Sander and sanding advise

[padstar]

I am in the market for a sander. I run DeWalt cordless tools and am a big fan so have been looking at their offering and this is the cheapest i have found --> https://www.mytoolshed.co.uk/dewalt...WWQPJdmHPemt-ESsdles2A3n3IhlvdRgaAigdEALw_wcB

Its quite expensive for a bare unit i think but in the bigger picture keeps all the tools the same running the same power packs so probably not worth going elsewhere.

It was originally planned for window boards, skirting and frames prior to decorations throughout the entire house but due to the lockdown I have undertaken the skimming to the walls as i cant get a plasterer in. The results are fairly decent but i wanted to give the walls a quick run over in 120 grit just to clear up any minor defects. I have seen Mirka products spoken about in high regard but are V expensive. That said they retain their value well and could be resold after the work is done. Is there any benefit to going down this route or will the DeWalt hooked up to my shop vac do just fine.

 

[^woody^]

Get a Mirka. Your lungs and cleaning lady will thank you for it. How can you say they are expensive? Hand sander, hose and some pads will be less than £50

I still find plaster dust from an orbital sander and vacuum job I did in 1998.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

But if you get a Mirka you'll also need an appropriate vacuum to work with it - a class L at the least because domestic vacuums just don't hack it with fine dusts

 

[padstar]

The DeWalt is £140 for the bare unit.

Would this mirka hook up to a shop vac or would I need additional kit. https://www.powertoolmate.co.uk/Products/EB%2FMIR%2FDEROS%2F5650CV

Can someone explain what the mirka sanders do so well over say the dewalt connected to a vac?

 

[^woody^]

But if you get a Mirka you'll also need an appropriate vacuum to work with it - a class L at the least because domestic vacuums just don't hack it with fine dusts

Anything with a HEPA filter will do

I use a Henry

 

[^woody^]

The DeWalt is £140 for the bare unit.

Would this mirka hook up to a shop vac or would I need additional kit. https://www.powertoolmate.co.uk/Products/EB%2FMIR%2FDEROS%2F5650CV

Can someone explain what the mirka sanders do so well over say the dewalt connected to a vac?

Any normal orbital sander will throw some dust out of the cup.

A Mirka (and I am referring to the hand version) will suck every grain up.

 

[padstar]

Woody is this the unit you are referring to >Link< or this manual unit <Link 2>

No dust could easily save me from certain death from the other half during our restoration

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Anything with a HEPA filter will do

I use a Henry

HEPA is somewhere between class L and class M.

 

[^woody^]

Woody is this the unit you are referring to >Link< or this manual unit <Link 2>

No dust could easily save me from certain death from the other half during our restoration

The second one the "Handy". Plus there is an equally handy palm size one that takes 100mm sheets.

Armed with a selection of pads from course to fine, this will be one of the best investments you will make.

 

[padstar]

Nice one cheers. I will take your advise and invest.

 

[aveatry]

Definitely I would back woody up. I LOVE my mirka and have had it years - its the smaller one and I have used it so much the corners have worn down and yet the velcro is still as strong as ever. My replacement would be the bigger one than I have now which is in your link - the manual one. I get my sand sheets from an ebay sellet called Rest express and they do mixed grits - you can get the sander from them also.
The vacuum end is a conical wedge that fits most - if not all vacuums and gets sucked in as a tighter fit when the vac is on, just about all dust is taken. I use a Screwfix wet and dry vac which I also love, its very much like your shop vac so I would say you would be fine with that- or a henry.
One thing with my screwfix one is that it blows as much as it sucks which can blow other dust in the room around everywhere so I connect the blow hole side to another hose and stick that out of the window.

 

[^woody^]

I'm in the process of making a cyclonic dust collector for the vacuum. This is intended for sawdust , but should also work with fine dust and take the strain from the vacuum bags and filters.

Only problem is when I say "in the process" the process has been for over a year now. . But courtesy of Corona lockdown, it should be completed in the next week or so.

Its a bit like this one, but the principle is the same. Dust gets collected in the large drum/bucket before it gets to the vacuum

 

[justbigboned]

I also like the Mirka products despite being a user of the festool ets and rotex. It was a close call between the two brands. However, I still use Mirka abrasives as they simply don't clog, virtually everything goes into the shop vac. I would still advise the use of a P3 respirator though, especially if sanding indoors.

Mirka is good kit. They do a hand sanding block which connects to a vac, which could be an option for you?

PS. My anti-virus kicked off an alert when I clicked that link, you may want to notify the site owner if you speak to them.