When SurfPrep Sanding reached out to me to try their 3×4 Electric Ray Sander, I squealed a bit inside. I’d heard a lot of buzz about the SurfPrep Sander, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. I’m probably the worst about purchasing new tools. Let’s say I work with crappy tools because… well, I work with crappy furniture. True story. I never give up on a piece of furniture or my tools for that fact. But this was the one tool I needed so badly, and I’m so happy to share with you my very first experience working with this sanding system.
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A big thanks to SurfPrep for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
SurfPrep Sanding System
My package arrived! And oh my goodness, it had my name all over it! It’s like Christmas in July!
3X4 Electric Ray Sander
Right away, I noticed how lightweight this sander was compared to my old orbital sander. It fits easily into my girly hands. Or shall I say my Grandma’s hands? Sanding furniture is hard work, and I looked forward to giving this sander a real workout. I was hoping for the best.
Before sanding a previously painted piece of wood furniture, you must strip away any existing paint. Stripping is my least favorite of any furniture makeover, but I was excited to see if the wood underneath all that paint was salvageable.
Less Vibration Than Most Sanders
After stripping away the paint with a chemical stripper, I was pleasantly surprised. But like a lot of furniture from this era, it had a wood veneer. If you have ever tried to sand wood veneer, you know how tricky it can be. The vibration alone from most sanders can cause the glue to break loose from the wood and possibly damage the surface. Then you gotta a hot mess on your hands of having to remove that veneer. Because of that, I usually repair the veneer. But how amazing is it when you can refinish and restore the wood veneer?
After a few passes with the 3X4 Electric Ray Sander, I was sold! Not only did it remove the leftover paint but also the superficial stains. The square design is also good for getting into those difficult corners where I would usually need additional tools. Bonus! The veneer was beautiful and undamaged from the gentle sanding.
One tool, one project! Where have you been, my sexy sanding machine?! Let me say… you don’t know what you don’t know. You gotta try new things, and I’m the worst about making do with the tools I have. Being able to hook the sander to my shop vac was also a huge bonus! No more sanding outdoors in 100-degree temperatures.
#makingsandingsexy
So, what do I think about the SurfPrep Sanding System? Impressive! This was a huge project, and I worked this sander HARD. I don’t baby my tools, and they work as hard as I do. It passed my test! And look at all that preserved wood veneer. If you ever had to remove damaged veneer, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It looks great, right? That’s what I’m talking about. Do you want to learn more about this Sanding System? CLICK HERE to get all the deets. Happy sanding!
Until the next project… xo, Do
Whoa! That’s one hefty price tag on that sander! I sure would love to have one though so I guess I better start scrimping and scraping every dime!😊 I haven’t done woodworking in a few years now, and I don’t do large pieces anymore either, although I still have a few personal pieces I still want done. I have health issues to thank for that but I still use a sander every now and then for smaller projects, so I don’t know at this stage if this would be the right investment for me.
Hi Shirley, Yes, this sander is a commercial grade, so if you do a lot of furniture ( like I do), it’s a great option. But there are other options out there that work for the occasional furniture flipper. So nice to hear from you. 🙂 xo
I pay as much as I need to for quality tools because I want them to last and work when I need them to, especially sanders. I also have several prepped and ready to go so I don’t need to waste time replacing paper as needed. I also know when a company is way overpriced for what its proper function is as this one is. There are several quality sanders that allow for interchanging sanding pads so you’re not stuck having to pay an arm and a leg for special sized ones that are useless for any other tool. You’re lucky you got one free.
Hi Rene, Thanks for your feedback.
As for getting it free, nothing is free. But I do love the quality and durability of this sander. Sure, there are others out there that will do the job, but it’s all in what you’re looking for in a sander and what it can do for you. This sander has outlasted any others I have owned. I am going on two plus years now with my SurfPrep Sanding System, and I am currently refinishing a knotty pine home interior of 3ooo square feet. So far, it’s holding up well, and I’m almost done. And I didn’t mention that I dropped it off of a 10-foot ladder, and it still works. 🙂