Let's talk about the putty grinder and how to choose it

When carrying out renovation work in an apartment, it is simply impossible to do without sanding the walls and ceiling, to which a layer of putty has previously been applied. After all, leveling walls is an extremely important procedure, performed in several stages, one of which is grinding.

When preparing walls for coating after leveling with putty, it is important that sanding is done quickly and efficiently with precise alignment of planes and angles, and in some cases, curved surfaces.

To make a choice, you need to clearly understand the purpose of each type of grinder. At first glance, the operating principle of grinding machines is the same - grinding the surface of a material using abrasive equipment. For each specific task, one type of sander will perform brilliantly, while another will not give the expected result. For example, eccentric machines cannot process internal corners, but vibrating sanders can do this. Let's analyze the types of grinding machines and determine the scope of application of each of them

In the process of carrying out these works, you can use ordinary grinding stones, both homemade and factory-made. However, this method is associated with a significant investment of time and effort, which can be avoided by resorting to the use of grinding machines.

To ensure ease of use, as well as increase the reliability of these devices, many of them are equipped with special dust collectors, which contain fine dust from putty. Also, for these purposes, connecting a special construction vacuum cleaner to the machine is often used.

Another feature of grinding equipment is the ability to adjust the speed of its moving parts.

Most modern grinders are equipped with a dust removal system: a construction vacuum cleaner is connected through a special connection or the kit includes a dust collection bag. This makes the work process cleaner, the tool itself is better controlled, and the consumption of abrasive equipment is reduced.

Based on the type of power supply, machines are divided into mains-powered and battery-powered. The advantages and disadvantages of cordless grinders are obvious - mobility and independence from the mains, but operating time is limited by battery charge.

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Types of grinders

Based on the principle of operation, such devices can be divided into two main types: pneumatic and electric.

The main advantage of pneumatic models is their light weight and relatively low cost. Such devices are very often used as a professional tool, since even with prolonged use, hands do not get tired and labor productivity does not decrease. These positive qualities can be explained very simply - pneumatic devices do not have motors. Their working mechanism is driven by the pressure of compressed air supplied through a hose from a special compressor.

The main disadvantage of pneumatic sanders is the presence of a bulky compressor. In other words, such a tool can only work in a workshop where there is a possibility of supplying compressed air. That is why devices of this type are mainly used in car services and are rarely used for repair work. If such equipment is used to carry out repairs in your own apartment, you will have to additionally purchase an expensive compressor.

As for electric models, their main advantage is high mobility. It is almost always possible to connect to the mains, and using an extension cord is absolutely no problem. The disadvantages of power tools include their relatively large weight and overall dimensions, as well as their high cost.

If a grinding machine is chosen for renovation work in a house or apartment and will not be used in the future on large construction projects, then the obvious choice is in favor of electric models.

According to the method of influencing the surface being processed, grinders can be divided into the following groups:

1. Tape.
2. Vibrating.
3. Eccentric (orbital).

Let's take a closer look at each of these types of grinding machines.

Putty application technology

The application of putty is carried out in several stages with preparation. Before applying the mixture, the surface is cleaned of old materials. Can be removed and sanded using sanding equipment. In the future, these rules will be followed.

sanding walls for painting with a Bosch PEX 300 sander

• The putty is prepared manually or with the help of a special station.
• The solution is distributed evenly, starting from the corner, and gradually moving along the entire wall. The base layer is the starting mixture, the final layer is the finishing mixture.
• Level the mass using a rule to create a smooth base base.
• Each layer must be primed for better adhesion of the material.
• After application and drying, each layer of putty is carefully sanded by hand or using a grinder.

A grinding machine greatly facilitates the work of any craftsman, allows you to make high-quality repairs and save time.

Repair is a complex process that requires a professional approach at every stage.

Having completed all the stages efficiently, at the finish line we get a perfectly renovated room.

Not least in terms of level of responsibility is occupied by such a stage as sanding the walls after puttying.

Firstly, it is worth understanding that grinding, as a process, is bringing a surface that has been subjected to putty work to a smooth state.

This is how the walls are prepared for painting or wallpapering. When grinding, all minor imperfections are removed from the surface. Even the best plasterer will not be able to plaster the walls without having to treat them later.

To minimize flaws, experts recommend using a spatula that does not have sharp edges when applying finishing putty. It can be started no earlier than a day after applying the last layer of putty.

This time period is necessary for the entire surface to dry to its full depth.

Experts recommend: after applying the last layer of putty, you should refrain from applying a primer if you are going to sand .

Sanding will remove most of the wall primer! Prime the walls only after completing the process!

Surface preparation

I have already written about the fact that you need to start working only when the base is completely dry, but I will remind you of this nuance once again. If the composition has dried, then you can begin the preparatory measures; they are simple, so you can handle them without problems:

• Since the work is very dusty, it is necessary to remove everything unnecessary from the room, this will make it easier for you to clean up later. If it is not possible to remove the same furniture, then you need to do this: if the walls are being processed, then all the objects are moved to the middle and carefully covered with a special film. When working with the ceiling, you need to think about the location of the furniture so that it does not interfere with work; again, you need to carefully cover it;

The better you cover your furniture, the less cleaning you'll have to do.

• Then you need to carefully sweep the surface and inspect it. Sometimes there are situations when, due to finishing errors, cracks appear in some places or the composition shrinks very much. You should first check whether everything is in order, so that if necessary, you can repair problem areas immediately, rather than leaving them for later;

In no case should you prime the surface before sanding, this will cause great harm, because the surface will harden and we will have to apply much more force to level it. And you can achieve an ideal result only by working with an elastic layer.

• The last stage of surface preparation is cutting off all sagging and adhering pieces of mortar with a spatula. To do this, you take the tool, apply it at an acute angle to the surface at the location of the bead and, moving forward, carefully cut off the excess. This will greatly simplify our further work and save sandpaper, because we will not need to erase all the major flaws.

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All dried deposits can be cut off very easily with a spatula.

Belt sanders

In belt sanders, the equipment, an abrasive belt glued together in the form of an endless ring, moves in one direction along two end rollers, one driving, the other rotating freely. Linear grinding and high abrasive speed provide high productivity, but at the same time require increased control over the grinding process. Blade blades weigh up to 7 kg, and the electric motor power varies from 500 to 1500 W.

The three main standards of belt sanders are distinguished by the length of the sanding belt: 457 mm, 533 mm, 610 mm.

This tool is usually used to process large areas. This type of grinding machine uses an abrasive belt stretched over special rollers, the rotation of which causes constant unidirectional movement of the belt. Belt models have the highest productivity compared to their counterparts, but they are not suitable for final sanding.

Application

Belt sanders are suitable for rough grinding of surfaces made of wood, metal, plastic, and mineral building materials. Often used when removing old paint or varnish, leveling putty. Due to its high productivity, a large amount of material is quickly removed, and in combination with coarse-grained abrasive, the belt sander can perform the function of an electric planer. The quality of grinding is not the best indicator of this tool; cavities and scratches often appear during processing. Effective for sanding glued panels and processing convex-shaped parts. There are models with the ability to work upside down, stationary.

Using a belt sander, you can easily remove a layer of material of a few millimeters, make an edge or rounding on a workpiece, or remove old paintwork or rust. The following are subject to it: wood, metal, polymers, mineral building materials... Clear the paint from the floors - yes, correct the planed timber - please, level up the putty wall with defects - no problem. However, you should understand that high performance is not the best friend of quality; there will definitely be scratches and sinkholes. For finishing sanding you will need to use an orbital or surface sander.

When choosing a belt-type sander, you should pay attention to the following functions of the purchased device:

• Automatic belt centering. With the help of special rollers it is held exactly along the axis of movement. This function helps prevent the tape from slipping, so its presence significantly increases the ease of use of this tool.

• Connection pipe for vacuum cleaner. Almost all modern models of sanding machines are equipped with a similar product, but this does not negate its importance for preventing the appearance of large amounts of dust from putty in the room where repair work is being carried out.
• Additional rollers included in the design of the sander make it possible to eliminate the appearance of so-called dead zones when sanding close to walls.
• It is no secret that the performance of an electric tool is directly proportional to the power consumption of its motor - the higher it is, the more we can squeeze out of a particular unit. In the case of LSM, the consumer has the opportunity to choose from models with a motor from 0.5 to 1.2 kW
• The next important characteristic for a belt sander is speed. A fast machine will do more, but it will not be possible to pin it down if its outstanding speed is not supported by additional power. This is all due to the notorious torque, which says that the more speed a tool has, the less power it has left. The belt speed in these grinders can be in the range of 150–550 meters per minute. The question may arise : why produce fast but relatively weak blades at all? It’s just that a super-productive (fast and at the same time strong) car is more difficult to control, it is heavier, larger, and more expensive. If pressed excessively, it can easily ruin the workpiece. In turn, with maneuverable, high-speed lightweights, it is convenient to process a large surface area in a short time, often “on the spot.” If you don’t yet know what kind of loads await the grinder, choose a slower model that can be pressed a little, so it will be more versatile. An excellent option for a powerful and fast model with home delivery at the link >>>
• The kit may include a stand or special clamps designed for stationary fastening of the tool (very convenient for processing small parts). The grinding frame serves as a kind of limiter that helps to avoid damage to the workpiece.
• Special attention should be paid to the dimensions of the working plane - the sole, respectively, the length and width of the tape. Wide soles (100 mm) are common on powerful professional models, making them more stable and usually limited to 75 millimeters. The long and wide sole of expensive blades has a complex design, consisting of a backing and an elastic plate, which allows for constant, uniform contact between the sandpaper and the part; such a tool “holds its plane” well.

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Principle of operation

The design of the putty grinder consists of a horizontal plane with abrasive paper attached. The basis of the working element is fixed in several ways, which are reflected in the principles of operation of the equipment.

Fixation with a clamp is a popular and easy-to-use method for household sanders. The shape of the clamp is similar to a latch on a spring. For these models of units, the sanding sheet is prepared independently from sandpaper. This will reduce the cost of replacing abrasives.

In addition, this element can be fixed with Velcro. Such equipment is expensive and does not require independent preparation of grout paper. The tools provide for the removal of dust produced during the grinding process using a vacuum cleaner or dust collector. The presence of the former in the machine allows you to perform work more quickly without interruptions to clean the tank.

Tape

This type of grinding machine is used to prepare the base for applying decorative plaster or other types of finishing. Belt units are used to remove old paints and are not suitable for grouting putty or plastered surfaces.

Models for domestic use are inexpensive, but are designed for a small number of applications. Professional belt equipment can be used for different conditions, including heavy workload. The machines are equipped with an abrasive belt, which is placed on rollers.

Eccentric orbital

Orbital eccentric sanders are used for fine processing of substrates. The abrasive part of the tool moves along a complicated trajectory, ensuring thorough grinding of surfaces. The sandpaper in this unit is secured with Velcro. The main purpose of eccentric machines is to finish walls after puttying and polishing.

Special eccentric machines for processing large spaces are also produced. The models have an ergonomic telescopic handle and are equipped with a gearbox. These machines can be equipped with large grinding wheels with a diameter of 215-225 mm. An additional option for the units is the removal of old paint layers from surfaces, grinding stone and concrete bases.

The use of units reduces labor costs and operating time. The models are very expensive and are recommended for purchase for regular use.

Vibrating flat

Equipped with a clamp for fixing sandpaper. In terms of the quality of work, the equipment is similar to eccentric ones, but the cost of the units is lower. The surface grinding equipment is equipped with a rectangular sole, on which sandpaper of the required grit level is fixed using clamps. Grain sizes are selected in accordance with the tasks being solved. For puttying on walls, sandpaper No. 100-120 is used, metal bases are sanded with machines No. 40-80. Wood processing is carried out using sandpaper No. 180-240.

A subtype of vibrating products are delta grinding units. The sole of the equipment is made in the form of a triangle. The equipment is suitable for grinding hard-to-reach spaces (corners, joints, arches, openings). This type of machine is optimal for sanding flat surfaces (walls, ceilings, wood products).

When purchasing vibration models, the sandpaper fixation technique is selected.

Electric file

There are special-purpose belt sanders, so-called belt files or electric files. Often used for cleaning welds and grinding materials in hard-to-reach places.

Only certain equipment with a width of 9 to 30 mm is suitable for electric files.

Such belt sanders weigh much lighter than conventional ones - 1-2 kg.

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Surface grinding or vibrating models

This is perhaps the most common type of grinding tool. Its most typical representative is the surface grinder. It is a device equipped with a rectangular sole, onto which a sheet of sandpaper having the required grain size is attached using special clamps. Different grades of sandpaper are used for different types of putty.

Another type of such tool is a delta sander . According to the principle of operation, it is no different from devices of the previous type, however, it has a triangular working sole (iron), which can become indispensable when working in hard-to-reach places (for example, when sanding corners). We'll tell you more about them a little later.

Operating principle: the sole performs reciprocating movements in a circular orbit, due to this grinding or polishing is carried out. The power of the electric motor of this tool is from 150 to 600 W.

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The most important indicator of the PSM is the amplitude of the sole stroke . It may vary in different models, although it is invariably a relatively small value. On average for the class, the platform moves by 1–3 mm; in more mobile models, figures of 5–6 mm may appear. A larger amplitude helps to polish the surface faster, but such processing will also be rougher.

Another nuance is the frequency of the sole stroke . At high speed the machine will quickly remove a relatively thicker layer, while at lower speed it is easier to achieve a precise finish sanding. Some manufacturers make the frequency of movement of the platform variable, exceeding 20,000 strokes per minute, which allows you to adapt to the processing of different types of materials and the characteristics of specific surfaces.

The sole comes in two types: standard - 100 x 200 mm, and mini - miniature versions with a base of about 100 x 100 mm. Budget cars are equipped with a platform made of steel or high-strength plastic, while more expensive analogues are equipped with cast platforms made of alloys containing aluminum or magnesium. A good sole is distinguished by precise balancing , which is easily determined by a low degree of vibration when operating without load (idling). It is also important what the pad is made of ; the most suitable option is a porous polymer; it “holds” the plane better than rubber.

The choice here is simple: mini surface grinders are suitable for narrow spaces, they are lighter and more maneuverable than standard ones.

Application

Designed for delicate processing of large flat surfaces. They occupy an intermediate place in terms of the cleanliness of processing parts between belt and eccentric ones. Using a surface grinder, finishing sanding of various surfaces is carried out: wood, plastic, stone.

Advantages: the ability to grind and polish internal corners, availability of consumables and moderate cost of the grinder itself.

Disadvantages: high noise relative to orbital ones.

Delta vibratory sanders

The peculiarity of this instrument is its compact, lightweight body - the instrument weighs up to 1 kg; delta-shaped sanding pad, which is why these machines are called “iron”. Electric motor power up to 300 W.

Grinding in hard-to-reach places is carried out due to the fact that the triangular sole makes rapid vibrations with a small amplitude. The accessories (sanding sheets) for this tool are not sold everywhere and are more expensive than paper-based sanding belts or grinding wheels.

Application

Using a delta sander, fine grinding of protrusions, blind corners, edges, profiles, cleaning of exposed glue, processing of objects with small parts and complex surfaces are performed.

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Particularly good in carpentry, furniture making, staircases, and automotive body work, used as a main tool or in addition to eccentric or orbital sanders.

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Putty station solution

At the present stage, when performing large volumes of construction work, mixing and applying a significant amount of different mixtures is required. Therefore, for these purposes, manufacturers offer a special device - a putty station. This equipment is universal and designed to facilitate the work of the master. The main task of the equipment is to prepare putty for machine application from dry matter and quickly supply it to the point of application. Some systems are equipped with continuous mixers.

After pouring the mass into the tank, after a short period of time the finished suspension flows through the pump. The correct proportions are ensured by the electronic system of the device. The putty applicator produces the following mixtures:

• plaster;
• cement and cement-sand;
• lime-gypsum;
• lime-cement;
• for masonry;
• plaster mortar.

Mixtures of sand and cement are used for application to the facade of the building; gypsum putty is suitable indoors.

Using the device you can perform these types of finishing.

1. Creation of self-leveling floors.
2. Puttying and applying plaster.
3. Providing quality cement screeds.
4. Distribution of adhesive mixtures.
5. Waterproofing using special mixtures.

Eccentric models

In everyday life, these sanders are often called orbital sanders. They received this name because of the peculiarities of the movement of the round working sole, which simultaneously rotates around its axis and moves in an orbit with a small radius.

The sole rotates in orbit and simultaneously scrolls around its axis. This complex movement of the abrasive allows for efficient grinding with minimal imperfections. Sandpaper is attached to such a tool using Velcro.

Random orbital sanders are considered the most effective and versatile tool for polishing and grinding surfaces. In industrial production and private use they show the best results in surface quality.

The machine weighs from 1 to 3 kg, is equipped with a round sole with Velcro, to which an abrasive wheel on a felt basis is attached. The soles come in two sizes - diameter: 125 and 150 mm. Machines with a 125 mm soleplate are lighter, designed for smaller areas and for more delicate work than sanders with a 150 mm soleplate. Electric motors consume between 200 and 900 watts - more power means more performance.

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Orbital machines also have differences in the speed of translational motion. If we talk about rotation, this figure can be from 4 to 14 thousand eccentric revolutions per minute for models with adjustment, and about 12,000 for models without it. If we talk about the concept of “fluctuation”, then these figures will be half as much. In fact, everything is simple here: the higher the speed, the rougher the processing will be, but the faster the work can be done.

The eccentric of orbital machines may not have the same “span” - from 2 to 7 mm. This is called the amplitude of the oscillation. The smaller it is, the less vibration the device generates, the more compact the plate moves, the smaller the area we process, but the cleaner the grinding will be. In some ESMs, the operator can set a certain amplitude, affecting the productivity and fineness of grinding.

When installing the equipment, it is important that the holes on the sander sole coincide with the holes in the abrasive wheel, otherwise the dust removal process will be difficult.

Additional devices

Work before applying decorative materials involves the purchase of additional equipment that will be needed to carry out high-quality repairs. Experts advise preparing the following tools:

• sandpaper of varying degrees of grain;
• ladder or table;
• a change of clothes for work;
• protective equipment against the entry of fine and coarse dust into the body - mask, goggles;
• dust collector or vacuum cleaner;
• paper filters - if the equipment is equipped with such.

Important! A convenient option is a model with a plastic filter that is processed with water.

Application

They are used for rough or fine grinding on large surfaces, for interlayer processing of materials and coatings, for polishing, processing large surfaces along and across the grain. Often machines of this type are used in carpentry and car painters. Using ESM, volumetric, profile and curved surfaces are processed. When working with an eccentric sander, it is unlikely to damage the workpiece: make abrasions, burn the material, or overdo it with the grinding depth. The noise and vibration levels are lower than other types of grinding machines.

Tools

It is impossible to perform high-quality sanding of walls after puttying without special material and tools.

• Sandpaper is the most common and affordable material. Using sandpaper, you will also need a wooden beam on which to attach this material;
• Sanding mesh - sold in specialized stores. The kit will also require a special holder with clamps. The mesh, as well as sandpaper, is selected by numbers. The smallest number is used when finishing sanding;
• Grinder machine.

Experts recommend: for high-quality and fast grinding, use a special grinding machine. With the help of such a tool, the work will be completed efficiently and quickly.

Sanding machine for putty, walls and ceilings

There are special representatives of grinding tools that are designed for working with large areas on walls and ceilings, grinding plaster and putty. A special feature of such models is the presence of a convenient telescopic handle and gearbox, as well as the ability to install large-diameter grinding wheels on them (usually 215 or 225 mm). Sanders for walls and ceilings can be used not only to smooth putty surfaces, but also to remove old paint and varnish coatings, as well as for grinding stone or concrete walls. The use of such a tool will significantly reduce the time and labor required for grinding work.

How to grind (sand) a surface

The tool has been selected, the necessary measures have been taken, and now you can sand the walls after puttying. It is important that there is good lighting, then all the irregularities will be visible. It is better to highlight the flaws immediately. A simple pencil is suitable for this. Sanding starts from the top corner and then goes down. In this case, an area of ​​up to one meter is captured. The movements should be spiral-shaped, with slight pressure. The same applies when working with the ceiling.

Beautiful and high-quality repairs involve performing a large volume of complex work that requires certain skills and experience. In order to speed up and facilitate this process, manufacturers produce special equipment. Such options include a machine for sanding walls after applying putty and a station for preparing solutions.

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Characteristics:

• Power - 900 Watt.
• Speed ​​adjustment from 1,400 to 2,700 rpm.
• 360 degree backlight. It will show defects that need to be sanded down.
• No dust! Built-in dust extraction with collection bag. Work clean!
• Easy to replace abrasive.
• Ideal for sanding walls and corners. Not a lot of weight and a large working area!

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Let's look at the main characteristics of grinding machines.

• One of the main characteristics of a power tool is power. Power ensures the productivity of the tool (in this case, the amount of material removed during the grinding process), the service life of the grinder and the duration of continuous operation also depend on power. Thus, if you plan to carry out professional grinding of large areas, then it is better to opt for grinders with an electric motor power of more than 500 W.
• The efficiency of work will also depend on the diameter of the grinding disc (sole), i.e. The larger the diameter of the working surface of the disk, the larger the area that can be processed per unit of time. Most construction sander discs have a diameter of 150 to 225 mm.
• Dust removal, or rather its efficiency, plays a very important role, because... directly affects performance. Dust removal can be carried out forcibly using an industrial vacuum cleaner or into a special dust bag (usually supplied with the tool). Professionals recommend using a vacuum cleaner.

Grinder with telescopic handle

Characteristics:

• Power - 980 Watt.
• Speed ​​adjustment from 500 to 2,100 rpm.
• Length from 1.4 meters to 1.9 meters - comfortable work with ceilings!
• 360 degree backlight and additional flashlight. It will show defects that need to be sanded down.
• No dust! Built-in dust extraction with collection bag. Work clean!
• Easy to replace abrasive.
• Ideal for sanding walls, ceilings and corners. Light weight, telescopic handle and large working area!

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Motor location

There are two options: the electric motor is located directly above the grinding disc and the option with the electric motor located remotely, i.e. on the handle. Accordingly, the disk drive (rotational movement) is transmitted either directly (an electric motor above the disk) or through a flexible shaft (the electric motor is located remotely). Both types of drive are quite reliable, but professionals often prefer direct drive. The layout of the grinder with an electric motor located above the grinding disk makes it possible to carry out more efficient dust removal due to vacuum. Some vacuum is created above the working surface of the disk due to the fan located above it. This ensures effective dust removal even without using a vacuum cleaner. Dust is collected in a special bag that can hang on the operator’s shoulder. The vacuum type of dust removal is not carried out on machines with a disk drive from a flexible shaft. Despite these advantages, sanders with an electric motor located above the sanding disc are heavier than sanders with a remote motor. This makes work difficult, especially with the telescopic rod extended to its maximum (a type of machine with a variable handle length, see Handle type below). Although on some models the vacuum effect is so deep that it allows the sander to literally stick to a vertical wall.

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Handle type

An extended handle of a sander, often called a "giraffe". The handle can be either fixed length or variable (telescopic). The extended handle of the grinder is convenient for processing surfaces remote from the operator, such as ceilings and high walls. The grinding head itself has a sufficient number of degrees of freedom for grinding at any angle required by the operator.

Which grinding produces the best surface quality?

There is an opinion that only manual grinding gives the best surface quality; grinding with a machine is not faster, and hand grinding is the fastest and highest quality.

This myth is nothing more than a myth. The flatness of the sole provides the necessary flatness. Adjusting the speed helps to select the grinding pace, and the use of grinding material with finer abrasive grains provides the necessary and sufficient level of surface quality with a significant increase in productivity. If we remember that, as a rule, in the old fashioned way for manual grinding, many people use abrasive material of one grain - 100, then this conclusion is not surprising. Yes, you can use sandpaper with one grain, changing the pressure and frequency of movements to bring the surface to an ideal one. You can also dig up the entire field with a shovel... But you and I do not need pure cheapness of work (although this is debatable with manual operations), but a significant increase in productivity while maintaining the specified quality and low costs per square meter. This is exactly what mechanized grinding systems provide (electric grinders combined with dust removal equipment). It is also important to select the right abrasive materials, and if necessary, then you can and should use abrasives of finer grains: 180, 240, 320, 400.

But for assessing the quality of grinding, hands are often more suitable than eyes. It’s not for nothing that women, who naturally have better tactile sensitivity, work as controllers in grinding shops. If you are still used to working manually, then it is better to work with at least dust removal. In this case, you need a set of grinders for all occasions: from small to large “plane”.

How to sand putty correctly?

After applying the putty mass, it should be sanded. Depending on the type of putty applied, abrasive materials are also selected.

For coarse (fraction 0.5 mm - 2 mm) and abrasive material is needed more aggressively with a grain of 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 - selected individually due to the differences in the compositions and properties of the putty from different manufacturers.

In the process of grinding “finishing” putty, which has a fraction of no more than 0.1 mm, abrasive materials of a smaller grain size – up to 400 – can be used.

Of course, the quality of the polished surface depends on the quality of the putty itself in the first place. If your “finishing” putty has a too coarse fraction/grain size (as a rule, these are cheap materials), then it will not be easy to achieve good quality with any grinding. And these are labor costs that neither you nor the Customer need. In addition, a poorly prepared mixture also causes a lot of trouble.

Therefore, professional Craftsmen with extensive experience do not use cheap materials - it is more expensive for themselves. By the way, a properly selected mixer with a suitable stirrer (whisk) ensures better preparation of the mixture. And with tight deadlines and high customer requirements, it is more advisable to use liquid putties prepared by the manufacturers themselves with strict adherence to the necessary requirements for the composition and properties of the mixture.

Don’t forget about the quality of the putty process itself: the cleaner the putty is applied, the less sanding it takes. As the ancient rule of a painter says: “When putting putty, leave less “snot”; you won’t rub it off when sanding your arms up to the elbows .

Useful supplies and accessories

When processing large volumes, additional supplies and accessories will not be superfluous.

In particular, an additional extension (each manufacturer has its own), which increases the working height available for work from the standard 2.6 m to 3.5 m.

And the use of a support vest with a belt (like Festool) will increase the convenience of work and the productivity of processing ceiling surfaces. Scaffolding and stepladders will not be superfluous.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS

Professional craftsmen with extensive experience usually have in their assortment: a large grinding machine with a 225 mm wheel, a small grinder with a 125-150 mm wheel and a couple of hand grinders. This set allows you to work as flexibly and productively as possible.

As for a construction vacuum cleaner , it is better to purchase a vacuum cleaner not end-to-end, as is often customary, but with a reserve. Therefore, a vacuum cleaner with an actual volume of more than 30 liters is most optimal. It is worth considering that many manufacturers indicate the effective volume, not the actual one. The actual is equal to the effective minus the volume occupied by the filter.

Final polishing stage

When the main work is completed, you can check the resulting result. To do this, you should point the light along the wall; all unfinished places will be immediately visible. Also, we must not forget about the construction level. It is applied to the surface and moved along it. Any bulges will be visible. If they are insignificant, then you can use a sanding block to correct them. This is done until everything goes smoothly. The putty is very soft and must be handled carefully.

The evenness of the sanded surface is checked with a building level

Advice! It happens that it is not possible to avoid pressure, then small depressions appear. They can be removed using a rubber spatula. A small amount of the consistency is applied to the warped area. She gets smeared and rubbed. The surface must be wet.

You just can’t say that at this step the work is completed. There was a lot of small dust left on the walls and ceiling. It needs to be removed, otherwise the upcoming finishing will be stupid. There are several options for this, which are best combined:

• a vacuum cleaner is used;
• dust is brushed off;
• Use a soft cloth (slightly dampened) to wipe the surface; do not allow it to become over-moistened.

After each wipe, the function must be repeated. To obtain a smooth wall, we must not forget about rubbing the surface.

Sanding the ceiling and walls is not such a difficult task, but it requires good preparation. It is also important to take into account that such work requires accuracy. It’s quite easy to correct the defects that appear after puttying, but if flaws appear after sanding (pits, ruts), then you’ll have to tinker with them. The main thing is to immediately choose which tool will be used.

Excellent and high-quality repairs involve performing a huge amount of complex work that requires certain abilities and experience. In order to speed up and facilitate this process, manufacturers produce special equipment. Such options include a machine for sanding walls after applying putty and a station for making mixtures.

Sander

This is a very comfortable device. With such equipment you can do the job in a short time. It is very important to choose the right model that will meet all the necessary characteristics. Sandpaper is also used here as grinding materials, but you can get ready-made “consumables” that will be much more effective. The convenience of the machines lies in the fact that they are not so difficult to work with; you don’t have to put in so much effort, especially at heights.

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The process of filling the abrasive is individual, it depends on what brand (manufacturer) of the tool is used. For proper operation, you should read the instructions.