What is the best electric sander for fiberglass, or is there an electric DA Sander?

[sampson 10+ year member]

Does anyone make an electric DA sander? It just didn't make sense for me to buy a compressor for sanding as I'm going to be moving here very soon and don't want to buy it, use it for a few months, then sell it. So I'm looking to pick up a really nice electric sander. I have a pretty decent amount of money, and I've built a few fiberglass boxes, but my old electric sander isn't doing as good a job as I would like, so I'm gonna upgrade. Budget on a new sander would be from like 20 - 80 bucks or so, if you find something on ebay that would work thats fine //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif. So my questions are

1. Does anyone make an electric DA sander, and if so please give me a make and model number, link, and how good does it worK?

2. What is the best electric sander you can buy for 20-80 bucks. I have heard good things about that mouse one at Wal-mart, and that is looking like a winner for right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Black-Decker-Mega-Mouse-4-in-1-sander-polisher-kit_W0QQitemZ6059841637QQihZ009QQcategoryZ43594QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

3. Are there any electric sanders that are really flexable and still have enough speed to really sand down bondo pretty easily? I found a few on ebay, but I don't know they don't look like they have a ton of power.

http://cgi.ebay.com/7-VARIABLE-SPEED-POLISHER-SANDER_W0QQitemZ6063108430QQcategoryZ42286QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Makita-Tools-Polisher-Buffer-Sander-Model-9227C-VGC-NR_W0QQitemZ6062410206QQcategoryZ42286QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAKITA-GV5000-5-SANDER-3-6-AMP-4500-RPM-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ6063106547QQcategoryZ42286QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-B-D-4amp-Ramdom-Orbital-Sander-With-Case_W0QQitemZ6062647089QQihZ009QQcategoryZ42286QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The harbor frieght one looks the best as far as getting into all those tight places you run into when fiberglassing, but only pulls like 3,000 rpm max.

The makita would be great but doesn't look too flexable.

The drill looking Makita also looks ok 4500 rpm, but flexability doesn't look great.

The same thing for the firestorm, 11,000 rpm is great , but how flexable is it?

But yeah just looking for one that would work great for sanding bondo from fiberglass. So please post up what electric sander you use, and if you know of a DA electric sander that would be excellent. Thanks a lot and feel free to post up anything else you think is important. I was hoping to find something in the product review section, but no didn't see anything. If there is already a thread like this somewhere post up link. Thanks guys-Sampson

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[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

I really liked the Bosch variable speed ones I've used for wood working.

http://www.boschtools.com/tools/tools-detail.htm?H=175979&G=54925&I=55099

 

[NeverEnuffBass 10+ year member]

Air tools ftw

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Black & Decker Mouse Sander FTW!

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

The 5" random orbital sander.

You can get the one from Wal-Mart for $30 or get the Bosch one for a little more.

I have 2 of the Wal-Mart ones (black & decker?), and they work fine. Of course I use air tools mostly.

 

 

I have only found 1 electric DA sander. It was upwards of $200, maybe $300.

 

After you pick one, the sandpaper will determine how well it sands the filler off.

 

[sampson 10+ year member]

thanks db, I'm pretty aware of the sandpaper situation and how much it affects the sanding, just wondering if there are any brands that seem to work better.

DB I had read some of your comments, and I just checked that black and decker out today, didn't look too flexable, but that little tip looked like it could do some good.

Thanks for the posts, anybody else have anything to say don't hesitate. Very appreciated-Sampson

I almost picked up one of those bits that you can put on a drill to make it a sander. Anyone try one of those yet? Not really figuring it would do that great, but for flexability it looked excellent. Max rpm it recommended was like 2500 from the drill so might give that makita drill a try

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

walmart has one, its like 30 bucks, i think it was mentioned above. Its red, dont remember the brand. I have 2 of them, work pretty good. Not quite as good as air, but much better than a regular vibrating sander.

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

The random orbital sanders are round, so there is no tip on it.

 

Your talking about a mouse sander that has the tip.

 

The drill attachments that make it a sander **** ***. Not enough speed and a bad angle on it.

 

[sampson 10+ year member]

yeah I was talking about the mouse sander, as the one having the tip. Looks like I'll be checking out Wall-mart for their orbital setups. I was really hoping that someone would know about an electric DA, but guess kinda screwed without air. Oh well after I get out of college I'll get my 25 gallon 5 hp tank back and finally get a nice da sander. Thanks for the posts, and if anyone has anything else to add please feel free to do so. Thanks guys appreciate the help.-Sampson

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

If you want something electric in DA form, this is the closest out there available.

http://www.toolsforless.com/product/5659.html

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

What about an angle grinder?

with sandpaper, nothing i have seen works well at getting everything close to even. Its not too flexible, but for 30 bucks, you could get a mouse sander too, and be in good shape, and within budget

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

I use an angle grind from time to time. But for thick layers of fiberglass mat. I use a flap whel on it and get it level real fast. But I really don't think that will work with fillers. It would take off to much too fast.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

true, but it still works quite well, if you are just putting carpet on it, as opposed to putting a finish on it

 

[temposs 10+ year member]

Porter Cable 7336SP works great, 6" Electric DA. They sell it at Lowes for 99 dollars. Also seconds as a detailing DA for your ride with the right pads/backing plates.

 

[sampson 10+ year member]

hey temposs how flexable is that porter cable electric da. It looks like it would work pretty well, but just wondering how well it would get in to the tough narrow spots. Thanks a lot for the post.-Sampson