sander

[Don Dougan <dondougan@xxxxxxxx>]

 electrical sander.  (recommendations -- orbital vs. side to side)

Gary;

I use two random orbit sanders -  a Porter-Cable electric that has a body
like a small angle grinder (for finish sanding when I want to get there
quickly), a Dynabrade pneumatic for a SWEET feel in my hand with plenty
of control (but less brute power) in finish sanding.  I also use regular
disc sanders in various sizes (Makita, Black & Decker, Stayer[an Italian
brand], and Skil) for removing large amounts of material quickly, belt
sanders (Makita, Skil) for quickly removing flat surfaces and edges on
slabs, and a contour-detail samder for the (Fein) really hard-to-get
places.  I also have but rarely find a need for a small pneumatic
strip-belt sander (Jet brand, I think) and a pneumatic oscillating
sander.  I also use various drills with common aftermarket sanding
attachments, as well as several I custom-made for the drills and
die-grinders.  To me, 'sanding' is serious -- and my needs are so varied
due to the types of designs my work encompasses, that I need as many
options as possible.

After seeing the examples of your work on the web (relatively small
scale, abstracted forms with minimal tight details), I'd suggest that if
you are going to buy just one, try a five-inch random-orbit with a body
like a small angle grinder -- my Porter-Cable(s) (one is a five-inch and
the other is a six-inch) are variable speed, and this style will give you
the greatest potential working range while the body-shape allows the
greatest amount of control possible in a inherently hard-to-control (for
corner and edge details as opposed to broad and relatively flat surfaces)
electric random-orbit sander.   For alabaster (and wonderstone) any kind
of sandpaper discs will work just fine, but if you are going to be
working in harder stones you need to get silicon-carbide sanding discs.
3-M and Hermes brand discs are available by mail order (and locally in
Georgia for you in Tucker) from supply houses such as GranQuartz Trading:
 http://www.granquartz.com/home.htm

GRAN QUARTZ TRADING, INC.
S. Royal Drive
TUCKER GA 30084-6811
404 621-9777 or 800 458-6222

You might also look at their water-fed diamond sanding/polishing set-ups
if you are going to go on to work marble or granite -- expensive, but
hard to beat with dry working tools.

Good Sanding . . . ,
Don