How to sand wood with a grinder

How to make a grinder from a grinder? + (Video)

This question can be confusing, because this is exactly what an angle grinder is - an angle grinder. But it is very universal and must be prepared for each operation. To prepare the grinder for grinding, you need to purchase a support wheel that is installed directly on the machine shaft.

To process wood, you need to stick an emery pad on this circle. The number of sandpaper is selected for the immediate moment of work. On sale you can find both a grinding wheel of the required diameter and sanding wheels of the appropriate size. Sanding wheels with Velcro are also available for sale, which are very easy and quick to change on the tool.

To convert our grinder for concrete grinding, it would be a good solution to purchase a special protective boot. It is good because it has a connection for connecting a vacuum cleaner. Well-known housings are produced by Hilti. The casing from this company has a sliding sector that opens part of the wheel for grinding in the corners.

Grinding metals with a grinder is usually performed with standard metal grinding wheels. They have different diameters, different thicknesses and different grains of the grinding surface. But, if you are going to sand an indecently rusted surface, then first you need to go over it with a metal brush. Such brushes of the required diameters are also available for sale.

How to grind with a grinder

We must not forget that sanding always involves a lot of dust. When preparing for sanding, don't forget about yourself! A protective mask and respirator are the best assistants when grinding. You can also find an option where the mask is combined with a good respirator.

The respirator filter will clog very quickly, so you need to prepare several pieces at once for prompt replacement. Only after thorough preparatory work can you begin sanding.

Sanding wood + (Video)

Wood is a unique material. It can be sanded quite well by hand, but with a grinder you can achieve very good results. Some snobs claim that you can’t grind with a grinder at all, but this is due to ignorance and inability.

The main secret is that the grinder is used at minimum speed. If the grinder has a speed switch, then there will be no problems. At high speeds, the sandpaper will become clogged with wood very quickly and very tightly. In this mode, it will not be enough for even five minutes of work. The optimal speed is no more than 6000 rpm.

Another secret is not to sand the entire area of the wheel. If you sand the entire surface, circular marks will remain on the wood. To ensure that there are no sandpaper marks left at all or that they are minimal, you need to sand only with the upper sector of the wheel. The movements of the machine should be along the grain of the wood.

Using this method you can get excellent results when sanding lining. The board becomes smooth and does not retain tool marks. Just don’t get carried away and change the sanding pads on the wheel in time.

The frame is polished in a similar way. Here it is desirable that the support plate is thin around the edge. With such a plate it will be easier to sand narrow junctions of logs. Otherwise, this work will have to be completed with a chisel.

We work on concrete + (Video)

If you were unable to purchase a branded protective boot with a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, then you can make it yourself. To do this, take a used putty or glue bucket with a diameter slightly larger than the circle of the grinder. We cut off the bottom part at a height slightly higher than the assembled sanding part.

We cut a hole in the bottom for installation on the gearbox and a hole for the plastic plumbing corner outlet. Now we connect the vacuum cleaner hose to the nozzle and work quietly.

The grinding wheel must be designed for stone processing. It is preferable to grind concrete and concrete surfaces using the entire surface of the wheel. This will save processing time and level the surface well.

When grinding a concrete floor, you must constantly control the plane using a construction ruler, because due to the different densities of concrete, indentations can be made. To process the joints between concrete pours, it will be sufficient to achieve one level combination.

It is good to grind concrete floors and surfaces with a Matrix diamond grinding cup. If the grinder is 150 mm, then the cup is 125 mm.

Grinding with a surface grinder and angle grinder (grinder)

An angle grinder (grinder) is a multifunctional device that is also used in this situation. Special circles are used for this. Petal wheels are made from sandpaper, which is attached to a flat surface. In this case, the circle can be of different diameters, with different grain sizes. When choosing, you can highlight the following recommendations:

to remove paint, use a coarse-grained wheel;
if it is necessary to remove a thin layer of wood, you can use an abrasive that has a medium grain size;
In order to give the wood a special smoothness, you can use a fine-grained abrasive.

However, it should be noted that the surface removal will not be carried out along the fibers. At the same time, it is almost impossible to regulate the rotation speed and feed. You can use an angle grinder in cases where there is no need for a high performance indicator.

In order to sand wood, you can use special equipment called a surface grinder. The features of this include:

The wood is combed using a reciprocating motion of the abrasive material.
The sandpaper moves at high speed, which allows you to achieve good results when working.
Unlike other methods, in this case the grinding machine carries out processing along the fibers, which determines the high quality of the product.

The design is quite simple, allowing you to achieve good quality. But when changing large surfaces, the grinder has low efficiency. Certain models have a fairly large surface to which the skin is attached, but in this case it is quite difficult to provide the necessary force.

Belt type sander

The belt sander is the most productive tool that can be used for processing wood with high productivity. The inkjet technique also has high productivity.

DeWalt Belt Sander

The work of the structure is carried out using a round sanding belt, which can have varying degrees of grain size. The design removes material along the fibers. However, do not forget that it is impossible to polish the corners using this design. The tape can be used for a large volume of work: floors, walls, furniture, and so on.

Despite the greater automation of work, it is possible to provide mechanical action manually. This is due to the fact that fiber removal can be done in the desired direction. It is also possible to process corners. However, in order to achieve the desired result, you need to have certain skills. The work is very difficult and time consuming. Therefore, hand tools are very popular only in certain cases.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

Floor sanding is a process that you can do yourself. Wooden floors are practical, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. Sanding a wooden floor is a mandatory preparatory work, after which the coating is tinted, coated with a protective compound and used. Most people turn to professionals, but you can sand the boards yourself.

Choosing a grinding wheel for wood

The most common angle grinder accessories needed for these purposes are:

Peeling, stripping - needed at the preparatory stage, when it is necessary to remove old varnish and paint. The design of the discs involves the presence of bristles made of metal.
Cord brushes have large abrasive particles. They will be useful for the initial stage of processing.
End - used on the edges of the workpiece, bevel cuts.
Petal types are for final gentle sanding, while the first three types are for rougher sanding. It has the shape of a plate on which there are abrasive parts that overlap each other. This arrangement slows down the wear process of the accessory.

Grinding technology

It is not recommended to process the entire area of the disc, as beginners often do, resulting in leaving marks from the circle on the surface. Only the upper sector of the nozzle is used for grinding. It is necessary to move the angle grinder along the grain of the wood. This simple technique will help you leave no traces at all or reduce them to a minimum. The main thing is to find a comfortable support point so that your hands don’t get tired quickly.

The process of sanding wooden products (including floors) with a grinder can be divided into six stages.

Coating preparation

If traces of varnish or paint are present, they must be removed before sanding. To do this, you will need an angle grinder with a special stripping accessory.

Primary grinding

For this stage of processing, grinding and polishing discs are used. If you don’t have such an accessory at hand, you can use an ordinary circle to which coarse-grained emery is securely attached.

Fine grinding

For such grinding of wood onto a grinder disc, it is preferable to use a flap version, for example, P80 SMT, with a low grit level.

Filling gaps

When the initial sanding process is completed, it is time for other work on the wood surface. Doing everything yourself is not difficult, but it will take a long time, since it is almost “jewelry” work.

So, the task is to eliminate the smallest defects:

It will be necessary to use a nozzle with a minimum grain size, which the operator needs to go through the gaps.
The most inaccessible places will have to be processed manually.
It is necessary to remove the resulting dust from time to time to improve visibility.
Apply putty to the surface.

Final sanding stage

Final sanding allows you to bring wooden floors to a condition that is necessary for the subsequent application of paints and varnishes.

After eliminating minor defects and gaps, you will need to select a nozzle. It is worth remembering that the choice depends on the desired result. For a perfectly smooth surface, you should choose a polishing wheel.

Padding

An important process that allows you to finally smooth out unevenness. By choosing a high-quality coating, you can significantly extend the life of the wood and maintain its attractive appearance. At this stage, soft materials are used that are not capable of damaging the structure of the tree and ruining its appearance. You can do the priming yourself using brushes, or use a spray gun.

Rules for sanding wood

How to properly sand wood with a grinder or other tools? This question interests many.

Sanding planed logs from the outside

To polish a log house made of planed logs, you should use angle grinders. It is recommended to use devices of the mid-price category.

A special grinder will be an effective device.

Sanding rounded logs

Such a log house already has a flat surface. Therefore, using a grinder with a lack of experience will lead to the appearance of furrows and holes. In such a situation, eccentric machines are more suitable. They are less productive, but if the pressure is too strong, the disc becomes blocked.

Sanding the log in grooves and corners

Regardless of the logs used, the grooves must be sanded with a grinder. It is recommended to use a smaller attachment than the disc. If they coincide, the tool may jam.

Important! The corners of the log house are considered the most problematic areas. They are best processed with chisels.

Log end processing

For these areas, it is worth using a grinder, which has an abrasive wheel with 40 grains. Adjusting the speed allows you to choose the optimal speed mode. In this case, cleaning with fine grains is not required.

Processing of logs inside the house

This procedure is no different from the external one. If you do not plan to sheathe the walls, you need to make an additional finishing pass. To do this, use a 120 abrasive disc.

Sanding of a log house must be performed according to the rules

How to sand timber walls

In this case, the same tools as when processing logs are suitable. In this case, you need to evaluate how large a layer of wood needs to be removed. If the bathhouse is made of glued or profiled timber, nothing needs to be leveled. In such a situation, it is enough to use an angle grinder. If you have little experience, it is better to take an eccentric machine.

Important! Walls made of ordinary timber need to be well leveled. In this case, you need to use a grinder.

When is the best time to sand?

It is necessary to grind the frame after the main shrinkage. During this period, the log dries, which makes working with it easier. It can be difficult to remove even a thin layer from damp wood. If the log house is made of dried wood, it can be processed immediately.

Procedure and organization of work

Since little time should pass between grinding and processing, the procedures must be carried out along the crown. It is permissible to start work from the top or bottom. In this case, you need to sand one wall and then move on to the second. The structure can be covered with primer or impregnation after finishing one wall. In this case, you first need to clean the surface from dust.

Sometimes there are dark spots on the surface of the wood. They appear due to fungal activity. Such defects do not affect the safety of the material, but seriously deteriorate the appearance of the structure.

If you plan to paint the structure with light or transparent dyes, you need to deal with the shades. To do this, it is recommended to use special substances for bleaching wood. It is worth applying a fire retardant, a primer layer and finishing agents on top.

Sanding wood has a number of features. For the procedure to be successful, it is important to choose the right tool and strictly follow the rules for its use.

Attachments for working with wood

Attachments for grinding wood on an angle grinder come in different shapes, purposes and materials. The wooden surface must first be roughened . And only after this the final processing is carried out.

The grinder attachments for grinding are as follows:

Peeling circle. It is used if it is necessary to remove a layer of old paint. Can also be used on varnished surfaces. The disc itself is covered with metal bristles made of elastic wire. In structures, the location of steel bristles can be different.
A cord brush is also a wire attachment. Used for rough grinding and removing irregularities. You can also work with metal, removing rust and old paintwork from it.
End disc - an attachment for leveling a product from the end. This type of processing will be needed for bevel cuts and the edges of the workpiece. The technique is similar to working with a file.

Using a grinder and special accessories for it, you can restore furniture coated with varnish or paint. Thanks to this cleaning, the thickness of the wooden surface remains virtually unchanged .
But if you paint the furniture again, the furniture will take on a beautiful and impressive look.

How to sand boards: tools and equipment for work

Each type of flooring has its own sanding equipment.

For example, when it is necessary to polish a wooden floor laid on joists, you will need drum-type equipment. It is quite heavy and not suitable for thin flooring.

Each type of flooring has its own sanding equipment.

Read also: Which hammer drill is better to take?

There are other types of equipment:

Surface grinder (for working with parquet). It is divided into two subtypes - for working with a large area and manual.
Tape (used for preliminary scraping of the floor surface);
Vibrating (for working with regular wooden floors).

An ordinary grinder with a petal wheel saves you when you can’t get expensive equipment. It is also suitable for working with parquet. The work will take more time, but in the end the coating will look no worse.

Gentle processing with grinding wheels

When performing grinding work, special attachments are used:

Petalaceae. They are used for grinding solid wood, performing soft processing. The surface of such a nozzle has a large number of trapezoidal petals made of sandpaper. They are like fish scales, overlapping each other. Thanks to this, the wear resistance of the nozzle is great. There are discs of different grain sizes. The speed and quality of work depends on this characteristic. It is advisable to have discs with both coarse and fine grains. Please note that working with petal attachments requires some skill. Therefore, it is necessary to practice properly before a responsible task. It should be noted that petal circles have a long service life. Their sizes are different: from 115 to 230 mm. One such circle is enough to process 10 square meters. m. wood.
Velcro discs. For grinding and polishing wood, as well as stone, metal and other materials, sanding discs with Velcro are used. The diameter of the working platform is generally 125 mm. But you can find larger sizes on sale. The corresponding discs are attached to the base with Velcro. There are sandpaper devices that allow you to carry out grinding work. They can have different grain sizes: both coarse and fine. They are sold in the form of sets, each of which contains 5 discs. A polishing disc, usually felt, can also be attached to the base. It is also secured with Velcro. Using this tool you can work with metal, plastic, plexiglass, marble, polishing them to a shine. Work with metal is carried out using a special GOI paste. It is applied to the disc. The polishing attachment can also be made of sheep wool. It achieves the finest polishing to a mirror shine.
Diamond flexible grinding wheel. Used for polishing marble and granite. The grain size of these attachments ranges from 30 to 3000. It is advisable to work with an angle grinder, in which the speed can be adjusted. The ideal speed for work is 2.

Important aspects when working with an angle grinder

The appropriate attachments must be selected for each tool model . Before starting work, you must ensure that the disk is properly secured. The movement of the tool along the surface should be smooth. In this case there should be no vibration.

When sanding wood with an angle grinder, you should use thick discs. Due to the high rotation speed and the resulting load, the circle may break, which, in turn, leads to injury.

There are various types of assistive devices. Each specialist will be able to choose the tool that is right for him. Thanks to this, the work will be done efficiently, quickly, without using much effort.

Sanding a wooden floor with your own hands (video)

Whatever type of grinding machine you choose, the main advantage of the equipment will be the presence of a fixed power button. This way the master will not need to constantly press the button while grinding the surface. Among other advantages by which you should choose a unit, it is worth noting high power with low weight, smooth start of the machine, and the presence of several speeds.

Read also: How to sharpen knives for an electric planer