Grinding is a rather time-consuming and monotonous process. It is often necessary to process a large surface, and it is very difficult to cope with such a task with a hand-held mechanical tool. That is why the wood grinder was created. This tool is able to give a smooth surface, remove burrs, make it even, remove paintwork, etc. In general, the thing is multifunctional and in everyday life, no doubt, useful.
What everyone should know
Today no one works with emery on a wooden block. This is really an outdated method, which, although effective, does not give the desired result. At the same time, you need to understand that every year the finish coatings become more and more thin-layered, and any unevenness on the wooden surface will be clearly visible. Of course, a wood grinder for home use is not the most expensive one, but we'll talk about this a little lower. It’s another matter if you work in a factory where you have to process wooden blanks every day. Here the choice is obvious - the tool must be professional. But on the wholewe can talk about relatively low costs, although a lot here depends on the manufacturer.
Let's try to figure out with you which grinder to choose and what to look for when buying. Not everything is as complicated as it might seem at first glance.
Professional grinders
Units of this type are produced by many well-known companies that are engaged in the production and sale of construction and household tools. The key features of such equipment, as a rule, are in the modes of operation. Usually professional grinders are designed for long-term trouble-free operation. The dimensions of the equipment are much larger than non-professional models, due to the increased engine power.
As for the build quality, it is also at a high level. True, any household model must also be reliable. A large number of operating modes, the ability to adjust the working body (speed of rotation) and much more - all this is in professional models. As for the price, this type of wood grinder is very expensive.
Household grinders
Such a tool is not designed for permanent work. The engine of the machine will not withstand long and uninterrupted operation. On average, the work resource per month should be no more than 20-30 hours. At the same time, the power of the unit is small, therefore, it is very convenient to work with such a tool, due to its small dimensions.
It is recommended to let the grinder rest every 15minutes of work. In this way, the harmful temperature effects on the motor can be significantly reduced and overload can be avoided. As for the advantages of such solutions, these are compactness, light weight and ease of use. Of course, here you are unlikely to find a large number of additional functions, but they are not needed to perform simple work. Well, now in more detail about how a wood grinder is chosen, and what varieties of this tool exist.
Types of household grinders
Currently, manufacturers are trying to invent new types of such tools. Design features usually consist in a different working body of the tool, design elements, etc.
The most popular today are belt grinders (LSHM). They are used for rough processing of wooden, plastic and metal surfaces. If softer is required, usually secondary processing, then it is recommended to use vibration grinding (VSHM). The rectangular shape of the grinding surface greatly simplifies the processing of the corner parts of the workpiece and reduces labor intensity.
Another variety is a delta grinder. Its key feature is the triangular shape of the sole. This allows you to grind hard-to-reach areas of the workpiece (notches, grooves, etc.).
Well, the last type is an eccentric machine. It is used for final polishing. Usually, after such processing, the workpiece has the appearance of a polished one. This is achieved through rotationaloscillatory movements during operation. Such a tool is not suitable for a small surface with a complex configuration.
Belt sander and all about it
The band tool came first. It is intended for rough, primary processing. Usually it is used if you need to remove a thick layer of material, say, from a planed board. But besides this, LSM is also suitable for precise machining of a part and a cut line.
The working body consists of an annular abrasive belt, which is stretched over rotating rollers. Depending on the grain size of the tape, a certain layer of material is removed. In general, the principle is similar to the work of a planer, only much less effort needs to be applied, and the work is done faster.
If you need a belt sander, then pay attention to the speed of rotation of the belt, its width and length. Width directly affects the processing area. Often the width of the tape of household models does not reach 100 mm, but is limited to 50-80 mm. For domestic needs, a power of 1.2 kW will be quite enough. In this case, you can count on a belt speed of 150-500 m/min.
About the abrasive belt and useful functions
Oddly enough, you still need to know how to choose the right abrasive belt. There are two types for sale. One belt has an abrasive layer of aluminum oxide, and the second - zirconium. The first type allows you to more gently treat the surface, leaving a minimum number of scratches. Alumina abrasive belt is best forprocessing of wooden blanks. Zirconia ribbons are also good in their own way. With their help, you can relatively quickly, but roughly remove a thick layer of material. However, you will have to come to terms with the fact that scratches will remain on the surface. This tape is good for metal parts and also suitable for tool sharpening.
As for additional functions, it is desirable that there is a possibility of smooth adjustment of the belt rotation speed. This will allow you to adapt to work with materials of different hardness as much as possible.
But the presence of additional functions affects the cost of equipment. For example, the Interskol PShM-115 grinder without additional features will cost 2,500 rubles with an engine power of 0.3 kW. A tool of similar power, but with smooth adjustment and some other functions, will cost 3000 - 3500 rubles.
Eccentric sander: tips for choosing
Orbital grinders have a similar principle of operation with triangular GSMMs. But the trajectory of movements in this case is somewhat different and allows for finer grinding. The productivity of eccentric machines is slightly higher than that of GSOM.
If you decide to buy such a tool, you should understand that you need to work with a disk with a diameter of 150 mm. A power of 0.2-0.65 kW for domestic use will be more than enough. It is worth noting that the eccentric grinder has an oscillation speed of up to 24,000 per minute. That is why smooth adjustment in this case will be extremelyuseful feature. If you plan to work indoors, then choose machines with holes in the sole to release dust. This feature will be very useful.
About choosing GSOM
The principle of operation of vibratory grinders is to carry out oscillatory movements with an amplitude usually not more than 5 mm. There are special clips or Velcro on the sole, which allows you to fix a sheet of sandpaper. The quality of processing of a wooden surface depends on the graininess of the latter. The larger the grain, the faster you can get the desired result. But in this case, the work will be done roughly, so secondary processing with a small grain will be required.
The Makita vibrating grinder, for example, is of very high quality and popular among both professionals and amateurs. This technique has reliable fastening of the abrasive to the sole, which is very important. If you are going to do fine grinding, then the oscillation amplitude should be in the range of 1.5-3 mm, for rough processing 4-5 mm. Be sure to consider this when buying. Almost any Makita grinder allows you to adjust the oscillation amplitude in a wide range from 1.5 to 5 mm.
More details about choosing
The purchase of such an instrument should always be done carefully and slowly. For example, buying Chinese equipment, one can hardly count on a long service life. But even such a tool can be of high quality. However, it is best to give preference to European manufacturers. Exactlytherefore, before choosing a grinder and buying it, check which company is the manufacturer.
For example, Bosch's German products are practically unrivaled. It combines high build quality, precision during grinding, competent ergonomics and much more. In general, the Bosch grinder, although very expensive, is of very high quality. As practice shows, it is with equipment from this manufacturer that there are the least problems, and if they arise, they are resolved quickly.
Price Summary
So we moved on to the most interesting thing - prices. As noted at the beginning of this article, the amount largely depends on the manufacturer and the functionality of the unit. Household models usually cost from 2000 to 5000 rubles. The former are simpler and less functional, the latter allow you to perform complex work with high accuracy. Much depends on who made the grinder. The price of Bosch equipment is 15-20% higher than that of Interskol. But you have to pay for quality, you need to understand this.
Conclusion
We figured out how to choose a wood grinder. At the first stage, we determine its type. Then you need to give preference to one or another manufacturer. By the way, it will be useful to read reviews on thematic forums, so you can get a lot of free useful information. For example, repairing a grinder from some manufacturers can be difficult due to a shortage of spare parts, which is not very good. After you have decided onmanufacturer and type of machine, as well as its technical characteristics, choose the best option for the price.
