Craftsman 172.11702 Operator's Manual page 20

OPERATION cont.
USING YOUR SANDER (See Fig. 8)
1. ALWAYS clamp and secure the workpiece to prevent it from moving under sander.
2. ALWAYS hold your sander in front and away from you, keeping it clear of the workpiece.
3. Start the sander and let the motor build to its maximum speed.
4. Gradually lower the sander onto the workpiece with a slight forward movement.
5. Move the sander slowly, guiding it in a forward and backward motion.
SANDING TIPS
1. DO NOT force the sander. The weight of the sander supplies adequate pressure on
the workpiece. Let the sander and the sandpaper's grit do the work.
• Applying additional pressure will only slow down the motor, wear the sandpaper
out faster and reduce the sander's orbital speed.
• Excessive pressure will overload the motor and cause possible damage to the
sander from the motor overheating.
• Excessive pressure will also result in a poor quality finish.
2. Any existing finish or resin on wood may soften from the heat of the friction and cause
the sandpaper to load-up faster.
3. Inspect sandpaper frequently and change paper when grit is worn and not able to
perform properly.
4. DO NOT sand in one spot for too long a time because the sander's rapid action may
remove too much material and make the surface uneven.
SELECTING THE RIGHT SANDPAPER
Selecting the correct grit and type of sandpaper is an extremely important decision that
will allow you to achieve the best quality sanding finish.
1. Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and other synthetic abrasives are best for power
sanding.
2. Natural abrasives such as flint and garnet are too soft for economical use in power
sanding.
3. Coarse grit will remove the most material and finer grit will give you the best finish in all
sanding operations.
4. The condition of the surface to be sanded will determine which grit will do the job.
5. If the surface is rough:
A. Start with a coarse grit and sand until the surface is uniform.
B. Then use medium to remove any scratches left by the coarse grit.
C. Then use a finer grit for finishing the surface.
20