Set up the sander
Setting up
Disconnect power
Remove the battery, or unplug a corded sander, before fitting a disc or making any adjustment. Milwaukee and DEWALT both say so for their battery sanders.
Fit the disc
Line up the holes in a hook-and-loop disc with the holes in the pad and press it on firmly. Milwaukee says to keep the pad clean, brushing it lightly, so discs keep holding. Use the disc size and hole pattern the pad is made for — see random orbital sanders.
Connect dust collection
Fit the dust box or bag, or connect a vacuum hose with the maker's adapter. Milwaukee says to refit the dust box whenever no vacuum is connected, so dust is not thrown at your face.
Secure the work
Clamp or hold the work so it cannot move, and remove any raised nails or fasteners; Milwaukee warns that striking one can cause loss of control. See clamps and workbenches.
Protect yourself
Safety glasses, and protection against the dust: OSHA prefers exhaust at the source, and a respirator needs a respiratory protection program behind it.
| Step | Maker | Instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Changing abrasive | Milwaukee | Remove the battery before changing or removing accessories |
| Changing abrasive | DEWALT | Remove the battery before changing abrasive sheets |
| Fitting a disc | Milwaukee | Align the disc's holes with the pad's; keep the pad clean |
| Dust collection | Milwaukee | Refit the dust box whenever no vacuum hose is connected |
| Emptying | Milwaukee | Every 10–15 minutes while sanding, and before storing the sander |
| Emptying | DEWALT | Frequently, especially when sanding polyurethane, varnish or shellac |
From Milwaukee's 2648 operator's manual and DEWALT's DCW200 instruction manual; your sander's manual controls.
Sand the surface
Technique from the manual
Start it on the work
Put the sander flat on the work before you switch it on. Milwaukee explains that a free-spinning pad started in the air can be turning fast enough to scratch when it lands.
Let the pad turn
Light pressure for fine work, moderate for rough. Milwaukee says excessive pressure does not let the pad rotate enough — leaning on the sander slows it down rather than cutting faster.
Keep the pad flat
Tipping the sander or working on the pad's edge gives an uneven finish and wears the pad, Milwaukee says. At the end of a board, an overhanging pad rounds the edge over; stop before it if the edge must stay crisp.
Keep it moving
Broad, even, overlapping strokes across the whole surface. Sanding in one spot too long gouges the work.
Check often
Stop and look frequently; Milwaukee notes random orbit sanders work more aggressively than simple orbital sanders.
Step through the grits
Coarse enough to remove the marks, then each finer grit in turn, without skipping a big step. Which grits and when to stop are in how to sand wood and the grit chart.
Caution— Dust from finishes can catch fire
Milwaukee warns that dust collected from sanding coatings such as polyurethane or linseed oil can self-ignite in the dust box. It says to empty the box every 10–15 minutes while sanding and never to store the sander without emptying it, and to follow the coating maker's recommendations; DEWALT gives the same advice for polyurethane, varnish and shellac.
When you finish
Remove the battery or unplug the sander, then empty and clean the dust box or bag. Milwaukee says to empty its box when it is no more than half full during work, so air keeps flowing, and to tap the filter clean rather than washing it or blowing it out. Peel off a PSA (stick-on) disc before storing the sander: Milwaukee explains that heat sets the adhesive and the disc becomes hard to remove. Speeds and the dial are machine-specific — for buying one, see choosing a random orbital sander.
Before switching on
- Power disconnected while fitting the disc
- Disc holes lined up with the pad's
- Dust box, bag or hose fitted
- Work secured; no raised nails
- Sander resting flat on the work
- Eye protection, and dust controlled at the source
Sources
The steps follow Milwaukee's operator's manual for the 2648; DEWALT's manual gives the same battery and dust-emptying rules for its sander. Milwaukee says its random orbit sander can be moved in any direction regardless of the grain — that is its statement for its machine. Your sander's manual controls where it differs.
- 1.
M18 Random Orbit Sander 2648-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 2648's setup and operation: removing the battery before changing accessories; aligning the disc's holes with the pad's and keeping the pad clean; the dust box or hose adapter, the dust box refitted whenever no vacuum is connected; securing the work and removing raised nails; placing the sander on the work before starting it; light pressure for fine work, moderate for rough, excessive pressure stopping the pad rotating; keeping the pad flat, since tipping or using its edges gives an uneven finish; broad, even strokes, since one spot too long gouges; checking the work often; emptying the dust box every 10–15 minutes and before storage because dust from coatings can self-ignite; removing PSA discs before storage.
- 2.
DCW200 20V Max Brushless Quarter Sheet Sander, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: Removing the battery before changing abrasive, and emptying dust collection frequently when sanding polyurethane, varnish or shellac.
- 3.
Wood Dust: Possible Solutions. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Used for: Exhaust ventilation at the source as the preferred control for wood dust, and respirators requiring a respiratory protection program.
About this tutorial
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