How to Use an Orbital Sander on a Wood Finish Counter

Power sanders save an immense amount of muscle power and time when used correctly. When used incorrectly or at the wrong stage of a project, they can cause irreversible damage and intense aggravation. Orbital sanders should be used with care on finished surfaces. As the name implies, the sanding platen on an orbital sander moves in an orbit or small circle about 1/16 inch in diameter. Take care when using this tool on a finished surface to prevent small wavy lines or circles from showing up on your work.

220-grit sandpaper
400-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Attach a piece of 220- rit sandpaper to the sander's platen. The sandpaper must be tight against the platen with no slack to allow the paper to move. Loose sandpaper will cause unpredictable results.
- 2
  Turn the sander on and sand a small patch on the surface of the counter. Apply light, even pressure while sanding.
- 3
  Lift the sander from the working surface and turn it off. Inspect the working surface carefully for signs of gouging. Noticeable small circles or wavy lines indicate trouble. If your sanded surface is uniformly smooth and free of blemishes, continue sanding until finished. Stop periodically to inspect the surface.
- 4
  Turn the sander off. Remove the 220-grit sandpaper from the sander. Replace it with 400-grit sandpaper. Turn the sander on and sand the counter. Lift the sander from the surface and turn it off. Inspect the surface for blemishes. It will take longer to smooth a project with a finer grit sandpaper but there's less risk of gouging the surface.

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