Page 42 - Australaasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2022

Sanding & dust extraction tech tips
42
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022
GETTING THE MOST
lar lubrication like pneumatic tools. Anoth- er key point for some repairers is that going electric reduces the strain on the shop’s compressed air system.
DUST EXTRACTION – Efficiently removing dust from the work surface has many advantag- es but only if the extraction equipment is plugged in, switched on and working prop- erly. Ensure the dust collection bag is emp- tied regularly and the filter is cleaned.
ABRASIVES – Choosing cheap abrasives is false economy because, like most things, you get what you pay for. I would recom- mend a net-style abrasive, such as MIRKA Autonet, which was designed specifically for automotive work, or an advanced mul- ti-hole abrasive, such as MIRKA’s latest Iridium range. As well as having a long cutting lifespan, these technologies are exceptional at removing dust across the entire abrasive surface so they are virtu- ally clog free and allow the operator to easily see what is going on. This gives bet- ter control and greater speed which means these abrasives more than pay for them- selves in increased productivity.
KEEP IT CLEAN – No matter which abrasive technology you use, there is a smarter and cleaner alternative to blowing the dust off so it spreads across the workshop. The se- cret is to fit a 150mm grey Mirlon disc to the sander and use it to conveniently vacu- um off any remaining dust. Afterwards, wipe the surface with a water / methylated spirits solution (such as the premixed PPG SWX250 Water-Methylated Spirits Cleaner) and then wax and grease remover.
GUIDED SANDING – Whether in the panel shop or the paint shop, make sure to use guide-coat between sanding steps. It quickly shows where any low or high points are and helps
to avoid over sanding.
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE – Consider using sanding trol- leys, such as the MIRKA 5S Sanding Sta- tion. A good one has space for your vac- uum system and sanding tools, as well as abrasives and other consumables. Be- cause it can be easily wheeled to the job site, it keeps everything at the techni- cian’s fingertips, allowing them to work without interruptions.
FROM YOUR SANDING OPERATIONS
JOHN HRISTIAS – PPG BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGER ASIA SHARES HIS SANDING WISDOM AND EXPLAINS WHY TRYING TO SAND ON THE CHEAP IS AN EXPENSIVE MISTAKE.
THANKFULLY, THESE DAYS DRY SANDING
is pretty much universally recognised as by far the best option. However, some repairers fail to recognise the pitfalls of trying to do it on the cheap or without following best practice processes.
MOVING IN THE RIGHT ORBIT – It’s not one size fits all, anymore – each task needs a sand- er with a specific orbit. Panel work re- quires an orbit of 8mm or above, paint prep needs a 5mm orbit and, when doing fine polishing, you will need a 3mm orbit.
ELECTRIC TRUMPS PNEUMATIC – If you have not trialled an electric sander recent-
ly, I would recommend giving
it a try because the
technology has ad- vanced rapidly
tages over traditional pneumatic sanders. For example, over the past decade, MIRKA has introduced a range of power tools with powerful, brushless electric motors. Com- pared with pneumatic tools, MIRKA’s ad- vanced electric sanders produce high torque at low rpm so they are much more controllable and efficient which makes sanding tasks faster. MIRKA even has an electric tool for levelling body filler or high build primers – the DEOS (Direct Electric Orbital Sander). With its 70mm X 198mm sanding plate and 3mm orbit, it significant- ly reduces the time and energy for blocking tasks and leaves a smooth and consistent
scratch pattern. These MIRKA tools also create very little vibration, compared with pneumatic, which is a welcome relief when you
are sanding all day, and they don’t require regu-
and many
now has advan-
Electric sanders such as this MIRKA unit are cleaner, faster, more accurate and easier to use than old school pneumatic sanders.