Sanding machine

Minibiker · 25 Oct 2022 at 20:53

Hi all

The wife wants to Sand the stairs down and paint before putting carpet down the middle of the stairs, she says this is back in fashion :cry:

Does anyone have any recommendations on a not so expensive sanding machine

Thank you

Mason- · 25 Oct 2022 at 21:12

I have an erbauer 150mm sander. Was pretty cheap from screwfix and it does a great job.

Erbauer ERO450 150mm Electric Random Orbit Sander 220-240V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Powerful orbit sander with rapid sheet-changing system and a cyclonic dust collection system for capturing and removing dust from air and work areas. Supplied with 3 x sanding sheets and a carry bag. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

I did my stairs with it but it was too large for the stringer bit between the treads and the base rail for the spindles. So maybe get a little mouse sander as well. Gives you best of both worlds.

I’d recommend this shop vac as well. Don’t use your household vacuum with them it’s a recipe for disaster.

Vacmaster Power 30 PTO Wet & Dry Cleaner, with Power Take Off socket, 30 Litre Capacity, 1500W Motor and 2 Year Guarantee https://amzn.eu/d/hLaryhb

Nikumba · 27 Oct 2022 at 12:06

That shop vac looks like the Titan range you get from screwfix so might be easier to get hold of

WJA96 · 27 Oct 2022 at 16:13

For big flat areas you’ll go much faster with a belt sander. And a small ‘mouse’ type for the corners.

Guitarcarfanatic · 29 Oct 2022 at 12:36

The Makita Red tools are good - Chinese versions of their normal blue stuff. About £40-50 at Screwfix - I would get the random orbital (circle) and a normal rectangle orbit. For £80-100, that will cover 95% of sanding jobs you will ever come across. For the stairs, get some 40 or 60 grit, and then go back over with 80, then 120.

For serious material removal, you really want a belt sander (but that’s overkill for stairs and it’s hard to keep the material flat - only used for rough stuff really) or a gear powered tool (like a Festool Rotex, but that’s silly money).

My only advice is keep use to an hour a go tops. The cheaper sanders have pretty poor vibration management and will leave you with sore hands. Bosch blue tend to lead the market in vibration, but their decent random orbit sanders are £100+. Festool and Mirka also good for vibration, but again…even more dollar.