Sander Vibration

[w802h]

Last week I used my favorite sander, the RTS 400 for a little more than an hour and felt a numb, tingling sensation in my hand.  I've never had that happen before with this sander.  I did use my ETS 150/3 for four hours the prior day with no issue.  Possibly, it's more an issue of user fatigue than sander, but I was wondering what other people's experiences are.  Do Festool sanders tend to lose some of their vibration dampening over time?  Thanks.

 

[Holmz]

There is vibration dampening, and there is vibration control.
I suppose that rubber isolators and rubberized grips could harden over time leading to the vibration coupling into you hand better.

The vibration control is generally more along the lines of counter balancing.
That should not be changing over time unless the center of mass is changing.
(But how??)
I could envision that either there is a wad of saw dust somewhere like a wheel weight on a car wheel causing the imbalance, or maybe the pad is off center. which would cause the force to be imbalanced more than a weight/mass imbalance.

I would suggest a blow out with an air hose as a first start.

If the pad was warped that could also cause a force imbalance. Maybe try a different interface pad if you have one handy.

 

[AlexThePalex]

As parts wear out on a sander it can become a bit rougher with the vibrations.

But there is no guarantee when you use ANY sander that it will be a vibration-less experience. Even with the best behaved sander you can get the tingling sensation eventually. It can also depend on factors in your hand, like stress or fatigue.

I got the tingling feeling yesterday with my DS400 after using it for an hour. That happens very rarely to me. But I wasn't finished, and had to use the sander for two more hours, and the tingling quickly went away and didn't come back.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]And guys this may be more to do with your/my ageing physiology than the Festool sanders. Try and give your hands a regular break. I know this may be difficult when sanding is earning you money, but your longer term health, enjoyment and income are as important.

If I know I will be sanding for a long time I find some benefit in wearing  - http://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Products/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Hand-Protection/21865-1645/Work-Gloves-MECHANIC.aspx

Certainly the inherent balance and smoothness within most Festool sanders is a significant reason for me in their purchase.

 

[Holmz]

Festool sanders may not be the only good ones, I get no numb hands with my sander.

If it were to start vibrating it would be from a bearing or the mass changing. For the mass, then either something is being added, or something would need to be removed. If the interface pad is not missing a chunk, then look for something added.

There is not really anything that wears on a sander other than the consumable pads/screens, and to a lesser extent the replaceable interface pad.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Festool sanders may not be the only good ones, I get no numb hands with my sander.

If it were to start vibrating it would be from a bearing or the mass changing.

If it were to start vibrating it would be because that's what it is designed to do.

A good design makes sure most of that vibration is transfered to the work piece and not your hands. But, action = reaction.

There is not really anything that wears on a sander other than the consumable pads/screens, and to a lesser extent the replaceable interface pad.

Everything that moves in a sander wears. Pads, bearings, brushes, armature, you name it. For instance, on my DS400 the rubber skirt is completely broken. I have quite a few extra degrees of movement on the sander now. Still works as advertised though. I should fix it but haven't come around to it yet.

 

[Holmz]

If his sander was not vibrating and now it is, then I would postulate that something may have changed.
He can take a look, send it back, or live with it.

While in theory they wear out eventually... they do not, and should not, wear out very quickly.

I doubt it is operator error, and even a Festool sander could have something change.

 

[w802h]

Thanks.  I will try blowing the sander out.  I think the sander is 4 or 5 years old.  It may also be me; I definitely could use a few days off.

 

[ear3]

Yeah, be careful. It was excessive sanding (with a non Festool sander) that triggered a severe case of carpal tunnel in both my hands, such that I couldn't tell what I was handling when I put my hands in my pockets to grab change or keys. Ended up getting  surgery on both hands, which fortunately ameliorated the problem.  But it's no joke when your hands start to go numb like that.

Thanks.  I will try blowing the sander out.  I think the sander is 4 or 5 years old.  It may also be me; I definitely could use a few days off.

 

[leakyroof]

Yeah, be careful. It was excessive sanding (with a non Festool sander) that triggered a severe case of carpal tunnel in both my hands, such that I couldn't tell what I was handling when I put my hands in my pockets to grab change or keys. Ended up getting  surgery on both hands, which fortunately ameliorated the problem.  But it's no joke when your hands start to go numb like that.

Thanks.  I will try blowing the sander out.  I think the sander is 4 or 5 years old.  It may also be me; I definitely could use a few days off.

  Thanks for the cautionary note Ed, it IS not a joke or FUN when you get any type of repetitive stress injury in your hands.  Sorry to hear you had to go through that, but good to hear you're better now... [crying] [crying]