Most useful power sander

[Torchy]

People (Tim?) say board sanding is good but if I was also to buy a power sander what would be the most useful for hull preparation?

Or do I go down the board sanding route?...and if so can someone (Tim?) post something on the finer points of board sanding - size/thickness of board, grades of abrasive, virtues of wet/dry.

Would a belt sander do a garage door well? (Trying to multi-task)

Random orbital is a phrase that sticks in my mind from previous threads...

As you can see I have led a sheltered life...sheltered from real work that is 

[Tim Noyce]

Random orbital is the best. Belt sander is too aggressive for little gain. Normal orbital is Ok, but go big and powerful if you do. For numb we used a combo of 40 and 60 grit on a deWalt random orbital and it still took ages. The first bite of the paperv is so much better than the following 5 minutes!  Also, use the vac. Less mess and keeps the paper working better,  longer.

The long board I used was about 3foot long and was a bit flexible. I only used it to fair what I had sanded by machine.

[Torchy]

Top man Noycie...will pick your brain at the Nats if you can make it.

[paul_croote]

Spot on Tim! We find Metabo random orbitals to be the best

Random orbital is the best. Belt sander is too aggressive for little gain. Normal orbital is Ok, but go big and powerful if you do. For numb we used a combo of 40 and 60 grit on a deWalt random orbital and it still took ages. The first bite of the paperv is so much better than the following 5 minutes!  Also, use the vac. Less mess and keeps the paper working better,  longer.

The long board I used was about 3foot long and was a bit flexible. I only used it to fair what I had sanded by machine.

[ade white]

A high quality of sandpaper also helps. There is a grey paper called production paper (I think?) that is very good and makes the job soo much easier.