What's the difference in function between a belt sander and a palm sander?

Can I take a belt sander and change the grit to do the job of a palm sander? Or is that a bad idea?

What's the difference in function between a belt sander and a palm sander?
That is kind of a bad idea, because a belt sander takes off more material than a palm, and it doesn't give nice flat even results. You can buy a palm sander for a pretty reasonable price. It would be worth it if you want a smooth surface.
Reply:Thanks for the 10 points and good luck.just take your time and do a little and check it so you don't gouge it or take off too much. Report It

Reply:A belt sander is used more to take off a larger amount of surface on a certain area, compared to the palm sander being used to sand a surface to a more smooth surface.





Example: I use a belt sander to sand down the bottom of a solid wood door to make it swing open with out rubbing the carpet. I use a palm sander to smooth out the face of the door so I can stain it.
Reply:Belt sander would be used more for a rough sanding to remove a lot of material. A palm sander is more of a finishing type of sander. No you can't/shoundn't change the grit of the belt to take place of the palm.
Reply:As the others have stated, a belt sander is typically used to 'remove stock'. I believe 'Deputy' meant to say he would use a palm sander on the face of a door to prep it for staining.





There are also different types of palm sanders... orbital and random orbital. In a production setting, we use random orbitals to finish sand a piece of wood.





If you put the same grit sandpaper on both, the belt sander, and the palm sander (no matter which type)... you will still see a big difference in the wood surface, because of how the sanders operate. A belt sander runs the sandpaper in one direction only. It also tends to run fast, as compared to a palm sander... so, if a fine grit belt is used, it will often burn.





A wood surface will have little tiny fibers that get raised during the work on the wood. This leaves it feeling rough to the touch, and it does not accept stain evenly. To get the best results with finishing, you want to eliminate as many of those fibers as possible, without raising new ones. Due to the nature of the belt sander, it will almost always be raising new fibers. A palm sander will cut more of those loose fibers off, without raising as many new ones, because it cuts in multiple directions. As you proceed to change grit... lower to higher... those loose fibers get smaller and smaller. In a production setting, we use a 'sanding sealer' to actually lock those fibers in place, and provide a protective coat, to keep new ones from being raised. (Sanding sealers are now available over the counter wherever wood finishes are sold)





In a production environment, it is quite common to use a large belt sander (think 3 to 4ft, hehehe) to rough sand a piece on edge. Most flat surfaces are run thru a widebelt sander...but these machines are made to actually move the belt back and forth in tiny increments to help prevent burn. But they are STILL sent thru either random orbital sanding, or a special machine that imitates this type of sanding.





If you are only going to use a palm sander one time in your life... just go rent, or borrow one. If you think you might do this again sometime.. go ahead and invest in one. If possible get one with 'random' orbital motion. You can find them in electric or air powered models.





Have Fun
Reply:No you can't change the belt and get a smooth surface.The belt sander runs in a rotating motion and the the palm sander give you an orbital motion.Fine sandpaper tends to burn wood with a belt sander.