> Like many others on this BBS, I'm preparing to sand down the epoxy filler
> coats on my Artic Tern to prepare for varnishing.

> First I plan to use a cabinet scraper to remove the epoxy drips.

> The popular tool of choice to then level out my filler coats appears to be
> a Rotary Orbital Sander (ROS).

> I don't own a ROS, but I do have a decent finishing sheet sander (square
> base).

> Are ROS sanders superior to sheet sanders for this application, and if so,
> why?

> Thanks,

> Paul Williams, WA

Hi Paul

If your square sheet sander is of the orbital type, it will be fine. Actually, even if it is the oscilating type,( forward and back motion ) it will work too. The orbital sander seems to work better in cabinet making as it cut quicker than the oscilating and leaves fewer scratches. They used to have a slower orbit speed and were usually between 7,000 to 12,000 rpm. Often, they would leave little circles in the wood, and would show up under your cabinet finish. The higher the rpm, the better as it left fewer scratches. The ROS is just a glorified orbital, and by making the orbits in random circles, the problem with little circle scratches was for the most part eliminated. Again, they are of a higher rpm as well, and they are known to cut about as good as a belt sander, but, with more control. So, to answer your question, your sander will work just fine, although, may take a bit longer. If you haven't used an ROS, then LONGER will not compute. Smaller scratches don't seem to be as big a problem on the boats, or so I've been told, as the resin/glass covers them well. You may also want to go one grit finer on the paper with the standard sander. If you use 100 on the ROS, you would get the same finish with 120 on the standard sander. Just a rough guess.

You are right, the ROS is superior to all others in about every job application I've seen them used, however, there was a day when they didn't exist, and people still got good finishes. Wait a year and someone will come up with something better!!! :) Or, use an old retro-sander. Tack a 1/4 sheet on paper onto a 2" x 4 1/2" block and do it the old fashioned way. You WILL get the same results, and you be just as proud, if not more so, when you finish. Plus, you could probably break bricks with.........Oh, never mind. :)

Rehd