- Joined
- Nov 3, 2007
- Messages
- 5,092
If I want to use a Rotex to smooth out a really rough work piece, I start with P40 or P60 in gear-driven mode and when done smoothing, switch to random orbital with the same abrasive stuck to the pad.
Then I walk up through the grits to 100/120, at which time, I only use random orbital mode through about 400/500.
It may only be psychological, but I feel like I'm taking out, or at least, randomizing the intentionally rough scratches I made with the rougher grits when I switch to random orbital mode with the same paper.
When I'm using a Rotex machine in the aggressive, gear-driven orbital mode, I typically have two hands on the machine and am guiding how it cuts with my hands/arms. When I switch to random orbital mode, even with rough grits, I hold the machine by the tail with one hand and let it float across the work piece. I'm fairly certain that the random orbital follow-up of the gear-driven exercise is smoothing more than just randomizing the scratches. The reason I think this is true is that I'm not "controlling the sander", I'm letting it float and find a nice surface.
I have done this a bunch with rough milled stock and crap like old fence pickets and it works quite quickly.
The classic demo' of a Rotex is to basically do what I describe above and then switch to polishing mode using the gear-driven orbital mode slowed down somewhat so it doesn't fling the polishing medium.
Tom
Then I walk up through the grits to 100/120, at which time, I only use random orbital mode through about 400/500.
It may only be psychological, but I feel like I'm taking out, or at least, randomizing the intentionally rough scratches I made with the rougher grits when I switch to random orbital mode with the same paper.
When I'm using a Rotex machine in the aggressive, gear-driven orbital mode, I typically have two hands on the machine and am guiding how it cuts with my hands/arms. When I switch to random orbital mode, even with rough grits, I hold the machine by the tail with one hand and let it float across the work piece. I'm fairly certain that the random orbital follow-up of the gear-driven exercise is smoothing more than just randomizing the scratches. The reason I think this is true is that I'm not "controlling the sander", I'm letting it float and find a nice surface.
I have done this a bunch with rough milled stock and crap like old fence pickets and it works quite quickly.
The classic demo' of a Rotex is to basically do what I describe above and then switch to polishing mode using the gear-driven orbital mode slowed down somewhat so it doesn't fling the polishing medium.
Tom
