Anyone use an electric sander to work on aluminium boxes?

[tremendous]

Sanding by hand to a shiny finish is getting tedious, to say the least. Anyone know of any reason why an electric sander shouldn't be used in place of my skinny, weak arms? I know I can use the same wet dry paper, but wasn't sure if there was anything I should be aware of?

Thanks!
david

[MarcoMike]

I use what I think is called lap machine... basically a big rotative electrical sander... so my answer is yes, you can use it!

but you have to use plenty of water, otherwise aluminum will stick to the paper and the result would be shitty

[Scruffie]

A dremel is really a worthwhile investment I think, You can sand & polish it up nicely, buff it and even engrave the box afterwards if you feel like all with one hand held tool. Also good for touch ups, pcb drilling, hole enlarging... etc...

[Toney]

 hahaha...
I was thinking the same think today.....there has to be a better way. Sanding takes un-fun to a new level.
I have a bunch of Taiwanese BB boxes that seem to be crude Aluminium. They just don't seem like I'll ever get a smooth surface, plus there are some deep imperfections that would need a huge layer sanded off to take out. I started thinking about stop putty, putty primer and a few other auto spraying tricks.
About an hour later I was only thinking about powder coated boxes....

[earthtonesaudio]

Note that water and electricity do not mix well.   

Wet sanding with a power sander is best done with either a cordless tool, or an air tool.  Preferably an air tool if you have to remove a lot of material... but then again, if you're removing a lot of material, that's not really a "wet sanding" type of job.

If you don't need it to be perfectly flat, just shiny, I second the Dremel suggestion.  A smallish buffing wheel will follow the uneven surface but still give you a very shiny finish.

[chi_boy]

I use a palm sander to prep my boxes before primer.  100 grit is aggresive and leaves a good finish for priming.  Note that 100 grit by hand is NOT the same thing. The palm sander moves shakes and swirles. I don't use it between coat though.  Matter of fact, I don't typically sand between at all. Only if I get a drip or a dust hickey.  But that's just me!

Cheers,

George

[tremendous]

If you don't need it to be perfectly flat, just shiny, I second the Dremel suggestion.  A smallish buffing wheel will follow the uneven surface but still give you a very shiny finish.

So a dremel would be fine for sanding to a shine? that's kind of perfect actually. Do you just get attachments that are wet/dry and then start using a buffing wheel? or manually sand and *then* use the dremel? Sorry for the dumb questions!

[Renegadrian]

I use a palm sander to prep my boxes before primer.  100 grit is aggresive and leaves a good finish for priming.  Note that 100 grit by hand is NOT the same thing. The palm sander moves shakes and swirles. I don't use it between coat though.  Matter of fact, I don't typically sand between at all. Only if I get a drip or a dust hickey.  But that's just me!

Cheers,

George

Second that...I use a "mouse" sander on those eddystone, they're surely more regular after the treatment...
I never sand between coats (only if a paint drop occours...)

[Scruffie]

Not a dumb question at all, dremels can come with hundreds of attatchments for sanding, wet sanding (it is true it doesnt mix with electricity... but if youre careful, or get a battery powered one, but you have to be careful of there quality), buffing so really you can just use it straight out without anything in between, it'll have or be able to use a tool for whatever kind of sanding you want, use a diamond coated sanding wheel to get out any imperfections, then sand then buff with it, you might have to do a tiny bit of hand sanding (not nearly as much as normal) to get it perfect i guess but it depends how well you work with it, but it really takes out alot of the work and i find them alot easier to use than hand sanders especially as they vibrate a lot less. Think of it as a drill with a cylinder of sandpaper on the end like a mini band/belt sander, but i think for what your after it'll work perfectly to get a good shine on the metal, hope this clears it up.

[tremendous]

Top answer, thanks boss!