RIDGID EB44242 Operator's Manual page 18

OPERATION
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN SANDING
METALS
When sanding metals, sparks or hot fragments could cause
a fire. To reduce the risk of this:
 Disconnect any dust collecting hose from the sander.
 Remove all traces of wood dust from inside the unit before
sanding metals.
 Remove all traces of metal dust from inside the unit before
sanding wood again.
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN SANDING
PAINT
Sanding of lead-based paint is not recommended. It is
difficult to control the contaminated dust that could cause
lead poisoning.
It is also difficult to identify whether or not a paint contains
lead. Therefore, we recommend the following precautions
when sanding all paints:
 Protect your lungs. Wear a dust mask or respirator at all
times. Wear only dust masks that are suitable for work-
ing in lead paint sanding environments. Ordinary painting
masks do not offer this protection.
 Do not allow children or pregnant women to enter the work
area until paint sanding job is complete and work area is
clean.
 To prevent ingesting contaminated paint particles: Do not
eat, drink, or smoke in a work area where paint is being
sanded. After sanding paint, wash and clean up before
eating, drinking or smoking. Do not leave food, drinks, or
tobacco products in the work area where dust can settle
on them.
BASIC SANDING OPERATION
Sandpaper selection
Selecting the correct size diameter, correct size grit, and
correct type sandpaper is an extremely important step in
achieving a high quality sanded finish. Aluminum oxide,
silicon carbide, and other synthetic abrasives are best for
power sanding. Natural abrasives, such as flint and garnet,
are too soft for economical use in power sanding.
In general, coarse grit will remove the most material and finer
grit will produce the best finish in all sanding operations. The
condition of the surface to be sanded will determine which
grit will do the job. If the surface is rough, start with a coarse
grit and sand until the surface is uniform. Medium grit may
then be used to remove scratches left by the coarser grit and
finer grit used for finishing of the surface. Always continue
sanding with each grit until surface is uniform.
NOTE: Do not use sander without sandpaper. Doing so will
damage the rubber drum.
Select and install the desired sanding sleeve for the particu-
lar application. Sanding sleeves from 1/2 in. to 2 in. can be
used with this sander. Choose one that is close in size to
the workpiece you are sanding. Also install the appropriate
throat plate insert (page 16).
WARNING:
Failure to use the correct size throat plate insert
with its matching sanding sleeve could result in
fingers being pinched or the workpiece being
pulled down between the throat plate insert and
sanding sleeve.
NOTE: The correct size sanding belt is 4 in. x 24 in. These
belts are available in coarse, medium and fine grits.
SURFACE SANDING ON THE SANDING BELT
See Figure 18.
WARNING:
To reduce the risk of injury from slips, jams or
thrown pieces, adjust the work rest to clear the
sanding surface by no more than 1/16 of an inch.
When checking clearance between the sanding belt
and work rest, press the sanding belt flat against
the metal worktable beneath it.
 Hold the workpiece firmly with both hands, keeping fin-
gers away from the sanding belt.
 Keep the end butted against the work rest and move the
work evenly across the sanding belt. Use caution when
sanding very thin pieces.
 For sanding long pieces the work rest can be rotated out
of the way.
 Apply only enough pressure to allow the sanding belt to
remove material.
 Do not sand thin pieces that may become trapped be-
tween the belt and work rest.
SURFACE SANDING
18
Fig. 18