Hey folks! I'm in the process of redoing two older rocking chairs—one's painted and the other one isn't. Before I refinish them, I need to sand both down. I've got a collection of Milwaukee M18 and M12 tools and I'm looking for a versatile sander. I'm not sure whether to go for an orbital sander or a detail sander. I want something that I can use for other projects too, like refinishing tables and bookshelves. I'm not really into building from scratch just yet! Any advice? Thanks!
3 Answers
I have a mouse-type detail sander and a budget-friendly 1/4 sheet sander. I use the detail sander for smaller tasks and the 1/4 sheet for larger flat surfaces. I used to have a belt sander, but I had a bad experience with it—the belt kept slipping off and caused some damage, plus it didn't do the best job. I’d recommend having both a detail sander and a sheet sander for versatile options!
Random Orbital Sanders (ROS) are super versatile; they can handle both rough sanding and finishing. Although, for your specific chairs, a detail sander with triangular pads might help get into tight spots. You'll still need to do some hand sanding too, which is a good idea. You might find wrapping sandpaper around dowels or old credit cards useful for that. If you think you'll be working on bigger projects down the line, I'd lean towards getting a ROS. Oh, and for the best results on your chairs, try using a chemical stripper first to take off as much as you can!