Recommend: Sander for Weathered Painted House Trim

[LaserGecko]

Hi everyone,

I think I know the answer to this, but would appreciate expert advice anyway.

My first big project with a sander will be prepping the wood trim around the house for a new coat of paint. Since a lot of it is around the pool, this is a perfect job for a Festool sander with a CT. Most of the trim is 2x6, but the trim around the garage door has some shaped pieces attached to it. The paint ranges from decent to cracking and peeling.

I'm guessing the 150 FEQ would be the choice, but I'm wondering if I'll need to use the cheap little Mouse for the moulding around the garage. (I doubt my auctions will make enough for me to afford a Deltex.)

Is the Rotex 150 FEQ pretty much the sander with the most uses?

(Loaded question) What grit should I git...er, uh, get for the paint? I've never dealt with a "good" sander with such a range of abrasives available.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

PS: If any of you are ham radio operators, check out my post in the Off Topic area.

 

[Bob Marino]

Hi everyone,

I think I know the answer to this, but would appreciate expert advice anyway.

My first big project with a sander will be prepping the wood trim around the house for a new coat of paint. Since a lot of it is around the pool, this is a perfect job for a Festool sander with a CT. Most of the trim is 2x6, but the trim around the garage door has some shaped pieces attached to it. The paint ranges from decent to cracking and peeling.

I'm guessing the 150 FEQ would be the choice, but I'm wondering if I'll need to use the cheap little Mouse for the moulding around the garage. (I doubt my auctions will make enough for me to afford a Deltex.)

Is the Rotex 150 FEQ pretty much the sander with the most uses?

(Loaded question) What grit should I git...er, uh, get for the paint? I've never dealt with a "good" sander with such a range of abrasives available.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

PS: If any of you are ham radio operators, check out my post in the Off Topic area.

Jason,

My first choice would be the RO 150 and the Deltex 93 for the detail work. I would use the Cristal paper in the lower grits and then the Rubin.

Bob

 

[Dan Clark]

Bob,

Just curious, why not Vlies in a coarser grit?

Dan.

 

[Ned]

Just curious, why not Vlies in a coarser grit?

I'm a Vlies fan, but I suspect the Vlies would either be ineffective or ineffective and torn up, depending on the condition of the siding.

Coarsest Vlies might be used to rough up glossy but good paint to allow another coat to adhere better.

Ned

 

[LaserGecko]

After handling both of them on Tuesday, I think I'm going with the RO125.

The extra weight of the 150 would really wear thin after about four hours of holding it in front of my face.

 

[bruegf]

I've had better luck using Brilliant paper to sand painted surfaces.  Rubin seems to clog up much quicker.

Fred

 

[Bob Marino]

I've had better luck using Brilliant paper to sand painted surfaces.  Rubin seems to clog up much quicker.

Fred

Good point Fred, but that 's why suggested using the Cristal in the lower grits. That will take care of the paint removal and the Rubin has a heavier and tougher backing than the Brilliant, so would be my choice in this application - he's doing siding, which is generally  rougher than other painted surfaces.

Bob

 

[Tinker]

I would think the 150 if you are doing a lot of surface area, even if it is a little heavier.  I admit, i have not done the work you are talking about with either Rotex 150 or 125.  i don't think you woud be hanging on for as long a period of time.  In my own experience, i do not particularly jump for joy when it comes to sanding. To sand down rough faced material with old cracked paint is even further down on my list of favorite things to be spending my weekends at.  With the extra sanding surface of the larger discs (6" vs 5") the job will go much faster.  The boredom factor will not seem to overtake reality quite so suddenly.  when sanding large areas, I find that boredom factor is greater than the physical tired you get from the extra weight.  Just my observation for 2 cents.
Tinker

 

[LaserGecko]

Actually, I'm just doing wood trim made from standard lumber. The guy at the store couldn't really answer the "bigger surface = shorter time?" question. Of course, there is that 30 day return policy, too.

I think sanding the stucco on my house would be a bitch no matter what sander I used. 

 

[Corwin]

Actually, I'm just doing wood trim made from standard lumber. The guy at the store couldn't really answer the "bigger surface = shorter time?" question. Of course, there is that 30 day return policy, too.

I think sanding the stucco on my house would be a bitch no matter what sander I used. 

Instead of buying a bigger sander, I guess you could just buy a smaller house.