What kind of air-driven sanders do you have?

M

mitch_04

Learnin'
I'm always searching for tools to make life easier. I have a 8" Mud Hog, 6" DA, and an inline 11" sander. I also use a 3" & 2" roloc disc grinder. I have a spot blaster that I use for hard to reach areas. I am looking at investing into a Dynazip wire wheel kind of tool next, but I'm just curious what all of you have in your arsenal of air tools for paint removal and preparation.
 
Since I don't do this for a living, almost all of my air sanders and grinders are cheap Chinese junk. That said, I've gotten excellent use from all of these. The yellow in-line sander is more than 30 years old and still working.

SandingampGrindingTools3_zps989e98eb.jpg


Let’s see, from left to right:
  1. HF Detail Sander
  2. HF 3/8” Belt Sander
  3. HF Die Grinder
  4. HF Angle Grinder
  5. HF Die Grinder
  6. HF Angle Grinder
  7. HF Angle Grinder
  8. HF Die Grinder
  9. Husky Angle Grinder
  10. HF Jitterbug Orbital Sander
  11. HF Straight Line Air Sander
  12. Dynabrade 6” DA Sander (3/16” Orbit)
  13. Dynabrade 6” DA Sander (3/32” Orbit)
  14. HF 6” DA Sander
  15. HF 4” Angle Grinder
  16. HF 3” Sander/Polisher
  17. HF 2” Sander/Polisher
 
Bob, I haven't got a HF air tool to last more than 2 uses. What's your secret? I have had an air chisel, 2 die grinders, and 2 air saws. None of them work any more.
 
I have a Hutchins Hustler, Porter Cable DA, another DA that is red but I don't remember what brand. The only HF (read Chinese JUNK) tool I have cost more to ship back than I paid for it. I keep it just for a reminder never to buy any significant tools from HF
 
MX442;n71033 said:
Bob, I haven't got a HF air tool to last more than 2 uses. What's your secret? I have had an air chisel, 2 die grinders, and 2 air saws. None of them work any more.
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I have very low expectations. The first HF jitterbug I bought (when Harbor Freight was only mail order) didn't last long but I was running it without ever adding oil in the line, no filters on the oil-less compressor except the intake sponge and with more water than air passing through it. Even so, I wrote a letter to Harbor Freight asking about a rebuild kit and less than two weeks later a kit arrived and there was no charge.

My Craftsman $99 stapler and $99 brad nailer failed after one use -- the second use was three years after I purchased therm. I could have rebuilt them for $60 but bought a HF nailer/stapler for $14 instead. It's still working after 10 years of occasional use (very handy for tacking a replacement fence board in place before screwing them on). I don't work for a living anymore so if and when these tools die, I can wait for a replacement to arrive in the brown truck -- or use a hammer. As one man said "If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem."

I do know the difference between my Chinese Junk tools and the real deal but I'm cheap and lazy. Having five junk die grinders with different bits versus having to change bits on one good die grinder is my tradeoff. Before HF came out with their lightweight Dynabrade DA copy I bought the two Dynabrades and couldn't be happier with them. Tool weight is a big deal for me. I don't get to switch hands when my right arm gets tired so the less weight I'm slinging around, the longer I can work on a project. That's why I have whips on all my air tools -- the brass quick connect is on the floor, not at my hand.
 
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