Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

...Could you post, or tell us where to find, the stroke lengths of various DA sander/polishers such as as the PC, G110, UDM, large and small air DAs and the Flex DA?...

Well, most of the machines list their stroke, orbit, or offset measurements.
The major players in the air-tool business generally offer their machines in 3/32", 3/16", and 5/16" diameter orbit.

Here's a list of some of the most popular 5" & 6" electric-powered machines.
"RO"=random orbital, "FRO"=forced rotation orbital, and a machine listed as both is switchable between the two.

1/8" stroke diameter
(RO) Griot's 10925 (original machine) - 1/8" stroke diameter (not verified and not likely that small)


7/32" stroke diameter
(RO/FRO) Makita BO6040


9/64" stroke diameter
(RO/FRO) Festool Rotex RO125 FEQ


3/16" stroke diameter
(RO) DeWalt DW443

(RO/FRO) Bosch 1250 DEVS (specs list 3/32" offset)
(RO/FRO) Festool Rotex RO150 FEQ


5/16" stroke diameter
(RO) Meguiar's G100
(RO) Meguiar's G110
(RO) Meguiar's G110v2
(RO) Porter Cable 7335
(RO) Porter Cable 7336
(RO) Porter Cable 7424
(RO) Porter Cable 7424XP
(RO) Griot's 10765 (new machine)

(FRO) Flex XC 3401 VRG

(RO/FRO) Festool Rotex RO125 FEQ
(RO/FRO) Festool Rotex RO150 FEQ


3/4" stroke diameter
(RO) Dynabrade 61374 (attachment for rotary buffer)
(RO/FRO) Dynabrade 61379/61384 (attachment for rotary buffer)

[ShinyChevy]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Thanks Kevin, great article as usual!

Could you post, or tell us where to find, the stroke lengths of various DA sander/polishers such as as the PC, G110, UDM, large and small air DAs and the Flex DA?

Thanks again!

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

I guess the hell has finally frozen over!! :-)

[sontakke]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

I guess the hell has finally frozen over!! :-)

[rapport25]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

On the way... happy reading.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Kevin you have mail.

Many Thanks Simon

On the way... happy reading.

[rapport25]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Also have in a PDF.

Easier to read but it's bout 3.6 megabytes, so e-mail me and I'll fire off a copy to you! iamwaxman@aol.com

Kevin you have mail.

Many Thanks Simon

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Also have in a PDF.

Easier to read but it's bout 3.6 megabytes, so e-mail me and I'll fire off a copy to you! iamwaxman@aol.com

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

I have it in PDF now, but as one PDF file it's about 3.6 megabytes. I broke it into individual pages, but still, some of them are 500k.
Don't think I can upload... but can e-mail. Thanks!

Time to covert to PDF and some light bed time reading. Great write up .

Happy to e-mail it if yo PM me.

[rapport25]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Time to covert to PDF and some light bed time reading. Great write up .

[the other pc]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

This is some pretty heady stuff Kevin! Not a light read, but great stuff for anyone interested in the dynamics of what's really going on when we put pad to paint.

It's going to take some time to digest and get through fully - probably multiple readings as well - but we did want to comment on all your hard work. Great, great information here and it is very much appreciated!

Yes, it's not the type of info designed to skim over... THANKS!!

Hey Kevin,

Simply outstanding!!! I am extremely impressed!!!!

Tim

I hold your opinion in high regard, and appreciate the kind words, Tim.

Fantastic work! I will have to read this a few times over the week. Thank you for posting such great work!

I hope you get a lot out of it- Thanks!

WOA! Great technical post! I love reading them! Somewhere in there I think is the cure for cancer!

Thanks for your enthusiasm!

Wow, this could take awhile to get through. Kevin, is there any way you could post this as a PDF so we could print it ouy and do a better read of it?

I have it in PDF now, but as one PDF file it's about 3.6 megabytes. I broke it into individual pages, but still, some of them are 500k.
Don't think I can upload... but can e-mail. Thanks!

Good info Kevin. As a woodworker one thing I have learned using a random orbital sander is that the smaller the stroke, the better the finish or less sanding marks. Maybe the sanding marks are not less they are just closer together so less noticeable. I learned in a wood finishing seminar that all finishes have scratches it is just that the smaller the scratches the shinier the finish. Again, great article.

Dave

Thanks, Dave. The general consensus is as you described.
But as discussed in the paper, the graphs and the reasoning point us towards a different conclusion.

Wow Kevin, great stuff!

I think there are a number of papers you could write and we would love to see them.

I can always count on you for a nice compliment, Bob. Appreciate it!

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Wow Kevin, great stuff!

I think there are a number of papers you could write and we would love to see them.

[dvtldav]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Good info Kevin. As a woodworker one thing I have learned using a random orbital sander is that the smaller the stroke, the better the finish or less sanding marks. Maybe the sanding marks are not less they are just closer together so less noticeable. I learned in a wood finishing seminar that all finishes have scratches it is just that the smaller the scratches the shinier the finish. Again, great article.

Dave

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Machine Stroke and How It Affects Sanding and Polishing Performance

Thank you!!!

BTW- I would hope you get a little more time to browse through it all. I just posted it and you are already DONE a' reading!!!

Hah, I am "working" so I only had time to skip through the main stuff. This one will need a free hour or two