Why A Drywall Sander Make Wall and Ceiling Prep Easier and Healthier
Sanding down tapes,walls and ceilings is messy and unhealthy job,even when you wear a mask any dust particles spread from room to room.Just how are you able to make sanding down plasterboard tapes and preparing walls and ceilings for painting an easier job.Use an electric drywall sander.Drywall sanders use a 9 inch sanding disc which is surrounded by a set of brushes made to hold the dust till the vacuum has removed it.There are many types of drywall sanderdrywall sander,many use a driveshaft which connects the motor to your sanding head. Some newer models are directly driven similar to angle grinder.All drywall sanders have a fitting in the handle which accommodates a vacuum hose.if you have a long enough vacuum hose you can remove the small hose on the sanding head and fit the extended vacuum hose directly on to the head for greater suction. A shopvac such as a numatic henry hoover is perfect as long as you use the hepa bags.Special vacuums designed to switch off automatically 15 seconds after you switch the sander off are available if this feature is needed.The average length of a drywall sander is 1.6m,this is primarily so you can reach higher ceilings from the ground without access equipment such as step ladders or scaffold.Control wise you will have an on\off switch and a speed selector.Higher speeds are preferable for drywall to avoid scratching. The slower speeds are ideal for sanding rough surfaces then increasing the speed to smooth the finish. Used properly a drywall sander will all but elinimate all dust when attached to a suitable vac with hepa vacuum bags fitted.It is always necessary to wear a dust mask but the difference in dust exposure is dramatic.When sanding tapes ,especially butt joints bear in mind the drywall sander will sand flat,for this reason you should feather in your sanding when sanding butt tape joints or you'll need to skim the joint again.From personal experience 150 grit is a nice smooth grit for sanding down drywall tapes.For high quality work you may with the quickly sand with 180 grit following the 150 grit sand.The key is let the sander do the work,don't press hard in to the surface but merely allow the drywall sander to do the work.Once you have sanded,as with any form of sanding,run your hands over the surface to make sure you are happy with the result and correct as required. Maintenance wise the drywall sander has a pretty basic set up.The driveshaft is connected to a motor and the sanding head.The driveshaft will be the first part to go in most cases however by allowing the sander to sand without undue pressure can see 2-3 years life from a driveshaft.Pressing too hard against the surface puts undue pressure on the driveshaft and is the most frequent cause of driveshaft failure.Looked after your drywall sander doesn't just keep your working enviroment cleaner but will also help you speed through your sanding tasks in no time and ensure a professional finish.














