Facts About the Rotary Disc Sander

Sanding Pads

• Rotary disc sanders use different sanding accessories, depending on the material that will be sanded. For softer surfaces such as plastic and wood, a traditional sandpaper pad is used. When used on metal or concrete, a hard stone disc is attached to the end of the sander.

Sizes

• A basic rotary disc sander comes equipped with a 1-horsepower motor and a disc that's 12 inches in diameter. Larger disc sanders are available, some with discs up to 30 inches in diameter.

How They Work

• The motor spins the disc at a high rate of speed, which can be adjusted depending on the particular job. The sanding pads attach to the sanding disc with Velcro, or with a nut and bolt.