I love new tools

[Buggs]

Even if it is a sander

I've been wanting a fine finish pneumatic for a while and finally decided to treat myself. I like sanding, but I hate the dust and don't have a downdraft table. Plus this will speed up the process and its made in the USA!
Now I just need some bionic hands

[Mad Max]

 

[Kirkll]

The balance in those pneumatic sanders are far superior to most the electric ones on the market. I think you’ll love the feel of it. Hopefully you have a high volume compressor tank to run it. They do use a lot of air.

The only electric palm sander I’ve ever used that comes close to those in balance was the high dollar Mirka sanders that ran an ac/dc transformer. I had one for almost 10 years and sent it in for repair last year. That’s when I found out they discontinued that model and replaced mine with a wee bit larger sander. I wasn’t happy about that, but I’ve got used to the new one now. It has an unconditional lifetime warranty. Free repair and shipping cost.

On some projects I’ll use my pneumatic more than the electric one.   Kirk

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice, Buggs.

[Buggs]

I looked hard at the Mirkas. They make excellent products and they are made in their home country.
But I could not find a 3/32" orbit, pneumatic with vacuum port. I have an inexpensive electric R/O sander that has very good dust collection, but its for rough sanding and I have to wear gel motocross gloves or my hands go numb after a few minutes.

I went with the Dynabrade because of where its made, quality, and its completely rebuildable.

[Kirkll]

Ho big of compressor are you running?  I picked up a 2hp with a 40 gallon tank a couple years ago, and this runs my pneumatic tools much better than my old one with a 10 gallon tank and n auxiliary 5 gallon attached for more volume….

But…. My old compressor had a quicker recovery than my new one does. It had bigger cylinders in it. That makes a difference too.

Kirk

[Buggs]

I've got a 60gal and a 25gal hooked up in series. The 60 is an old, quiet beast that keeps chugging along.
The 25 is a screamer, so I have them staggered so the 60 takes most of the load.

[Kirkll]

Well you certainly got enough air to run your new sander bro…. I had an old one I patched together, replaced motors on,  and rebuilt once, that I had for 32 years. I finally retired the old girl in 2020. That one could run 3 16 penny nail guns as fast as you could nail. I had it on large framing projects for years and it ran all day at times…. I kinda miss it now that she’s gone….  Kirk

[Bivyhunter]

I've been using an AirVantage 12v DC random orbit sander now for the past 7-8 years. They are lower profile, lighter and very powerful. I've got the 5" PSA non-vac model, but they are available in a lot of different configurations: 5" or 6", 3/32" or 3/16" orbit, vac or non-vac and PSA or Velcro attachment. I've used their service department for repairs and they are fast and reasonable. Shipping is fast (shipping from CA) and their products are designed well and have held up well with daily use. Below is a link to their site where they can be ordered directly, but you can save over $100 by going to the big A site. I REALLY can't reccomend their products highly enough. I visited BW's shop earlier this year and was talking to their guy that does their limb tips. He'd been using a Milwaukee palm sander for years. I bought another AirVantage and shipped it to them, it's hard to see a fellow bowyer using a tool that has a better replacement on the market.

https://www.airvantagetools.com/product/1st-generation-5-electric-random-orbital-sander-kit-central-vacuum/

[Buggs]

Looks like a nice sander Bivyhunter 12v huh, You off the grid?
I could not tell from their website where they are made?
Looks the the parent company is in Taiwan.

[Kirkll]

I've been using an AirVantage 12v DC random orbit sander now for the past 7-8 years. They are lower profile, lighter and very powerful. I've got the 5" PSA non-vac model, but they are available in a lot of different configurations: 5" or 6", 3/32" or 3/16" orbit, vac or non-vac and PSA or Velcro attachment. I've used their service department for repairs and they are fast and reasonable. Shipping is fast (shipping from CA) and their products are designed well and have held up well with daily use. Below is a link to their site where they can be ordered directly, but you can save over $100 by going to the big A site. I REALLY can't reccomend their products highly enough. I visited BW's shop earlier this year and was talking to their guy that does their limb tips. He'd been using a Milwaukee palm sander for years. I bought another AirVantage and shipped it to them, it's hard to see a fellow bowyer using a tool that has a better replacement on the market.

https://www.airvantagetools.com/product/1st-generation-5-electric-random-orbital-sander-kit-central-vacuum/

That sander looks very similar to what Mirka was offering and I ran for 6-8 years the balance is incredible for doing tip overlay work. It’s I; th3 same price range too.    Kirk

[Kirkll]

Looks like a nice sander Bivyhunter 12v huh, You off the grid?
I could not tell from their website where they are made?
Looks the the parent company is in Taiwan.

Those 12 volt DC sanders use a converter, and are the lightest weight of all electric sanders. Actually lighter than the pneumatic models and very powerful. Kirk

[Buggs]

Hard to tell about the Airadvantage, they give zero specs on the website.


That was premature, I just went back and opened up the catalog section and they do give specs.
That sander weights 100% more than the Dynabrade pneumatic 5"

[Kirkll]

Hard to tell about the Airadvantage, they give zero specs on the website.


That was premature, I just went back and opened up the catalog section and they do give specs.
That sander weights 100% more than the Dynabrade pneumatic 5"

Well it looks like you got a winner then bro!  i'm not sure what my Mirka 12 volt DC unit weighed, but the size and balance was the same as the pneumatic without an air hose.

i bought a cheap pneumatic 6" that i run a 5" disc on last year while waiting for my Mirka to be repaired and i sure wasn't happy with the power it had. I think you get what you pay for some time. 

[Buggs]

Ok, now I'm going from high&mighty, self righteous purchaser of USA made tools to the lowest, cheapest purveyor of junk made far away.
I was at the HF store and saw this "Industrial Air Filter" for $13! Of course I knew it is a piece of crap, but for that price I figured I had nothing to loose by trying to make something functional out of it. This is what is inside the can;

A lot of air and this little ceramic(?) filter. This thing is not even sealed to the housing, its held in place with a grip washer on the thru bolt. Truly a P.O.S.
This what I came up with;

The ceramic filter is pressed into a silicone washer at the top and sealed to the thru bolt with a rubber stopper and the whole thing pressed into place with the springs. The tube was added so the intake is at the bottom of the can instead of the top.
Then I filled the can with cat litter (Zeolite)

Bingo! Industrial air filter

I use compressed all the time, for blowing dust off lams, spraying finish, sanding, etc.
Hopefully this will prove to be an inexpensive alternative to a true industrial air filter.

[Kirkll]

What are ya gonna do when your cat starts cocking his leg on your new air filter bro?

[Buggs]

What are ya gonna do when your cat starts cocking his leg on your new air filter bro?

Thats funny   Mostly because while I was down on the floor, like Fred Flintstone with a Metate, my cat was circling the tray

[Kirkll]

All humor aside.... What's the theory behind your unmitigated cat box air filter? Is the stuff for moisture absorption or what?  How does thing work?  i actually need to get another in line filter coming out of my big tank... i've got a water separator filter going into my spray booth that i can drain.

Kirk

[Buggs]

I could try to list all the attributes and uses for Zeolite, but I would just be regurgitating info and would still come up short. You would be surprised how commonly used this stuff is. Everything from hemostatic bandages to absorbing nuclear waste. It will easily handle any junk, water vapor, or oil mist coming from my old compressor.

[Buggs]

Ok, I'm not exactly loving the cheap filter. It does work, but it was not easy getting there. It leaked from everywhere.
I had to smooth all the contact and mating surfaces. The cylinder was not square, had to lap the ends. Replaced the O rings on the nuts and polished the gaskets. I even had to tear down the regulator, it was leaking so bad!
I did end up with a functioning filter for about $25. but I can't recommend this for anybody who does not have time to kill.