Recommended sander for weatherboard?

[ismith222]

I am preparing the outside of the house it is weatherboard and just asking what is the best sander for the job to make it easy and quick have been doing by hand and is hard work thanks 

[JDE]

Ismith22

Depending on how far gone the paint is a good scraper is the first thing. Then if rough we have used Josco Strip-it Wheels or 3MPaint and Rust Stripper Abrasive Discs in a drill, both available at Bunnings. You can get similar for an angle grinder (easier to control) They can be quite aggressive so dont push too hard. But for main part we have just used a random orbital sander. Used to use sanding discs in a drill in old days but found orbital sander easier on arms. JDE

[MitchellMc]

Hi @ismith222, 

It's great to see @JDE has been offering assistance.

Can I please start by verifying that you've made sure these weatherboards do not contain asbestos? Depending on the age of the house, it was quite common for weatherboards to be made from it. If there is a possibility that they might, you certainly don't want to be sanding them. You'll find some helpful information in this guide: Asbestos for households and the general public. You'll also find this factsheet useful.

If this is a large area, you might like to use a 1 / 3 sheet sander and a detail sander to get right up close to where the boards overlap. @JDE's suggestion of a random orbital sander is also likely a good option that could do both jobs for you.

Mitchell