How useful is a straight-line sander?

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:55 pm
I would think a standard long-board would be just as good - perhaps not as fast.

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:33 pm
Personally I think hand sanding is always better, machine sanding is ok for roughing it out but it's easy to get carried away with it and do more harm than good.
Rob



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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:35 pm
You know Sally, I have been a body tech most of my 31 years in this business and haven't owned an "air board" since I was about 18 when I traded the one I had for a guy to paint a car for me.

I have used an 8" orbital sander (ND900) to rough things into shape and then moved to a hand long board.

I did however work at a shop where a guy had a Hutchins 3800 ORBITAL long board, now that was a sweet tool. I fell in love with it and bought one myself.
http://www.wescotools.com/p-747-hutchin ... ander.aspx

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It is a pretty nice tool for knocking down those long narrow or round areas like a rocker.
It is very rarely pulled out of my tool box, but it is there for those times.

I am sure there are a lot of guys using the good old air board everyday, to each his own. I personally don't have a need for one.

Brian
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:37 pm
YES! Hutchins 3800 is the ONLY AIR BOARD i use. Frankly it's my ****, does a lot of work for me. Flat, low crown panels are a snap. :wink:

Hustlers and other similar styles are just for rapid material removal. They do not have the orbital action the 3800 does. They just move in a "straight line".

No mater the tool, you still need to learn it's cans and can nots. how much pressure (push) you can give, etc..

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:32 pm
i myself dont mind having an air file handy ive got a short one an 2 long ones but i only use em ta ruff stuff out then switch to a block i never use anything finer than 24 or 36 grit in em all they do is get ya into some spots ya cant get good with an orbital ta be honest the 11 inch air file is my favorite its seems ta have a longer stroke than my others but just remember air files are not a finish sander :D :D :D :D i also have three mud hogs one nat detroit one snap on an one dynabrade 6 inch :D :D :D :D
if its blended its splendid



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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:48 pm
6" and/or 8" orbital does the job better IMO (too).

As for course grits: http://autobody101.com/forums/viewtopic ... ght=maxcut

:)
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:02 pm
where the inlines really shine is roughing out reverse curves hard ta beat a mudhog i also been known ta use an air powerd strait rotary on the really big ugly jobs but ya gotta be dam careful eats the mud faster than you can believe ive got a vertical air polisher with a 8 inch pad an you can really make quick work of eating the mud down an if ya hold your mouth right it grinds flatter than alota mudhogs but it takes alot of discretion using it :? :? :? or you find yourself starting over aw!!!! a mispent youth :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
if its blended its splendid

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:05 pm
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one of these :lol: :lol: :lol: with some 80 can amaze ya if your careful :wink: :wink: :wink:
if its blended its splendid

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:07 pm
dont forget ta keep lotsa liquids on hand ta wash the dust down :lol: :lol: :lol:
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if its blended its splendid



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PostPosted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:36 pm
didn't now keystone sold beer to :P is 12oz in Taiwan the same as 12oz in America or is the quality control on their beer as good as their sheet metal :lol:
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