What is drywall sanding?

Drywall sanding is a process of smoothing or polishing a wall surface manually (with sandpaper) or electronically (using power sanding equipment). 

Although, wall sanding is easy but it's important to know a few techniques to get a great result every time you sand your wall. We'll show you how to use different types of sanding equipment on our Paint Access website and the best ways to sand your wall properly using our state of the art power sanding equipment on the website.

What sets Paint Access apart?

Are you looking to invest in quality power sanding equipment? You'll find everything you need amongst our comprehensive collection which has been designed with easy user experience in mind, as smooth and seamless walls are essential components of any successful painting project.

Our collection consists of only premium tools and equipment handpicked by our experts and our competitive prices and fast shipping and delivery service throughout Australia makes us the perfect choice for all of your existing and upcoming professional and DIY paint projects.

Don't settle for anything less than perfection - choose Paint Access for all your wall sanding equipment needs today and experience the difference yourself.

Paint Access has an extensive range of wall sanding equipment from some of Australia's top brands, including the likes of GIRAFFE, iQuip, and Mirka.

Is it worth sanding your walls?

The key to a successful paint project is proper preparation. Before you start rolling on that new wall paint color, take the time to ensure your surfaces are clean and damage free. Begin by wiping down each surface with a soft sponge and water to remove any dirt or dust buildup. 

Let the wall surface dry adequately before smoothing rough spots with Paint Access’s iQuip’s Radius sandpaper 5 pk range. 

Finish it up by giving everything one last wipe down with a duster before getting started on painting!

 If you're wondering whether sanding walls before painting is necessary the answer is an unequivocal YES! 

Taking this step is crucial for ensuring proper adhesion of your new layer of paint. It’s also important to properly sand down all wooden trims, loops or holes that are going to be painted.  

 Once everything has been sanded down make sure the surfaces are polished so as to remove any dust and prevent dirt accumulation on the freshly painted zones. To prevent splatters on your skirting boards during painting, run masking tape along them before starting work.

For sharp lines around sockets and switches or other edges that require it, consider iQuip’s Radial Cushioned Pivoting Role Sander for a much cleaner finish overall.

What are the best Sanders for your walls?

The arduous task of manually sanding wall surfaces can leave you feeling drained while any momentary distraction could ruin your work with unsightly stroke marks on the surface. Achieving precision using a proper wall sanding equipment is no easy job either. 

But here’s where it gets tricky – choosing an appropriate power sanding tool matters a lot in ensuring hassle free results for painters across skill levels alike!

1 – Electric Drywall Sanders - Electric drywall sanders are a distinct type of sander featuring components such as extension poles and brushes, allowing you to quickly and easily smooth wall surfaces from afar.

2 – Random Orbital Sanders - Often referred to as drywall hand sanders, are a valuable tool for any craftsman in the painting industry. Not only can they be used on multiple surfaces, but their unique oscillating motion provides a uniform finish not achievable through traditional belt or electric orbital sanders.

3 – Dustless Drywall Sander - This specialised 3D shaped rectangular broom tool, designed with only one application in mind, optimising sanding on vertical surfaces while keeping even the most minute particles contained.

4 – Pole Sander - The drywall pole sander is an ideal tool for DIY enthusiasts and crafting. With a pivoting mechanism, users can easily switch up their angle of approach with just the flick of a wrist. 

According to painting experts, Disc sanders are a great choice for walls as they rotate at a high speed, providing powerful smoothing over large areas. It is advisable to start with a coarser sanding pad to tackle rougher spots before switching to a finer grit for a smooth finish.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of tools available on Paint Access’s website for easy  sandpapering method but with more efficiency and less physical strain involved- enter GIRAFFE Power Sander Electric with Carry Bag!

Engineered for precision and performance, the GIRAFFE Power Sander Electric with Carry Bag tool ensures a high-quality finish, featuring a swivel-mounted head that adapts to any angle surface and patented sanding pads which eliminate swirl marks, this amazing tool reaches even the highest of ceilings – up to 3m – without ladders or stilts. Boasting an optimal weight distribution and weighing only 3.8kg, you can work comfortably for hours – plus, the tremendous dust pickup eliminates dust on furniture and carpets for improved cleaning. 

All GIRAFFE Sanding equipment comes with 24 months warranty. 

Do professional painters sand wall before painting?

If you want to achieve a truly flawless finish when painting rooms in your home one thing professional painters never skip out on is sanding walls beforehand. Though there are many different benefits associated with this approach, ultimately it boils down to ensuring that every room looks perfect upon completion. 

Over time, walls in any given space inevitably develop all sorts of blemishes - from small dings and scratches to larger cracks or nail holes left over from pictures hung over the years. If these imperfections aren't addressed early on and sanded down properly before repainting them, they will always remain visible afterwards. 

To avoid this situation and make sure your painted walls look pristine we suggest using iQuip's Radial Cushioned Pivoting Sander to tackle large, flat surface areas. 

For another option, consider picking up the Mirka LEROS 950CV Wall Sander 225mm ORBIT 5.0 Including bag instead. If you want a wall and ceiling sander that's both innovative and easy to use, look no further than this top-of-the-line product. With its feather-light weight of only 5 kg, this brushless sander is designed for maximal comfort during usage. It also features several never-before-seen innovations in the industry: a sanding head with unparalleled flexibility (180°), plus both a 5 mm random orbital movement AND a 3 mm orbit diameter. 

We don't settle for mediocre wall sanding equipment - and neither should you. That’s why we're proud to also recommend the GIRAFFE Dustless Electric Sander Package + STARMIX Vacuum as one of the best options on the market. 

Here is what sets it apart:

- Soft start with overload protection

- Variable electronic speed control

- Optimal weight distribution for balance and control

- Backing pad with hook and loop face

- Solid drive shaft

- Quick release hose connector

- Two position sanding head One thing we love about this sander is how versatile it is. 

The articulating sanding head can be adjusted to every tilt and angle which means that no spot is too hard to reach. And thanks to the effective dust extraction system you won't have to worry about your abrasive getting clogged prematurely or breathing in unhealthy amounts of dust.

Safety rules for Sanding

• Safety glasses are mandatory. A dust mask is advisable for people with respiratory issues.
• Avoid loose clothing and tie your hair back properly.
• Avoid adjusting or setting your Sander while it’s turned ON.
• Sanding should be done under properly technical guidance.
• Proper sanding tools and equipment should be approved by the supervisor.
• Keep your fingers at the safe distance as sanding burn hurts!
• Avoid downward turning side of sanding disc. 
• Don’t sand material that is too small to be held or supported properly. 
• Stop immediately if machine malfunctions
• Avoid excessive pressure against sandpaper
• After work completion, clean sander and its area round it.

Common sanding mistakes

• Over sanding – A common mistake done by DIY painters is over sanding the drywall. Over sanding causes wear and tear, resulting in uneven finishing and potential wall damage.
• No balance joint compound application – Uneven joint compound application causes visible seams, cracks or bulging joints, at the same time compromising your walls appearance.
• No right tools usage – Using the wrong tool can cause a lot of problems during drywall finishing process.
• Wrong taping knife size – A proper size of taping knife is necessary for a smooth sanding process.
• Using damaged sanding tools and equipment – Using improper or damage sanding tools and equipment can result in uneven tone and drywall finishing.
• Calling in the professionals – Your inexperience with drywall sanding can lead to time wastage and money plus a whole lot of frustration. Save yourself the damage and hire a professional for your sanding and paint job.   

How to sand your wall properly?

• Choose a correct sandpaper - It's best to use a 120 after starting with a 60 or 80 grade. 
• Proper sanding equipment of choice - You can use a plain board with paper attached and sand by hand. Or you can use electric sanders, which reduce the work. 
• Electrical sander attachment requirement - Sandpaper for electrical sanders comes with Velcro backing so you can easily stick it to the sander.
• Proper sanding block usage - Wrap a piece of sandpaper around the block and sand in a circular motion.
• Circular sanding motion – The best sanding movement according to the experts is the circular movement. 
• Change damage sanding paper – Check for wear and tear signs, dust or paint clogging and change the sanding paper immediately as the paper will become ineffective. 

Should you wet sand your drywall?

A smoother surface and a much less debris mess are achieved by wet sanding drywall instead of dry sanding it. Because drywall typically covers a large space, wet sanding requires much more time commitment than dry sanding.

However, we at Paint Access advice that if you are really picky about your wall smoothness, we recommend that you go for wet sanding instead of dry sanding. 

Paint Access’s power sanding tools for Drywall

Wallboard Tools Power Vacuum 30 Litre 1400w Wallpro

An economical but sturdy heavy-duty dust extractor designed for use with the Wallpro Power Sander. 

Features include:

• Powerful 1400 watt motor
• Long lasting stainless steel drum
• Large 30 litre capacity
• Includes reusable cloth bag
• Includes accessories and floor tools kit

Wallboard Tools Wallpro Power Sander

A heavy-duty plasterboard sander designed with the user in mind. It is well balanced with comfortable grips, creating a virtually dust-free sanding environment when used with a dust extractor.

Features include

• Advanced soft start motor
• Includes 4m long vacuum hose
• Universal connection to industrial dust extractors
• 225mm diameter disc area
• Comfortable cushioned grip

Why choose power sanders over hand sanders?

Power sanders are crucial for getting the majority of job done quickly and efficiently as well as giving you a great finish. However, if you want to finish off little bits that you may have missed with your Power Sander, hand sanding works a treat, even on Drywall.

Why spend all day hand sanding when you could be doing something more enjoyable? Save time on home repair and improvement DIY projects with Paint Access’s range of power sanders - electric or battery powered tools built to abrade surfaces quickly and efficiently. From stripping paint or varnish to resurfacing, to prepping drywalls for finishing touches - whatever the job may be - having a power sander on hand is essential. 

How to protect yourself while sanding?

Very fine dust particles are generated during sanding which may not be easily noticeable but be harmful. More harmful than the visible fine particles.

However, finer particles have the ability to bypass common body filters and enter your lungs deeply. Shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and nasal congestion can be experienced when this happens. If sanded particles continue to be inhaled, it can cause more severe damage to your lungs and result in respiratory problems.

A dust or a respiratory mask should be worn at all times while sanding to protect yourself from inhaling dust particles that can become trapped in your airways and affect your health.

Though, it's difficult to predict how inhaling dust from sanding can affect your health, even though not all people are vulnerable to potential health problems. The development of respiratory problems and sensitivity could result from not protecting your airways while sanding.