Re: Sanding process.. Types of sanders?
I am a big fan of dustless sanders (the kind that hook up to a vac). One for health safety, but also for keeping the work area clean(er) meaning less time sweeping and wiping down dust (which can become very tedious for a clean freak like me

). As far as sanders, you get what you pay for. This applies both to the longevity of the tool as well as it's performance (meaning how aggressive and how fast does it sand). For me time is money and spending more on a tool that will give more uniform results, faster, easily pays for itself in a short period of time.
I am NOT saying break the bank, but in my opinion figure out your tool budget and get the best that falls within your limits. Like YD says, if you're not used to a rip and tear sander, you may want to start off with a little less 'aggressive' tool. Just my $.02