What is a drywall sander?
A drywall sander is used in smoothing drywall to achieve a uniform and polished effect.
Smoothing drywall is an undertaking that involves the application of three layers of plastering material. After applying the finishing layer, you can then complete the sanding process. Due to cost and time, you should sand drywall only once - and ALWAYS make sure to wear a mask while sanding.
Wearing a mask will protect you from any dust and particles as you work on your job. Safety should be taken seriously at all times.
There are many drywall sander options available, but the right one depends on your budget and the surface you will work on. The sander options include:
- Portable cable sander
These are the types of sanders used by professionals. They feature an add-on boom ideal for high walls and ceilings. However, they also tend to be heavy, powerful, and expensive because of the nature of their work.
- Orbital drywall sander
This is a piece of equipment ideal for upgrading residential projects. And since it is hand-held, it can remove all the rust and old paint from homes. This makes it a versatile tool, but should be used with a ladder when the sanding regions are beyond your reach, such as ceilings, because it does not come with extensions.
- Manual sanding block
These are adjustable drywall sanders, ideal for small-scale projects, such as levelling the edges of the drywall. These blocks are obtained in either dual or single angles, which allows them to sand through tight spaces without affecting adjacent drywall.
- Dustless turbo drywall sander
This drywall sander is equipped with a vacuum specifically for the collection of dust and particles. It is lightweight and features a rectangular head, which allows for easy manoeuvring in tight corners, especially by skilled handypersons. To find a suitable drywall sander for your job, contact us at Amaroc today.
Benefits of using a drywall sander
Purchasing a drywall sander helps you in many ways, compared to sanding the wall with your hands. Here are some benefits when using a drywall sander:
Larger surface area when you are sanding
If you were to do it by hand, you would have to constantly sand the wall with a sanding block for a while, just to cover the whole wall. That would take a lot of time to complete one wall, and there are many more walls to be sanded.
However, using a drywall sander would reduce the amount of time you would work to sand a wall. The drywall sander has a large surface area for sanding. It can smooth more areas on the border with less effort than sanding it by hand.
Cleaner work place
After sanding the surfaces you will can see a fine layer of dust that has accumulated everywhere. You usually have to sweep and gather the dust, which is difficult to do with the fineness and volume of the dust, but you wouldn’t need to with a drywall sander.
Drywall sanders have a vacuum setting which will vacuum the dust you are generating as you sand it. It will ensure that all of the dust that came off from sanding will be cleaned up. With this feature, you wouldn't have to spend as much time cleaning, after the job. All you have to do is just toss the bag of dust in the proper disposable bin, and you are done!
Cleaner safer air
It is still advisable to wear a mask when sanding the walls, but with the feature of getting all of the dust flying around the room’s air, you are sanding will reduce significantly. Its vacuum cleaner-like function will keep the room less with dust particles and safer for people who suddenly waltz in.
Less work
Sanding walls usually require you to sand surfaces for a long time for the walls to become smooth. It takes time and effort, and it is tiring to do.
When you rely on power rather than elbow grease, the work becomes more manageable. Because the Drywall sander is electricity-powered, it makes it easier to sand walls and ceilings. All you would have to do is drag the sander part of the machine to the walls, and it will start sanding.
How do you safely sand surfaces?
Drywall sanding is a hazardous and messy job to do. The machine is beneficial, but there are some safety protocols to follow to reduce the chances of you as a user getting hurt.
Here are some tips to keep you safe:
Proper sanding
When using the sander, you would usually sand the wall after every plaster or render is placed. This is generally unnecessary and a big mess to clean up. Sanding every third layer is advisable and after the render or plaster has been applied and dried.
Wear protective glasses and masks
When you use the drywall sander, there will be quite an amount of dust that the wall will produce when you sand the surface. The dust can damage your skin, eyes and lungs. Wear protective glasses and masks to prevent you from inhaling the dust.
Ventilation
When you work on any project like painting and sanding, you would need proper ventilation. With the amount of dust that you will be producing, it could cover the whole room. It may suffocate you after a lot of dust is kicked up. Open a window or door while you sand the surfaces to allow the oxygen to flow correctly. This way, you are safe doing long hours of work on sanding surfaces.
Don’t push
When you push the drywall, the sander usually makes these gouges and marks on the wall. Hold the sander tightly, but swipe it side to side. If there are gouges or dents, don’t re-sand the wall, just cover it with the plaster or render
Use two hands
The drywall sander isn’t too powerful when you are holding it with one hand. If you use just one hand, the sander may skid off, and it can be dangerous. The sander will move around, so hold it with two hands for stability.
Looking to purchase a drywall sander?
Contact us today at AMAROC to get the best sander for you.