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There's no one sander that's right for all jobs.
If you're doing detail work, you might spring for the
Fein
MSX-636-2START Multimaster Start
detail sander. This unit has a sorta-triangular sanding pad that gets
into corners well. A great accessory is the
3-1/8"
Sawing Blade
that cuts hard things, like fiberglass, but not soft things, like hands.
That's because the blade doesn't rotate, it vibrates. The
Flush
Cut Wood Blade
is similar, but offset for getting right next to an obstruction.
As with most tools, buying a
kit
can be a cost-effective starting point.
For sanding curved surfaces, you might prefer the
Porter-Cable
9444P Single Speed Profile Sander
or the
9444VS
Variable Speed
version.
These come with a bunch of rubber shapes to hold the sandpaper in a variety of
interior or exterior curves. There's also a flat sanding attachment, but it's
not as maneuverable as the Fein sander. The
Dremel 6000 Contour Sander Kit
is a less-expensive tool with the same concept, but I don't have personal experience
with that one.
For basic light-duty sanding, consider the
Black & Decker MS500 Mouse Sander/Polisher,
also available in a
kit with accessories. The
Black & Decker MS700K Mega Mouse 4-In-1 Sander/Polisher is a newer version. No, I don't know
what the difference is.
For bigger work, such as fairing new fiberglass repairs, I recommend skipping the
5-inch units and going to the more powerful
DeWalt
DW443 6" Heavy Duty Electronic Variable Speed Right Angle Random Orbit Sander.
(Actually, I have the model DW444, which is the same except it takes
pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) sanding disks instead of hook-and-loop.)
These units can save you a lot of time getting that new patch of
deck smooth. They're also suitable for woodwork, as the power can be
turned down. And the electronic control means the power level doesn't
change when you put the unit down on the work.
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