Swapped to a DA sander from a file on a repair last Tuesday

I was working on a 2010 Ford Focus at my shop in Phoenix, fixing a dent on the rear quarter panel. Usually I break out the body file for metal shaping, but this time I tried a 6-inch DA sander with some 80-grit discs instead. Took me about 45 minutes longer than I figured, but the contour came out way smoother. No high spots or low dips like I get with the file sometimes. The key was keeping the sander flat and moving slow, not letting it dig in on the edges. Has anyone else switched tools mid job and seen better results? I'm thinking of ditching the file for most panel work now.

3 comments

3 Comments

hill.margaret15d ago

Isn’t it funny how swapping one tool shows you a whole new way of working fits everything?

nancyn6915d ago

Keep the DA flat and let the weight do the work, not your arm.

seth_shah9d ago

@hill.margaret yeah but I gotta push back a little here lol. The DA is good for blending and quick stock removal but a file gives you way more control for hitting tight contours on the quarter panel. I've been burned before by the DA rounding out a sharp line I was trying to keep sharp. Seems like it depends on if you're doing a full restoration or just a quick repair.