any tools for sanding the bottom?

[bud659]

My dad has a 33' searay and I have a 15' whaler and year after year we sand the bottom using our hands. This is long, messy job that takes us hours and hours. By the end of the day we cant lift the sandpaper off the ground

Are there any tools that can do as good as a job as hand sanding? The boats are used in saltwater and the bottom gets painted every year. We usually use 80grit. Thanks

 

[External Combustion]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

I like belt sanders followed by disc and orbitals for the fine work. I'm too lazy to do hand work if I can get out of it. They will cut fast, so go lightly until you get the feel of them.

Use good respirators also. You might not notice this year or five years from now, but if you don't use them chances are you will notice the effects eventually. Lung desease and heavy metal poisening are bad ways to go.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

DA and good filter mask... I don't have the guts to hit a glass boat with a belt sander...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

oribital sander or vibrating sander, makes it faster. just buy a light one, they get heavy holding them up.

 

[JustJason]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

I use a DA here with 40 grit... that way i don't have to push that hard

 

[wca_tim]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

I use a DA here with 40 grit... that way i don't have to push that hard

speaking from personal experience??? Glass comes off soooo easy, it's hard enough for me to do right with a da, I think in my hands a balt sander would leave the bottom looking more like something that belongs in a skateboard park than on the bottom of a boat!

 

[bud659]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

whats a good brand of tool/model to purchase? any links? we are upgrading the process from using our hands to a machine so anything is an improvement. we want it look as good as hand sanding if not better with the right tool. which manufacturer do you recommend?

 

[jameskb2]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

My favorite finishing sander.

http://www.mytoolstore.com/makita/mak04-01.html

 

[kevincoe]

Re: any tools for sanding the bottom?

Hey James ,Does that dust bag really help? or is just for looks?