What is a Disc Sander?

A disc sander is a power tool which consists of sandpaper attached to a rotating disc used to grind and smooth surfaces of materials being worked with. It is often a very heavy sander, which includes a base and table area right in front of the rotating portion. The disc sander is one of the more common types of power sanders. This type of sander is usually stationary, unlike hand-held sander units. In addition to the disc sander, it is possible to get a tool that will include a belt sander as well. Both operate on nearly the same principle -- that propelling the sandpaper at a high rate of speed will lead to a more efficient and complete sanding. Choosing this option will likely add somewhat to the cost, but it may be worth it. The belt sander may be used for pieces the disc sander could not handle very easily. In addition to the disc sander, other types of sanders could also be used, depending on the job. These include random orbit sanders, the drum sander and straight-line sander. ...  more