Which Grinder Is Better Eccentric Or Vibration

General features

• Most modern grinders are equipped with a dust removal system: a construction vacuum cleaner is connected through a special pipe or there is a dust bag in the kit. This makes the work process cleaner, the tool itself is better controlled, and the consumption of abrasive equipment is reduced.
• By the type of power supply, the machines are divided into network and battery. The advantages and disadvantages of cordless sanders are obvious. mobility and independence from the mains, but the operating time is limited by the battery charge.

Eccentric sander (orbital)

Eccentric sanders are considered the most effective and versatile tool for polishing and sanding surfaces. In industrial production and in private use, they show the best result in the quality of surface treatment.

Polishing and sanding is possible thanks to the combination of rotational and eccentric movements of the sole. The sole rotates in an orbit and simultaneously scrolls around its axis. Such complex movement of the abrasive allows for efficient grinding with a minimum of imperfections.

The machine weighing 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 125 mm sole are lighter, designed for a smaller area and more delicate work than sanders with 150 mm sole. Electric motors consume 200 to 900 W. more power provides more performance.
When installing the equipment, it is important that the holes on the sole of the grinder coincide with the holes of the abrasive wheel, otherwise the process of dust removal will be difficult.

They are used for coarse or delicate sanding on large surfaces, for interlayer processing of materials and coatings, for polishing, processing large surfaces along and across the fibers. Often, machines of this type are used in carpentry and car painters. With the help of ESM, volumetric, profile and curved surfaces are processed. Working with an eccentric sander is unlikely to spoil the workpiece: grind, burn the material or overdo it with the grinding depth. Noise and vibration levels are lower than other types of grinders.

The disadvantages are obvious: eccentric machines are not suitable for processing internal corners and recesses. Low performance compared to belt sanders.

Basic principles of grinding

These two types of grinders differ significantly in the principle of grinding. First, let’s review the vibrating tool. The mechanism of operation is quite simple, for cleaning the surface, reciprocating movements with an amplitude of 1-3 (low-power) to 5-8 mm (powerful) are used. This allows you to cope well with a metal surface or plastic, in contrast to ESM. However, PShM leaves traces on the tree and will not be suitable for opening with varnish, but only for coating with paint.

The principle of ESM operation is that with the help of a round sole, not only vibration occurs, but also rotation around its own axis. Thanks to this double movement, ESHM perfectly prepares the surface for varnishing. In the process of work does not leave traces of grinding at all. Models of this type ideally create the effect of abrasive grinding. Widely used for furniture restoration or decoration.

Belt Sanders

For 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 is leading, the second rotates freely. Linear grinding and high speed of movement of the abrasive provides high productivity, but at the same time requires increased control over the grinding process. LShM weigh up to 7 kg, and the power of the electric motor 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.

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

This tool is not suitable for delicate sanding and requires special control when working. It can leave indentations in the material and due to the specifics of the sole, belt sanders do not grind in the corners. High noise level and frequent clogging of the dust extractor are the disadvantages of this tool.

Delta Vibratory Grinders

The peculiarity of this tool is a compact lightweight body. the weight of the tool is up to 1 kg; the 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 performs fast vibrations with a small amplitude. Accessories (sanding sheets) for this tool are not sold everywhere and are more expensive than paper-backed sanding belts or grinding wheels.

With the help of a delta sander, fine grinding of protrusions, blind corners, edges, profiles, removal of protruding glue, processing of objects with small details and complex surfaces.

Delta-shaped orbital sander. especially good for joinery, furniture, stairs, car body work, used as a basic tool as well as in addition to eccentric or orbital sanders.

Electric file

There are special-purpose belt sanders, the so-called belt files or electric files. Often used for deburring weld seams and sanding materials in tight spaces.
Only certain accessories are suitable for electric files, with a width of 9 to 30 mm.
Such belt sanders weigh much lighter than conventional ones. 1-2 kg.

Pay attention to the parameters when choosing a grinder

It should be noted that both of these grinders mostly perform finishing work and if you have the task of performing work on a large scale, then the wrong choice will bring you not only financial losses, but also wasted time.

Vibratory or eccentric grinders can be of different purposes:

• For household use;
• Professional scope.

When choosing a grinder, you should pay attention to the following technical characteristics:

• Platform stroke amplitude. This is one of the main characteristics of grinders. The average vibration is 2-3 mm. The higher the amplitude, the better the performance of the grinder, but the grinding becomes much coarser. That is, if you need a grinder for primary processing, pay attention to models with a high amplitude. For finishing, on the contrary, machines with an amplitude of 2 mm and below;
• Sole size. The soles of PSHM and ESHM come in different sizes and shapes, although there are generally accepted standards. for eccentric diameters of 122 and 150 mm, for PSHM 187×90, 115×230, 114×105 mm. Models with small soles will help when working in hard-to-reach places;
• Speed ​​control. Thanks to this function, you can customize the operation of the machine. primary or finishing, and also select the optimal speed for grinding a particular material. For example, if we are grinding soft wood or plywood, then it is recommended to choose a medium speed, and if a hard wood. high;
• Power. The power consumption of the machines can range from 130 to 900 watts. But, as a rule, for most jobs, a power of 200-300 W is quite enough, because such models are light and compact, conveniently controlled, and work with them is more comfortable;
• Attachment of sanding paper. For a surface grinder, manufacturers have provided 2 types of fastening: a clip (similar to a regular latch with a spring, which is on most household-grade grinders) and Velcro (with less of a hassle, since you do not have to cut the paper, it has a standard size, but the cost of such machines. like the consumable, above).
• Additional handle. For PSHM and ESHM, the additional handle is either cast or removable. If it is removable, it reduces the size of the device and allows you to use the tool in one hand. Convenient when sanding small parts.

Structural difference between the two machines

Both machines are capable of delicately sanding the surface with emery cloths. In fact, they do the same work, but there is a difference between them. They differ in both form and principle of operation. The FSHM surface is often rectangular (but it can be deltoid and square). And the eccentric has a round sole. Therefore, depending on the complexity of the grinding work and the shape of the workpieces, you choose a machine with a comfortable sole shape. For example, steps or shelves are quietly sanded with PSHM, thanks to the angular sole, you can reach any corner.

The eccentric machine is used for working with both flat surfaces and radii, as well as wood parts of various shapes. Orbital and eccentric sanders are used in construction workshops, in auto services they perform not only finishing work for grinding wood, but are also convenient for all kinds of finishing work. But still, their main purpose is to ideally prepare the surface for painting or to give the details the required shape.

In fact, these are two identical instruments, however there is some difference. The surface grinder (vibration) grinder will cope with any surface: wood, plastic, metal, walls (plasterboard). But she does it a little roughly, unlike ESM. In turn, the orbital sander will perform this entire list of works more delicately due to the fact that it has the function of additional rotation, which helps to hide the traces of grinding.

Surface grinders (vibrating)

These machines have a mass of 1 to 3 kg, are equipped with a rectangular sole with a clamping mechanism along the edges, which fixes the sanding paper. There are models with the ability to fix the rig to the sole with Velcro.

The sole performs reciprocating movements in an annular 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. The sole is of two types: standard. 100 X 200 mm, and mini. miniature options with a base of about 100 X 100 mm.

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

Designed for delicate processing of large flat surfaces. They take an intermediate place in the cleanliness of processing parts between belt and eccentric ones. Using a surface grinder, they carry out finishing grinding of various surfaces: wood, plastic, stone.

Benefits: Ability to grind and polish internal corners, availability of consumables and reasonable cost of the grinder itself.

Disadvantages: high noise relative to orbital.

Delta Vibratory Grinders

The peculiarity of this tool is a compact lightweight body. the weight of the tool is up to 1 kg; the 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 performs fast vibrations with a small amplitude. Accessories (sanding sheets) for this tool are not sold everywhere and are more expensive than paper-backed sanding belts or grinding wheels.

With the help of a delta sander, fine grinding of protrusions, blind corners, edges, profiles, removal of protruding glue, processing of objects with small details and complex surfaces.

Delta-shaped orbital sander. especially good for joinery, furniture, stairs, car body work, used as a basic tool as well as in addition to eccentric or orbital sanders.

Electric file

There are special-purpose belt sanders, the so-called belt files or electric files. Often used for deburring weld seams and sanding materials in tight spaces.
Only certain accessories are suitable for electric files, with a width of 9 to 30 mm.
Such belt sanders weigh much lighter than conventional ones. 1-2 kg.

Popular models of belt sander

Manufacturer Model Power Belt dimensions (width / length) Belt speed Weight Price

Interskol	LShM-76/900	900 watts	76 mm / 533 mm	250 m / min	3.2 kg	55-90
Makita	9911	650 Wt	76 mm / 457 mm	270 m / min	2.6KG	100-150
Bosch	PBS 75 AE	750 watts	75 mm / 533 mm	350 m / min	3.5 kg	120-160
Interskol	LShM-100 / 1200E	1200 watts	100 mm / 610 mm	400 m / min	5.6 kg	100-150
Makita	9404	1010 Wt	100 mm / 610 mm	440 m / min	4.7 kg	200-270

Types, purpose, features of work

There are different types of grinders that do the same job, but with different results. There is a tool for rough (preliminary), medium (intermediate) and fine (finishing) grinding. Part of the tool can even do polishing.

The machine for grinding wood can be of different pitch, size, performance

To choose a sander for wood, first of all you need to decide what type of work you need it for. For rough sanding. leveling unevenness, height differences. one type is suitable, for finishing sanding. bringing to the ideal. another type. over, both tasks can be solved using equipment of different types.

Features:

A vibratory sander is a device with an electric motor and a working flat sole, on which abrasive consumables are fixed with Velcro or special clips. By varying the grit of the sandpaper used, you can grind coarsely or finely, providing a continuous impact on the surface area selected by the expert. The amplitude of the platform movement is low, but the high frequency of movements allows to achieve a higher quality of work performance than with manual grinding. Compact dimensions do not negate the functionality of the tool. The vibration type grinder has the following performance characteristics:

• Light weight. most of the models on sale have a mass of 1.5 to 2 kg, the most powerful options reach 3 kg;

• Motor power ranges from 110 to 600 W; most of the popular models are limited to 350-400 W;

• The rotation speed of the drive shaft up to 25,000 rpm, directly affects the amount of vibration produced by the sole;

• The horizontal displacement depends on how rough the work is to be done; for the most delicate work, it is recommended to use grinders with an amplitude of 1.5–2.5 mm, for coarser processing it is better to choose machines with a maximum offset, up to 5 mm.

Popular Eccentric Sanders

Manufacturer Model Power Disk speed Platform oscillation frequency Disk size Platform stroke (eccentricity) Price

Makita	BO5031	300 watts	12000 rpm	24000 rpm	125 mm	2.8 mm	90-120
Makita	BO5041	300 watts	12000 rpm	24000 rpm	125 mm	3 mm	100-200
Metabo	SXE 450 TurboTec	350 watts	13100 rpm	8500 rpm	150 mm	6.2 mm	185-220
Bosch	GEX 150 AC	340 watts	12000 rpm	24000 rpm	150 mm	4 mm	175-220
Bosch	GEX 125-1 AE Box	250 watts	12000 rpm	24000 rpm	125 mm	2.5 mm	70-90

How to choose?

It is worth paying attention to when choosing vibratory surface grinders for several important criteria.

• Objective. If the main task is to process large surfaces, it is worth choosing a model of a full-size range. For sanding hard-to-reach areas, it is better to use the mini-format options.

• Stroke frequency and amplitude. For rough processing, the most resourceful PSHM is suitable, which allows you to remove rather thick layers of material. If the model is purchased as a universal solution, you can choose an option with speed control, which allows you to adapt the model to the conditions of the task.

• Feature of the lining. The base of the sole is made of alloys based on magnesium or aluminum, in budget models there are steel and polymer options. In a high-quality model, vibration at idle is almost not felt. It is better to choose a polymer overlay for the platform, which is less subject to wear and damage. The platform can be rectangular or deltoid, which looks like an iron. Platform swivel available on select options.

• Method for attaching abrasive elements. Special equipment can be used to fix the patch cut from sandpaper of the desired grain size on the surface. Spring loaded clamps make the tool more profitable from an economic point of view. Velcro options will require sourcing of off-the-shelf rigs, increasing costs.

• Tightness. Fine dust that appears during the operation of equipment can negatively affect the operation of the electric motor. That is why all the parts of the body must be tightly connected to each other as much as possible. Loose fit of elements in the places of fastening of bearings, channel system, switches will lead to the fact that the device will fail rather quickly.

• Weight. If you have to work on weight, a heavy and bulky device will be an inconvenient option. Optimal in this case is a compact model weighing 1.5–1.7 kg. The heaviest and most powerful models are suitable for combination with a workbench.

• Ergonomics. A visually interesting model may turn out to be inconvenient to use due to the shape of the handle or the inconvenient location of the start button, power cord, difficulties with changing equipment. It is worth holding it in your hands before buying, trying it at idle.

• The presence of a dust collector in the kit. In an enclosed space, its presence is the only salvation from the smallest dust particles scattering around. It is even better if a socket is available for connecting to a vacuum cleaner. In this case, all sawdust will be instantly removed, leaving the surrounding area clean.

Having carefully studied all the features and characteristics of vibratory grinders, you can easily choose the best option for such equipment for personal use or home workshop.

You will learn how to choose the right vibration sander in the following.

Understanding the types and features

To make a choice, you need to clearly understand the purpose of each type of grinder. At first glance, the principle of operation of grinding machines is the same. grinding the surface of the material using abrasive equipment. In any given task, one type of grinder will show itself brilliantly, while the other will not give the expected result. For example, eccentric machines cannot handle internal corners, while vibrating sanders can do it. Let’s analyze the types of grinding machines and determine the scope of each of them.

Which sander is better eccentric or vibration

On the farm, you often have to grind something, clean off the old paintwork. Most of the work is with wood. Few manufacturers sell perfect pieces. Perhaps a carpenter. And if there are perfectly processed boards, then their price is such that you will inevitably want to polish them yourself. Even considering the fact that the work is boring and uninteresting. Therefore, a wood sander is one of the tools that should be in the home arsenal.

What type of sander to choose

To summarize, we can say that for housework and construction, ideally, two grinders are needed. for a rough and a fine finish. The most commonly used pair is tape eccentric. If you are planning to start making furniture, then you cannot do without oscillation.

If you do not like the result of a belt sander, you can purchase two orbital ones with different eccentricities. For rough grinding, a tool with an eccentricity of 6-8 mm is suitable, for finishing grinding and even polishing. 2-4 mm. The only drawback of this solution is that good eccentric sanders are expensive.

If the budget is limited, and the farm has an angle grinder (angle grinder), rough grinding can be done with it, and for intermediate or fine grinding, use orbital or vibration. Just keep in mind that vibration is the least productive, albeit the cheapest. If possible, buy an orbital one. it is more versatile and gives better results.

Structural difference between the two machines

Both machines are capable of delicately sanding the surface with emery cloths. In fact, they do the same work, but there is a difference between them. They differ in both form and principle of operation. The FSHM surface is often rectangular (but it can be deltoid and square). And the eccentric. The sole is round. Therefore, depending on the complexity of the grinding work and the shape of the workpieces, you choose a machine with a comfortable sole shape. For example, steps or shelves are quietly sanded with PSHM, thanks to the angular sole, you can reach any corner.

The eccentric machine is used for working with both flat surfaces and radii, as well as wood parts of various shapes. Orbital and eccentric sanders are used in construction workshops, in auto services they perform not only finishing work for grinding wood, but are also convenient for all kinds of finishing work. But still, their main purpose is to ideally prepare the surface for painting or to give the details the required shape.

In fact, these are two identical instruments, however there is some difference. The surface grinder (vibration) grinder will cope with any surface: wood, plastic, metal, walls (plasterboard). But she does it a little roughly, unlike ESM. In turn, the orbital sander will perform this entire list of works more delicately due to the fact that it has the function of additional rotation, which helps to hide the traces of grinding.

Basic principles of grinding

These two types of grinders differ significantly in the principle of grinding. First, let’s review the vibrating tool. The mechanism of operation is quite simple, for cleaning the surface, reciprocating movements with an amplitude of 1-3 (low-power) to 5-8 mm (powerful) are used. This allows you to cope well with a metal surface or plastic, in contrast to ESM. However, PShM leaves traces on the tree and will not be suitable for opening with varnish, but only for coating with paint.

The principle of ESM operation is that with the help of a round sole, not only vibration occurs, but also rotation around its own axis. Thanks to this double movement, ESHM perfectly prepares the surface for varnishing. In the process of work does not leave traces of grinding at all. Models of this type ideally create the effect of abrasive grinding. Widely used for furniture restoration or decoration.

Grinder: vibrating or eccentric

To get a smooth and perfectly smooth surface when sanding, I always recommend that craftsmen use two sanders. One is for the initial rough roughing, the other is for the final cleanup.

If everything is clear with the primary processing. Here you need to take a belt sander, then when bringing the surface to perfection, you can use one of two types:

Vibrating (another name is surface grinding, or abbreviated. PShM);

Eccentric (ESM, also called orbital).

Both are designed for sanding substrates at completion. Which of these machines is better in which situation. Vibrating or eccentric sander? I will cover today in this article.

You will learn what their main differences are, how their design determines the capabilities of each device, what are their strengths and weaknesses.

The information provided will give you the necessary knowledge on how to grind surfaces of different shapes using these units, and which one is more suitable for you.

Pay attention to the parameters when choosing a grinder

It should be noted that both of these grinders mostly perform finishing work and if you have the task of performing work on a large scale, then the wrong choice will bring you not only financial losses, but also wasted time.

Vibratory or eccentric grinders can be of different purposes:

• For household use;
• Professional scope.

When choosing a grinder, you should pay attention to the following technical characteristics:

• Platform stroke amplitude. This is one of the main characteristics of grinders. Average vibration value. 2-3 mm. The higher the amplitude, the better the performance of the grinder, but the grinding becomes much coarser. That is, if you need a grinder for primary processing, pay attention to models with a high amplitude. For the finishing one. Conversely, machines with an amplitude of 2 mm or less;
• Sole size. PSHM and ESHM soles come in different sizes and shapes, although there are generally accepted standards. For eccentric diameter 122 and 150 mm, for PShM 187×90, 115×230, 114×105 mm. Models with small soles will help when working in hard-to-reach places;
• Speed ​​control. Thanks to this function, you can customize the operation of the machine. Primary or finishing, as well as choosing the optimal speed for grinding a particular material. For example, if we are sanding soft wood or plywood, then it is recommended to choose medium speed, and if we are sanding hard wood. High;
• Power. The power consumption of the machines can range from 130 to 900 watts. But, as a rule, for most jobs, a power of 200-300 W is quite enough, because such models are light and compact, conveniently controlled, and work with them is more comfortable;
• Attachment of sanding paper. For a surface grinder, manufacturers have provided 2 types of fastening: a clip (similar to a regular latch with a spring, which is on most household-grade grinders) and Velcro (with less of a hassle, since you do not have to cut the paper, it has a standard size, but the cost of such machines. like the consumable, above).
• Additional handle. For PSHM and ESHM, the additional handle is either cast or removable. If it is removable, it reduces the size of the device and allows you to use the tool in one hand. Convenient when sanding small parts.

Summing up

The advantages of eccentric sanders:

• Cleaner surface sanding;
• Ability to grind curved surfaces;
• Polishing capability.

• Cannot machine corner surfaces because the sole is round.