National Detroit vs. Hutchins

[MARTINSR]

Brian
Have you used an AirVantage? I've never seen an orbital sander that worked as well. I think it's because of its low profile that makes it a lot easier to control and it keeps the pressure very evenly distributed on the face of the pad.

No I haven't but the dynabrade is so nice I never drifted.

Brian

[Len]

Other than the lower center of gravity why is the airvantage better IYO ?The airvantage/3m/mac/mirka sander is basically the same sander made in china.Not saying it isn't any good as I have 2 of them and they perform pretty good,but for a few bucks more you can get an american made dynabrade.I heard a rumour that an engineer from dynabrade left the company and started making the airvantage offshore,guess thats why it looks like a dyanbrade.

Are you sure that DB is made in the US? With a short amount of research it appears that they are made in India but like AirVantage they have offices in the US. But I only looked HERE.

[MARTINSR]

Are you sure that DB is made in the US? With a short amount of research it appears that they are made in India but like AirVantage they have offices in the US. But I only looked HERE.

The first page says "made in the USA"? http://www.dynabrade.com/dyn10/intro...ark/index.html Unless of course it's a shell game and the components are all made in India and just assembled here?


Brian

[Dennis N. Schmidt]

That isn't a rumor Jayson, it is a fact. The chief engineer of Dynabrade did design the AirVantage sander. I know this because I know him personally and visit with him at the SEMA show when he attends which he does with some frequency. I don't know the details of the rift between him and Dynabrade but it was not a friendly parting.

I like the AirVantage slightly better than the Dynabrade Supreme for two reasons. One is the lower center of gravity which I consider to be a big deal and the second is that all of my sanders are central vacuum sanders and on these models AirVantage uses a swivel connection to the vacuum hose which is better than the solid connection used by Dynabrade as the hose doesn't kink. Also, as I mentioned, the AirVantage requires and uses very little oil which considering you’re going to be painting the surface that it’s sanding is sort of a good thing from the fisheye point of view.

I've discussed the use of P3000 Trizact with the old school National Detroit or C-P sanders previously on this board. I found out from a 3M source at the SEMA show that this material likes large throw sanders and since it is used wet there is little concern for pigtailing from the big throw as there certainly is with finishing film. The big advantage of the large throw is in the speed of getting the job done. You are polishing 5X faster with the 3/8" throw of these machines over a 3/32" tool. That's the difference in the distance a point on the surface of the 3/8" tool moves in comparison to the distance the same point would move with a 3/32" machine. Getting done quicker is always good.

[Jayson M]

The shop I work at also has central vac and the swivel hose is a non issue in my opinion,my sanders have a smaller dedicated vacuum hose/airline on them that gets hooked into the main vacuum line.As far as oiling is concerned if your sanders are spewing oil when you use them you are putting in too much oil,a drop or two is all thats needed once or twice a week as long as you have good dry air.

I never noticed the lower center of gravity but I will go out to the garage and compare the dynabrade sander to the mirka(identical to airvantage) one I have just for kicks.

[MetRamos]

Well I ordered the dynabrade silversupreme, with the 3/16 throw. Gonna use it for some bondo/putty work, and sanding panels. Hopefully ill have more money soon to purchase a mud hog. I'll have to make it work for now tho. Thanks for the help you guys.