric choices that offer a better alternative. Mirka makes brushless variable-speed DC drive tools that are much quieter than compressors.

These options are more expensive - typically about three times the cost of pneumatic sanders - but the energy savings add up quickly so you can recoup some of this expense. They both are quiet, cool and very smooth, but the Mirka tool has more power, so it's a good idea to evaluate both before buying.

Random orbital sanders have come a long way from their beginnings as dual-action (DA) sanders found in body shops. The lightweight, powerful tools are a great addition to your toolset - just make sure you're getting the best performance by selecting the right orbit for the project.

Have more questions? Check out our abrasives and accessories page to learn more about how to use it in your manufacturing operations.

 

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30-Second Summary:

  • ✔ Getting the best results from your orbital sander starts by selecting the right orbit.
  • ✔ Heavy-duty projects need a 5/16" or a 3/8” diameter orbit with a coarse abrasive between 40 to 100 grit.
  • ✔ The most commonly used orbit diameter falls in the medium to fine grit range of 80-400. It's best suited to the 3/16” diameter sander.
  • ✔ For fine finishing, you want to use a 3/32" orbit.
  • ✔ If your shop doesn't have a compressor or it can't handle multiple tools, there are new electric options.
  • ✔ These options may cost more initially, but the energy savings will help recoup the cost.