Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander – What’s the Difference?

Whether you are working on cars, furniture or other similar objects, Sanding and Finishing are a critical and time-consuming stages. Sanding determines the smoothness of a surface or the curvature of an object. Manual sanding using Sandpapers is still common but there are several power tools to make the job quick and easy. Belt Sander and Orbital Sander are two popular sanding tools. In this guide, we will see the basics of these two power tools. We will list their pros and cons and also make a simple comparison of Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander.

In a previous guide, we compared Sheet Sander vs Orbital Sander. Check out that guide for more information. But for now, let us begin with the Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander comparison.

What is a Belt Sander?

A belt sander is a tool that lets you remove large materials while working on a wood piece. It is ideal for getting your wood ready. You can use a belt sander for removing any material from the wood. Equipped with an electric motor, a belt sander can be perfect for the beginning as well as the finishing stage.

What makes a belt sandal ideal for woodwork is that it is very strong and has high speed. You can use it for aggressive work like dealing with large and flat surfaces. A belt sander also gives great results while working along the grain.

Also Check: Best Mini Belt Sander

What Are The Applications Of Belt Sander?

The large power and size of a belt sander make it ideal for leveling rough surfaces including hardwood flooring. It helps to provide a smooth and even finishing. A belt sander can also be perfect for home renovation. It serves great for

• Leveling of rough surfaces.
• Large surface jobs.
• Projects that do not require additional treatment post sanding.
• Projects for smooth and even finishing.
• Aggressive work.
• Dealing with strong wood.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Belt Sanders?

Advantages:

• Wide Range of Use: With a belt sander, you can remove burrs and smooth corners. It serves ideal for tasks that consume more time. Whether it is removing stains from woods or renovating old furniture, it can be great for different tasks.
• Easy to Use: A belt sander is easy to use. You will only have to move the belt sander on the area by applying balanced strokes.
• Different Options: A belt sander comes in a handheld or stationary design. A handheld sander lets you use it on floors and surfaces that cannot move. A stationary sander lets you set it on a workbench for removing dust materials.

Disadvantages:

• Can cause Damages: Being an aggressive tool, the likelihood of causing damage to frail workpieces is very high.
• May leave Sanding Marks: Even after using the finest sheet of sandpaper, there can be unsightly sanding marks.
• Loud Noise: Belt sanders operate at a loud noise. It is always advisable to use ear protection while using the machine.

What Are The Features of Belt Sanders?

• Stationary Belt Sander: A stationary belt sander is also known as a bench sander. It is mounted on a workbench and you will have to bring the material to the sander. A stationary belt sander can be great for dealing with small pieces of wood. One of the advantages of a stationary belt sander is that it is also a tool sharpener and works with wood and metal.
• Handheld Belt Sander: Available in a portable design, a handheld belt sander comes with a disc sander. You will have to apply both your hands to hold the handle and trigger. Make sure that you hold on tightly as it is very powerful. You will have to ease the sander down to move it.
• Speed: The speed of a belt sander is according to how many feet it can sand in a minute. With a high speed, it will move faster. Some models come with variable speed that enables controlling the speed.
• Power: The power of a belt sander is in amps. Most of it comes with a power rating of 8 and 11 amps. Consider investing in the one that has higher amperage so that there will be incredible power. This will make sure that you complete the task quickly as it can offer higher torque.
• Sandpaper: A belt sander utilizes a loop of sandpaper with the most common being 3 inches. A small loop will provide a light tool that makes it ideal for smaller tasks. For bigger surface areas, it is advisable to go for large loops. Coarse grit can be great for removing layers of material.
• Dust Collection: You will experience a lot of dust while working with a belt sander. Thankfully many models come with a dust collection bag. There are also the ones that come with a vacuum system that helps to suck up the dust.

What is an Orbital Sander?

In an orbital sander, you will find small orbits that help to sand out large pieces in a quick time. It works by moving in circles despite being in a square shape. It is the circular pattern of the orbital sander that makes it leave swirl marks while sanding.

An orbital sander can work in every direction. In comparison to a belt sander, it is weak. However, it does not cause any damage to the wood. An orbital sander can be great for different purposes and offers better flexibility. Even though it gets in edges and corners, it is unsuitable for large wood.

What Are The Applications Of Orbital Sander?

You should not use an orbital sander for sanding furniture as it can leave behind swirl marks. On the contrary, it can be great for getting into difficult corners and works really quickly. Here are the uses of the orbital sander.

• Suitable for fine sanding work and finishing touches.
• Works great with rounding edges.
• Ideal for small surface jobs.
• Works that require additional treatment after sanding.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Orbital Sanders?

Advantages:

• Shape: The rectangular or square sheet of an orbital sander makes it perfect for dealing with edges. You can easily use it for sanding underside areas including an unassembled table or cabinet.
• Sandpapers: Users of orbital sanders will have to buy square or rectangular sheets to stick them while using. By buying a large volume of sandpapers, you can easily get the required length and width.
• Smooth Surfaces: As the orbital sander operates with the back and forth motion, there will be a reduced risk of splinters. It lets you use it after the sanding has gone through belt sanding so that there will be a smooth surface.

Disadvantages:

The main function of an orbital sander is for smoothening. It is not suitable for removing material. For this reason, you will have to spend a lot of time using an orbital sander.

What Are The Features of Orbital Sanders?

• Speed: The speed of an orbital sander is measured according to the orbits that it can make in a minute. The most common speed is 10,000 orbits in a minute. You can get your job done quickly if it comes with a fast speed. However, there will be less control while using it. It is important to opt for the one that comes with a variable speed.
• Power: Similar to the belt sander, the orbital sander also has power in amps. A powerful sander will have more amps. However, you need to keep in mind that the low power of the orbital sander makes it unsuitable for heavy jobs.
• Handles: Orbital sanders come with three different types of handles.
  • Jug-Grip Handles: These types of handles are perfect for sanding underneath furniture.
  • Palm Grip Handles: Palm grip handles are small which enables holding them easily. It is also accompanied by a comfortable grip.
  • Pistol-Grip Handles: With a pistol grip handle, there will be maximum control.
• Sandpaper: If the orbital sander comes with a large area, it can cover a large surface area. It is mostly in a quarter sheet sander and you will only have to attach the orbital sander. By utilizing a peel and stick system or a Velcro, you can easily attach the sandpaper to the orbital sander.
• Dust Collection: Orbital sanders produce a lot of dust and it is not good for your respiratory system. Most of it comes with a dust collection system. A passive dust collection system has a dust collection bag and a vacuum-powered collection sucks up the dust. You will also find models with sealed switches and filters.

Comparison of Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander

Now that we have seen the basics of Belt Sander and Orbital Sander, let us now proceed to compare these two. The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander.

When to use Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander?

Coming to the important question, when to use Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander, you can easily guess the use cases for these sanders based on the previous discussion.

The Handheld or Portable Belt Sander is quite a popular tool in the woodworking industry. Due to its design and versatile operation, you can use it to remove/sand large material from the surface.

It is relatively a compact device meaning you can easily work on rounding off edges and corners. For automobile workshops, paint removal with a belt sander is an easy job.

If you are working on large flat surfaces, the belt sander will make it an easy task to smooth the surface.

The orbital sander on the other hand is a tiny and compact device that you can operate with a single hand. It has a circular sanding disk while some tools also have a random oscillation (these tools are Random Orbital Sanders).

Due to its design and sanding pad, it is not suitable for working on larger surfaces but you can use it for smoothing, finishing, and removing paint.

For professional businesses and workshops, we recommend getting both the Belt Sander and the Orbital Sander.

What Are The Safety Measures For Using Sanders?

A sander is a perfect tool for professional applications. However, you will have to use it with caution.

• Protecting Eyes and Ears: Make sure that you wear safety glasses as the dust will penetrate your eyes. You will also have to wear ear protectors as sanders can be very noisy. There can be a potential of damaging your hearing when you don’t protect your ears.
• Consider your Clothing: While using a sander, you need to get rid of jewelry, loose clothing, ties, and long hair. These items can be sucked and can tangle the machine.
• Disconnecting Power Supply: Always disconnect the power supply while changing the sandpaper or emptying the dust bag. With power on, there can be accidents.
• Protect yourself from Dust: Breathing sawdust can affect your health. Wear a mask as a sander can produce a lot of dust.
• Storing the Sander: Store your sander properly. Read the instructions carefully on how to use and maintain the tool.
• Always Read the Instructions: Whether it is about assembling the tool or working on it, you must read all the instructions carefully.

Another factor that you will have to consider is inspecting the abrasive belts before turning on the tools. You must keep your hands far from the abrasive system. While using the sander, turn on the LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation).

Belt Sander vs Orbital Sander – FAQs

Conclusion

With the comprehensive details of a belt sander and an orbital sander, you must have now known their functionality. They are both great tools and serve great for a variety of projects. Getting the right type of sander completely depends upon your projects and needs. You can opt for a belt sander if it is a flat surface job. For small and rounded surfaces, an orbital sander will be best.