When it comes to sanding down your vehicle’s body, there are two different types of sanders that you can choose from.
The difference between the air vs electric sander is mainly in power and speed. Air-powered sanders have a faster speed than their cordless electric counterparts. Electric sanders tend to be more powerful, but they also require being plugged into an outlet so they don’t have as much mobility as their air-powered cousins!
In terms of mobility, cordless electric sanders are best but they come with less power while costing more than their corded and air-powered counterparts.
This blog post will go over some of the pros and cons of each type so that you can make a decision about which one is best for your needs!
Air Powered Sanders Require Air Compressor to Operate
While electric sanders are plug-and-play, air-powered sanders require an air compressor to power them. So, for an electric sander to run, you only need to have access to electricity. And if you are considering cordless machines with a fully charged battery, you don’t need to bother about electric outlets as well. You just pick the machine and start sanding.
But for an air sander to operate? An air compressor with enough power is needed.
Air Compressors Need Maintenance Frequently
While this might not seem like too big of a deal, there are other considerations to take into account. Air compressors need regular maintenance or they can break down suddenly and require emergency repair work.
While you may feel like getting an air sander for their less maintenance-hungry feature, their power source requires close attention.
Electric Sanders Require Same Maintenance
For electric sanders, you’ll want to stay on top of battery life as well as make sure potential points where the cord could be exposed are covered up in order to avoid power fluctuations.
And just like air compressors, if something is not working right with your electric sander then it will need an immediate fix which means potentially waiting for a technician out of hours because these machines cannot function without electricity (unless you have access to spare batteries). There’s nothing worse than getting halfway through a job only to find that your machine has broken down!
Electric Sanders are Easier to Use
Electric sanders are easy to use because they are plug-and-play type. They also have an adjustable speed so you can control how fast or slow it sands your project.
Air sanders are typically hard to be understood by an amateur user whereas a first-timer can easily control an electric machine. You need to use some easy-to-understand switch to control the speed whereas air sanders require you to understand air pressure and relevant staff.
Cordless Electric is Best For Mobility
The first thing you’ll notice about using a cordless electric sander is how mobile it makes the process.
Corded sanders require an electric socket and, in some cases, extension cords to plug them into different areas of your workspace. In contrast, cordless electric sanders can be used anywhere on the job site because they don’t need to use power from electrical outlets or extension cords. Plus there’s no risk for tripping over long wires!
If all you’re doing is changing panels around one at a time this may not be an issue but if you are installing new panels that involve moving back and forth across multiple vehicles then these benefits become vital.
Air-powered sanders have more limitations in terms of mobility due to the air hose and air compressor.
Air Powered Machines are Durable
Air sanders are more durable than electric sanders. Because air sanders don’t have a motor inside like an electric sander.
It has fewer machines inside to get damaged than an electric sander. Air-powered tools usually last longer and tend not to malfunction as often but that’s because they do their job without the use of a complicated electrical system or corded outlets, so you won’t need plugs or extension cords laying around your workstation either!
In addition, with an air-powered DA sander, you can expect fewer vibrations which cause less fatigue on the operator over long periods of usage – this lets you continue working at a fast pace without the need for breaks.
Air Sanders is Louder than Electric Sanders
Air-powered sanders use two machines, an air compressor, and a sander to do the job. So it is louder than an electric machine which runs on its own with electricity.
Furthermore, they require more maintenance because of these two machines as well as having a higher chance for disruption during work or not being able to be repaired easily if something goes wrong.
They also cannot work in small places such as tight corners where dust could cause problems later on down the line.
And finally, there are no cords involved that we need to worry about like with cordless electric sanders which can save time when going from one place to another within a project area; and still, get good results at doing your job without any disruptions during operation due to cord situations.
Air Sanders are Cheaper but Require More Money to Maintain
Air-powered sanders are cheaper than electric ones. They’re also lighter and require less energy to operate. The downside is that you need an air compressor with constant pressure, which takes a fair amount of effort on a regular basis.
Before you buy your next power sander for auto body work, consider the type of project it will be used in most often before making any final decisions about what’s best for you!
Electric Sanders are Less Powerful in the Same Price
Electric Sanders are less powerful in the same price range. But that gets it balanced, and sometimes beats the price of electric ones if you need to buy an air compressor with the sander.
For those who do not require heavy sanding jobs on cars, trucks, or other vehicles (ie: removing paint from panels), then an electric model may be just what they need as they lack one major disadvantage – noise. Electric sanders still have good power output so you can get most jobs done and enjoy some peace and quiet while doing them too!
Electric Sanders are Best For Dust Collection at Source
The large majority of modern electric sanders have a dust collector to keep the work area clean. They also come with safety features that will help prevent injury while you’re using them, like an automatic shut-off which stops the device from working when your fingers get too close to the drum and other guards around their motors so they don’t start up accidentally!
But you won’t see these features in air-powered machines often.
Air Sanders are Lighter in Weight
Air sanders are lightweight. They come with less machinery inside and hence, you’ll see them having almost half the weight of a similarly powered electric machine.
They’re also easier on the back, which can be a problem with electric models that weigh 20 pounds or more. The lighter weight of air-powered hand tools helps keep your arm from getting too tired while you work.
Electric Sanders are Great for DIY, Air for Professionals
Electric models are great for beginners because they require less maintenance than air-powered ones. This makes it far easier to just plug in and start working without any worries. So, if you are a DIY or a beginner in the profession, an electric model is the way to go.
On the other hand, air-powered machines can be unbelievably powerful and with enough airflow and good control, you can accomplish more tasks than an electric machine with these beasts. So, for a professional, air-powered machines are probably the best way to go.
Conclusion
As you can see, both electric and air sanders have their own advantages over one another.
However, it’s not always a cut-and-dried decision – depending on your purpose for the sander, either could be better than the other.
If you’re just looking to do some light DIY work around the house or in your garage, an electric sander might suit you best.
On the other hand, if you need something more powerful that will last long hours of intense use (i.e., working on cars), then an Air-powered sander would be more appropriate.
In any case, there’s no denying that these two power tools are great additions to any workshop!
