The most silent disk sander

[Mike Y]

I'm looking for a small and not powerful disk sander. Feature-wise, it should have a tilting table.

Proxxon is a perfect match, but according to youtube videos, it's quite loud. (http://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-37060-Disc-Sander-125/dp/B002XZMJZ4/)

I have proxxon belt sander, and it's disgustingly loud. I use it very rarely due to that.

 

Is there some sander that is reasonably quiet? And small? I don't need lots of power to sand frames, for example. I can go with time and grits instead of pushing detail hard, loading the motor.

[rtropp]

I have not found the proxxon to be very loud. What is loud is the shop vac I have attached to it. In fact, I have turned off the shop vac and left the sander running without noticing it was still turned on, especially at slower speeds. If I am working at night, my wife, in another room, does not hear the sander if I run it without the vacuum.

 

Of course it may be different to your ears but Amazon does accept returns.

Richard

[tkay11]

I agree with Richard. My Proxxon sander runs very quiet without a vac. But I agree that noisiness is fairly subjective. Let me say I find the noise of the vacuum cleaner nearly unbearable.

 

Tony

[Mike Y]

Thanks for a feedback! Probably I just looking on a wrong youtubes. Will try proxxon.

[haplo 08]

Good choice, Mike! I have the same tool as shown in your link, and it works perfect and silent. (the small one)

What probably might cause some noise is a transmission of the sander´s little vibrations to the table where it stands on,

so the table might work as a resonator. To avoid this, put a rubber mat between Sander and Table.

 

Andreas

[Q A's Revenge]

We have one of these and it's really quite quiet.

 

http://www.aeg.co.uk/Products/Cleaning/Cylinder_Cleaners/UltraOne/AUO8840UK

[gjdale]

Hi Mike,

 

I have nothing against Proxxon tools - I believe they are good quality. However, I have the Jim Byrnes disc sander (along with most of his other products), and I can tell you without hesitation that you won't find a better, or quieter, machine anywhere. It is beautifully constructed and near silent in operation. Like all his tools, it is an absolute joy to use.

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

 Can't tell from the picture, but putting rubber discs on the bottom of the sander might insulate it from the table and reduce the noise if it's too loud?

 

Just noticed somebody else already suggested this.

Edited May 23, 2014 by Pops

[rtropp]

I have the Byrnes table saw and have to agree about the quality.  I would only buy their versions of the heavier tools such as the table saw or thickness sander. 

Prior to learning about Byrnes, I bought some Proxxon tools and have been pretty satisfied with them especially as a beginner to learn on. One reason I chose the Proxxon sander over others was for the built in variable speed. Being new to the hobby, I find myself often using slow speeds when sanding, especially with parts that require minimal removal.

 

That said, now that I have just a little more experience building ship models, if I lost my tools somehow, or won the lottery, I would replace any with the equivalent Byrnes tool. Between their solid construction, highly accurate accessories and their superb service, they are my tools of choice.

 

QA, I followed your link for the vacuum and it looks good. Sadly, I could not find available for U.S. buyers and have not found any other powerful but quiet vacuums available here.

 

 

Richard

Edited May 24, 2014 by rtropp

[Jay 1]

Mike, while the shipping to Sweden will be expensive give a Byrnes sander serious consideration: http://www.byrnesmodelmachines.com/discsander1.html

Jim's tools are well worth the investment! My hope is that he'll next come out with an oscillating sander....

 

Richard, look at Fein's dust collectors. They're quiet in comparison to shop vacuums (a Fein is about as loud as a regular house vac), they're powerful, come with HEPA options, and so on but they're also not cheap.... Really am happy with mine. Figuring out attachments to machines dust ports is tricky but do-able.

 

Cheers,

Jay

[Landlubber Mike]

I echo the Byrnes disc sander.  Used mine the first time the other day, and was really impressed.  It's built like a tank, and runs fairly quiet.

 

What is noisy is running a shop vac to the sander.  I have a Fein shop vac, and while it's on the quieter side, it's still fairly noisy when everything is running together.  That being said, it's not like I'm running power tools and the shop vac for hours on end at a time.

[Mike Y]

I also thought of buying Byrnes sander, but it is too big, and do not justify the cost (incl shipping plus custom taxes). If I ship something outside of EU - it is ridiculously expensive in the end. I don't need any precision or fine adjustments from disk sander - I just need it to be small and quiet, that is all.

 

Table saw is another story, and I will definitely buy Byrnes table saw. I need a precision from the saw, plus lots of tilting tables and adjustable angles. It is expensive, but justifies the cost.

[Landlubber Mike]

The sander is about 2/3 the size of the table saw or so.  Maybe think about modifying a rotary tool like a dremel or proxxon to serve as a sander if you don't need too much precision?

[Mike Y]

I already have dremel, and even a belt sander from proxxon

My main usecase for disk sander is to form some shape with a precise angle.

[Q A's Revenge]

QA, I followed your link for the vacuum and it looks good. Sadly, I could not find available for U.S. buyers and have not found any other powerful but quiet vacuums available here.

 Richard

That's a shame. We've had several vacuum cleaners over the years and it's certainly nice to have a quiet one for a change!

Did you try Miele?

[mtaylor]

Mike,

 

Since you have a dremel, you can make it into a disk sander.  Here's I use for small stuff...

 

I took a mandrel and recessed the center area a bit.  Then attached a felt pad to it.  I then rubber cemented a piece of sandpaper to the pad and shaped it.  When the paper wears out, I pull it off (sometimes with the assistance of a bit of acetone) and glue on a new piece.

 

It works pretty well, in my opinion.  I also use it for sanding decks and certain areas of the hull while fairing.

 

 

 

[Mike Y]

Thanks Mark! Yes, I also do it this way to send something flat

 

Anyway, decided to use a sanding block with sandpaper glued to it, for perfect 90deg angle that would be fine. And silent.

 

Thanks everybody for opinions!

[Mike Y]

Ok, sanding block is not precise enough, and takes a very long time to sand..

 

So bought Proxxon 125 disk sander:

http://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/27060.php

 

 

I am really happy with it, and it is very quiet on a low speed! Surprisingly. 

I literally used it while my wife and kid were sleeping in a next room. Wow!

 

So I think I answered my own question... It is the cheapest disk sander, and also extremely quiet (on a low speed, that is more then enough for gentle woodwork).

Edited November 28, 2014 by Mike Y

[homer]

I also have the Proxxon Disc Sander and don't find it to be loud. But, do make sure you have exhaust suction...especially if using in the house. I've since moved it to a work station in the garage for the dirty / dusty work. However, I build the ships in the house (dedicated room). Ron