I'm looking to try my hand at body work over the winter. I'd like to know if there is a significant performance difference between 5" and 6" DA sanders. Sears has a variety of 5" for $70.00 or less. The 6" I'm considering is a Porter-Cable for $110 at Lowes.

Also will an electric DA do the job? I've got a sears 5HP 25 gallon compressor, but it really needs to work to keep up with some of my tools. I'm thinking that an air DA would be too much for it.

Any additional words of advice are appreciated.


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Rick
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yeah stick with an electric one if thats all the air compressor you have http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif and I would choose the 6" for one simple fact.....5" paper has to come from the hardware store/possibly Wal-Mart etc. where as 6" paper you can pick up at any auto parts/autobody supply store and depending on what kind of pad (I can think of 3 off the top of my head - velcro, reverse velcro, or adhesive back paper) you have can get it fairly cheap

Peace

Rat

[This message has been edited by RatLuvr (edited 12-14-2002).]

Thanx RatLuver. I noticed that there was little choice of 6" sanding discs available at both sears & lowes. I'm gonna guess that 3M (or similar) sanding media is probably more effective for body work than generic store stuff.

3M is what we use at the shop I work for. It's good stuff, Carbendum (s?) makes decent paper, Mirka is not to bad for the money...you'll use more of the Mirka than 3M but I think in the long run the Mirka would still be cheaper

now if we are talking wet and dry sheets for hand sanding.....3M all the way http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Peace

Rat

Rick, spend the money for the porter cable, I have the same one your speaking of ive never used it as a sander, but its the best buffer ive ever used that wasn't rotary, i can steer you in a direction to get a pad kit for it with all the stuff you would ever need for a car. cheeper DA"s don't have the power to do what the PC can, I polished out my camino after color sanding with 1500 grit, which is unheard of from a DA.



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Tom
Owner of TRG Performance
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