Woodworking sanders education and training expands your knowledge and allows you more career opportunities. Learning how the sanders work and what the different types of sanders are used for is a valuable skill in the construction industry. Receive sander training at your home or business. There is no need to attend seminars or classes. Woodworking sanders training is completed in front of your computer. These skills open new doors and allow you to advance in your career.

Learn the various types of sanders and what each type is used for. This adds to your ability to get a job finished quickly. Watch videos made by professionals about wood sanding to teach you how to work and maintain the sanders. Read how-to guides that help you see exactly how each project is done.

1. Review the different types of woodworking sanding tools.

2. Locate educational online videos for wood sanding.

3. Find how-to guides about professional sanding tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about the various types of woodworking sanding tools

Become familiar with the many types of sanders and which projects each sander is best used for. This is the first stage of wood sanders education. Knowing the difference between the sanders can cut hours off a job, because you'll know which machine is the right sander to use.

I recommend: House-Painting-Info.com provides pictures and descriptions of all types of wood working sanders. Learn the differences in drum sanders, flex drum sanders and other sanders with The Home Depot's buying guide for sanders. Read about the different types of electric sanders at Kaizenlog.com to get a better understanding of a woodworking sander.

Watch educational online videos to learn about wood sanding

Many professionals and experts have made training videos that focus on working with wood sanders. These videos are informative and cover almost all aspects of woodworking sanders. Most of these online videos are free to watch.

I recommend: You Tube contains training videos for all types of wood sanders, including this video that details the different uses for various wood sanders. Visit Expert Village to find a vast number of videos that detail the use of industrial woodworking sanders. Watch wood sanding instructional videos at Pro Woodworking Tips.com.

Read how-to guides about professional sanding tools

How-to guides and tutorials provide you with written step-by-step instructions on using wood sanders. These guides are free to use and can be printed out to review on the job site or as reference materials at home later on.

I recommend: Visit eHow to find how-to articles about wood sanding. Browse the many tutorials for woodworking sanding tools at Woodworking.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wood sanders are power tools and all safety precautions need to be followed any time they are in use. If in doubt, refer to your sander's owner's manual for appropriate safety protocol.

The most popular types of woodworking sanders—drum, belt, random orbital, finishing and disc each have their own functions by design. Most models use electricity and a few rely on pneumatic power. Some wood sanders rest on benches or tabletops others on the floor. Handheld sanders remain popular.

Drum models include flex drum sanders, inflatable, oscillating and pneumatic drum sanders. These come in many styles and sizes. Orbital and disc sanders typically use 5-inch diameter sandpaper. Orbital sanders eliminate circular marks on the wood leaving a nicer finish. Belt sanders operate with sandpaper belts that wrap around a front and rear roller. This type typically uses sandpaper 3 to 4 inches wide. When buying a woodworking sander consider the following:

1. Know the applications for the different woodworking sanders.

2. For business or industrial purposes, consider investing toward the high end for any particular sander.

3. Find a good supplier of sandpaper supplies that accommodate your size and type of sander.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose from a variety of woodworking sanders

These companies carry a diverse product line of finishing, orbit, belt, disc and other sanders.

I recommend: See popular brands by clicking the type of wood sander needed at ToolKing.com. Select from the list of wood working sanders that include heavy duty sheet palm, orbital and disc sanders at Northern Tool + Equipment Catalog Co. Select a Makita woodworking sander by clicking finishing, orbit or belt sanders among others at Makita U.S.A., Inc. See Makita’s operating manuals included with the sander’s information online. Go to Makita’s Where To Buy for dealers.

Find drum sanders for large or small applications

These sanders range from low to high end use, with prices to match. Stand-alone or portable models carry differing options and accessories.

I recommend: Go to Bibb Tool and Cutter, Inc. for Performax, Powermatic and Shop Fox drum sanders. Select a Delta model drum sander from CPO Commerce, Inc., an authorized dealer for Delta Machinery. See the nice selection of drum sanders at Grizzly Industrial, Inc. Go to Woodcraft Supply LLC and select a drum, dual drum or portable drum sander.

Locate a heavy duty industrial woodworking sander

See the selection of industrial sanders for large shops or small. Floor models and bench top sanders include finishing, belt, oscillating, disc and others.

I recommend: Go to Grizzly Industrial, Inc. and select a sander type that includes belt, disc, drum, edge or wide belt. See the Delta Industrial Oscillating Edge Sander with Spindle Sanding attachment at Mike’s Wood & Metal Tools. For a nice line of industrial woodworking sanders go to Rockler Companies, Inc. and select from their list. Click your choice under “Sanding/Finishing” or “Solid Wood” for industrial woodworking machinery at SCM Group USA, Inc.

Select pneumatic wood sanders for quickness

Consider belt, orbital and disc pneumatic hand sanders. Some models come with ergonomic designs and are lightweight. See each model for RPM and PSI specifications.

I recommend: Select a pneumatic finishing sander, straight line or random orbit sander at eMaxAction.com, Inc. Choose a pneumatic sander from the list that includes belt, orbital and others at ToolBarn.com, Inc.

Buy wood sanding supplies for your sanders

Sandpaper and sanders just go together. Look for sandpaper by category and material.

I recommend: Click from the list of sanding belts or choose another category from the sidebar at Bear Woods Supply Co. Go to American Woodcrafters Supply for 80 to 150 grit sanding belts with discounts on 10 or more. Choose sanding disc supplies from the list that includes 5 packs and 100 piece rolls at McFeely’s, a division of Lab Safety Supply, Inc.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Popular sandpaper materials include the all around Garnet, Aluminum Oxide for high production, Silicon Carbine for finishing and Alumina-Zirconia for high abrasive applications.