Makita 9741 Wheel Sander Review [updated with tests on reclaimed oak]

[ryanjg117]

I'm curious if this wheel sander would take a 30yr old dark stain finish off T&G boards with a dished profile (similar to the profile picture below) without flattening the profile?

 

[ear3]

[member=51886]ryanjg117[/member] Is there a picture missing from your post?  What species of boards are they?

I'm curious if this wheel sander would take a 30yr old dark stain finish off T&G boards with a dished profile (similar to the profile picture below) without flattening the profile?

 

[Michael Kellough]

I'm curious if this wheel sander would take a 30yr old dark stain finish off T&G boards with a dished profile (similar to the profile picture below) without flattening the profile?

For a relatively inexpensive test you can get a Porter Cable Restorer” for under $100 and buy the abrasive nylon wire wheel for $50 and find out.

 

[ryanjg117]

[member=51886]ryanjg117[/member] Is there a picture missing from your post?  What species of boards are they?

Sorry, forgot to attach:

View attachment 1

View attachment 2

 

[ear3]

[member=51886]ryanjg117[/member] I'm speculating here based upon my experience with the Makita but not for the specific task you've outlined, but I think that might be asking too much of the tool.  The Makita excels at removing things that have built up on the surface of the wood, but not stuff, like stain, that have penetrated into it.  I doubt the nylon brushes would be able to handle that.  The wire brush could be pressed in to get some of it, but the amount of force probably required to do that would start degrading the profile and raising the grain before all of the stain were removed.  And the fact that it's pine would mean that degradation would happen much more quickly.  You'd probably be better off working with the LS 130 and a custom profile, at least to handle that large concave channel. 

 

[ryanjg117]

I'm speculating here based upon my experience with the Makita but not for the specific task you've outlined, but I think that might be asking too much of the tool. The Makita excels at removing things that have built up on the surface of the wood, but not stuff, like stain, that have penetrated into it.  I doubt the nylon brushes would be able to handle that.  The wire brush could be pressed in to get some of it, but the amount of force probably required to do that would start degrading the profile and raising the grain before all of the stain were removed.  And the fact that it's pine would mean that degradation would happen much more quickly.  You'd probably be better off working with the LS 130 and a custom profile, at least to handle that large concave channel.

Thanks, that's what I suspected. I'm trying to find an easy way to lighten these boards (essentially removing the dark stain) so that I can either go with a clear finish or, in trendy "Chip and Joanna Gaines" style, whitewash them keeping them very light with just a bit of natural wood/knots showing through. Perhaps I could scuff sand and whitewash - and I'm sure I could scuff sand and hit it with BIN primer and paint it any color. My ultimate plan is to re-use this T&G interior wall cladding and put it on the ceiling, but I know ceilings need to be very light. I do have an LS130 and I know I could make my own profile for it, but with the quantity of material we're talking here and the slow pace at which I know that sander works, I'm not sure it's worth the time commitment. I'll experiment with scuff sanding and whitewashing and see how that looks. If it's a blotchy mess I'll just spray it.