There is often a perception in the auto body industry that the sander of choice is dependent upon what part of the shop it is used in. In some cases this is true, but there is much more to consider. In the past, tool companies have touted the orbit of a dual action sander by “coarse throw” and “fine throw.” This has given the industry a false sense of what the orbit does to the performance of an abrasive disc.
The assumption has been that coarse throw or large orbit tools are used with coarse grade abrasives, while fine throw or small orbit tools are used with fine grade abrasives. With further investigation and testing, this has shown to be a false way to look at sanders and applications.
The orbit or “throw” of the tool is the amount of offset the counterweight moves when a sander is in motion. If a large orbit sander is used, it will move the abrasive in a larger motion allowing the abrasive to cut more. If a small orbit tool is being used, the abrasive will move in a small motion. The amount of movement will determine the cut performance of the abrasive. The biggest factor impacted by the orbit of the sander is the amount of cut that is transferred to the abrasive. In fact, the cut from a large orbit tool (5/16”) is as much as two times when comparing to a small orbit tool (3/32”).
When you increase cut, you increase refinement speeds as well. For example, when sanding to refine P1500 grit scratches with P3000, a 5/16” orbit tool will remove the P1500 scratch twice as fast. This helps get the vehicle out the door quickly. Cut increases significantly help both the body and paint shop side of the business.
The fear that many technicians have when using larger orbit tools is the impact it will have on the scratch finish. This is due to the old terminology of categorizing tools as “coarse or fine.” The orbit of a tool has shown very little effect on the scratch finish of the abrasive. It does not matter if you are using a P800 disc with a 3/32” orbit tool or a 5/16” orbit tool. The finish is still a P800 scratch. The bigger difference will be the cut performance of the abrasive disc. The production increase of using larger orbit tools far outweighs the small differences in scratch.
Small orbit tools originally started in the wood-working business and made their way into the auto body industry. A 3/32” orbit tool is very comfortable with no vibration, but they also have very low cut and generally tend to decrease the performance of abrasive discs. Since the abrasive has very little movement, it will also load and clog up since the dust will be trapped underneath. Large orbit tools do a better job at kicking out the dust from underneath the abrasive, limiting the amount clogging on the disc.
There are some drawbacks to going to larger orbit tools, but the advantages outweigh the differences. A 5/16” orbit tool will have more vibration than a 3/32” orbit tool. This can be hard on a technician, but generally a sander is being used for a limited amount of time to keep fatigue to a minimum. There is also the drawback of burn through. You may want double the cut from your abrasive, but with more cut can come more burning through on e-coat or blend panels. There is a limit to how much is too much. The 3/16” orbit tools tend to be a happy medium for technicians that are worried about too much cut and vibration.
Next time you are in the market for a new sander, consider using a larger orbit tool than you do now. It will significantly impact your abrasive cut performance and increase production in the shop.
Advanced discs make a difference
A new cutting-edge innovation in abrasive technology will now provide a faster cut rate and longer functional life for body shop technicians.
The 3M™ Cubitron™ II Clean Sanding Hookit™ Disc is a revolutionary advancement in automotive abrasive technology. It features 3M Precision-Shaped Grain Technology that provides faster cutting for paint removal, the early sanding stage in small or large area body repairs, body filler rough shaping and feather edging and lasts long and delivers a finer, more uniform finish.
The 3M Cubitron II Clean Sanding Hookit Disc has a cut rate that is as much as 30 percent faster and lasts twice as long as conventional ceramic premium abrasives. This is possible because the discs incorporate triangular-shaped ceramic grain technology that continuously fractures to form sharp points and edges that slice through paint and filler. The technology allows the disc to run cooler, reducing degradation.
The Cubitron II discs are available in 80+ and 120+ grit for 3”, 5” and 6” sanders, and are designed to work with a vacuum system or used independently. The “+” after the grade indicates a shaped grain that delivers enhanced cut speed, life and finish versus a conventional grain.
For more information, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS, contact your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sales Representative or visit the website at www.3Mcollision.com/products/featured-products/cubitron-II.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs about 88,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
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