Milwaukee M18 2648-20 Operator's Manual
Cat. No. / No de cat.
2648-20
M18™ RANDOM ORBIT SANDER
PONCEUSE À MOUVEMENTS ORBITAUX ASYNCHRONES M18™
LIJADORAS DE ÓRBITA ALEATORIA M18™
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
MANUEL de L'UTILISATEUR
MANUAL del OPERADOR
WARNING To reduce the risk of injury, user must read and understand operator's manual.
AVERTISSEMENT An de réduire le risque de blessures, l'utilisateur doit lire et bien
comprendre le manuel.
ADVERTENCIA Para reducir el riesgo de lesiones, el usuario debe leer y entender el manual.
2
GENERAL POWER TOOL
SAFETY WARNINGS
WARNING
Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specica-
tions provided with this power tool. Failure to
follow all instructions listed below may result in
electric shock, re and/or serious injury. Save all
warnings and instructions for future reference.
The term "power tool" in the warnings refers to your
mains-operated (corded) power tool or battery-oper-
ated (cordless) power tool.
WORK AREA SAFETY
• Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or
dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmo-
spheres, such as in the presence of ammable
liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
• Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose
control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
• Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never
modify the plug in any way. Do not use any
adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power
tools. Unmodied plugs and matching outlets will
reduce risk of electric shock.
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded
surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and
refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the
risk of electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for
carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool.
Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or
moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase
the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outdoors, use an
extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of
a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of
electric shock.
• If operating a power tool in a damp location is
unavoidable, use a ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) protected supply. Use of an GFCI reduces
the risk of electric shock.
PERSONAL SAFETY
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a power tool. Do
not use a power tool while you are tired or under
the inuence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A
moment of inattention while operating power tools
may result in serious personal injury.
• Use personal protective equipment. Always
wear eye protection. Protective equipment such
as a dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat or
hearing protection used for appropriate conditions
will reduce personal injuries.
• Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch
is in the o-position before connecting to power
source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying
the tool. Carrying power tools with your nger on
the switch or energizing power tools that have the
switch on invites accidents.
• Remove any adjusting key or wrench before
turning the power tool on. A wrench or a key left
attached to a rotating part of the power tool may
result in personal injury.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times. This enables better control
of the power tool in unexpected situations.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. Keep your hair and clothing away from
moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry or long hair
can be caught in moving parts.
• If devices are provided for the connection of
dust extraction and collection facilities, ensure
these are connected and properly used. Use of
dust collection can reduce dust-related hazards.
• Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use
of tools allow you to become complacent and
ignore tool safety principles. A careless action can
cause severe injury within a fraction of a second.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
• Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power
tool for your application. The correct power tool
will do the job better and safer at the rate for which
it was designed.
• Do not use the power tool if the switch does not
turn it on and o. Any power tool that cannot be
controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be
repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source and/
or remove the battery pack, if detachable, from
the power tool before making any adjustments,
changing accessories, or storing power tools.
Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of
starting the power tool accidentally.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children
and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the
power tool or these instructions to operate the
power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands
of untrained users.
• Maintain power tools and accessories. Check
for misalignment or binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts and any other condition that
may aect the power tool’s operation. If damaged,
have the power tool repaired before use. Many
accidents are caused by poorly maintained power
tools.
• Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly
maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges
are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits
etc. in accordance with these instructions,
taking into account the working conditions and
the work to be performed. Use of the power tool
for operations dierent from those intended could
result in a hazardous situation.
• Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean
and free from oil and grease. Slippery handles and
grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and
control of the tool in unexpected situations.
BATTERY TOOL USE AND CARE
• Recharge only with the charger specied by the
manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type
of battery pack may create a risk of re when used
with another battery pack.
• Use power tools only with specically designated
battery packs. Use of any other battery packs may
create a risk of injury and re.
3
• When battery pack is not in use, keep it away
from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins,
keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects,
that can make a connection from one terminal
to another. Shorting the battery terminals together
may cause burns or a re.
• Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected
from the battery; avoid contact. If contact accidentally occurs, flush with water. If liquid
contacts eyes, additionally seek medical help.
Liquid ejected from the battery may cause irritation
or burns.
• Do not use a battery pack or tool that is damaged or modied. Damaged or modied batteries
may exhibit unpredictable behavior resulting in re,
explosion or risk of injury.
• Do not expose a battery pack or tool to re or
excessive temperature. Exposure to re or temperature above 265°F (130°C) may cause explosion.
• Follow all charging instructions and do not charge
the battery pack or tool outside the temperature
range specied in the instructions. Charging
improperly or at temperatures outside the specied
range may damage the battery and increase the risk
of re.
SERVICE
• Have your power tool serviced by a qualied
repair person using only identical replacement
parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power
tool is maintained.
• Never service damaged battery packs. Service
of battery packs should only be performed by the
manufacturer or authorized service providers.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES
FOR SANDERS
• Collected sanding dust from sanding surface coatings
such as polyurethanes, linseed oil, etc. can self-ignite
in the sander dust box or elsewhere and cause re. To
reduce the risk of re always empty the dust box frequently
(10-15 minutes) while sanding and never store or leave a
sander without totally emptying its dust box. Also follow
the recommendations of the coatings manufacturers.
• Maintain labels and nameplates. These carry important
information. If unreadable or missing, contact a MILWAU
-
KEE service facility for a free replacement.
•
WARNING
Some dust created by power sanding,
sawing, grinding, drilling, and other
construction activities contains chemicals known to cause
cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some
examples of these chemicals are:
• lead from lead-based paint
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry
products, and
• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on
how often yo
u do this type of work. To reduce your
exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated
area, and work with approved safety equipment, such
as those dust masks that are specially designed to
lter out microscopic particles.
SYMBOLOGY
Volts
Direct Current
OPM
Orbits per Minute (OPM)
C
US
UL Listing for Canada and U.S.
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
1. On/O switch
2. Hand grip
3. Variable speed dial
4. Dust box
1
2
4
3
5. Air vents
6. Backing pad
7. Extender
5
6
7
SPECIFICATIONS
Cat. No. ..................................................... 2648-20
Volts.............................................................. 18 DC
Orbits Per Min.................................... 7,000-12,000
Paper Size .................................................... 5" dia.
Battery Type ................................................. M18™
Charger Type................................................M18™
Recommended Ambient
Operating Temperature ......................0°F to 125°F
4
Attaching Hook-and-Loop Sanding Discs
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Align holes in hook-and-loop type sanding disc
with holes in pad, then carefully press fuzzy side
of sanding disc against pad as tightly as possible.
NOTE: Hook-and-loop type sanding discs can
be reused for the life of the sanding abrasive. It
is recommended that you keep the sanding disc
backing pad clean to provide for best adhesion.
Clean occasionally by brushing lightly with a small
brush.
Changing the Backing Pad
The sander comes assembled
with the hook-and-loop pad.
To attach a pressure sensitive
adhesive (PSA) pad (not in-
cluded), rst remove the hookand-loop pad. Inspect backing
pad before installing. Do not
use if broken or defective.
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Remove the four screws
that hold the hook-and-loop
pad in place.
3. Remove the hook-and-loop
pad.
4. Clean dust particles from the
pad brake.
5. Apply a thin layer of light-
weight grease to the back
of the pad.
6. Align the holes in the pres-
sure sensitive adhesive
(PSA) pad with the four
screw holes in the sander.
7. Replace the four screws
securely.
Attaching PSA Sanding Discs
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Carefully peel paper backing from the pressure
sensitive adhesive type sanding disc.
3. Align holes in sanding disc with holes in backing
pad, then carefully press sticky side of disc against
pad as tightly as possible.
NOTE: Holes in sanding disc must line up with
holes in the backing pad in order for the dustless
feature of the sander to function properly.
NOTE: It is recommended that you clean backing
pad occasionally by brushing lightly with a small
brush. Dust buildup on backing pad could cause
sanding disc not to stick properly.
ASSEMBLY
WARNING
Recharge only with the charger
specied for the battery. For specic charging instructions, read the operator’s
manual supplied with your charger and battery.
Removing/Inserting the Battery
To remove the battery, push in the release buttons
and pull the battery pack away from the tool.
WARNING
Always remove battery pack before
changing or removing accessories.
To insert the battery, slide the pack into the body
of the tool. Make sure it latches securely into place.
WARNING
Only use accessories specically
recommended for this tool. Others
may be hazardous.
Selecting Sandpaper and Grits
Sandpaper can be made from various grit materials
and these should be selected according the material
to be sanded. The guidelines below list materials and
grit materials that should be used with them.
• Fine woodwork – garnet or aluminum oxide
• Rough woodwork – aluminum zirconia or ceramic
aluminum oxide
• Manufactured wood products (particleboard,
medium density ber board, etc.) – silicon carbide
or aluminum oxide
• Solid surface materials (Corian
®
, quartz, granite,
etc.) – silicon carbide or aluminum oxide
• Metals – emery or aluminum oxide
Sandpaper is also graded by coarseness. Start your
work with an abrasive grit just coarse enough to remove high spots and excessive roughness. Follow
with a second sanding using a grit one or two grades
ner. Continue with successively ner grits until you
obtain the desired nish.
Do not switch from a coarse grit to a very ne grit in
one step because it may be dicult to remove the
marks made by the coarse grit abrasive. Use the
nest grits practical for the roughing operation, and
nish by using successively ner grits.
Grit Type Typical Application
60
80
Course
Ideal for initial sanding on
rougher surfaces. For fast stock
removal. Rough sanding and
stripping of painted and rusted
surfaces.
100
120
Medium
For intermediate sanding and
removal of minor surface imper-
fections.
150
180
220
Fine
Ideal for ne sanding prior to
straining, priming, or sealing.
5
Remove PSA Sanding Disc Before Storage
Do not store the sander with the sanding disc in-
stalled. Heat generated from sanding causes the
pressure sensitive adhesive to ow and form a tight
bond between the backing pad and sanding disc.
Removing the sanding disc soon after you have n-
ished a sanding operation avoids letting the adhesive
set up. If the sanding disc is left on the backing pad
for an extended period of time after use, the adhesive
will set up and cause the sanding disc to become
dicult to remove.
It may also tear when removing. When this situation
occurs, it becomes dicult to clean the backing pad
for the next sanding disc.
NOTE: If you forget to remove the sanding disc after
a sanding operation, sand for a few minutes to soften
the adhesive backing before attempting to remove
sanding disc.
WARNING
Collected sanding dust from sand-
ing surface coatings such as
polyurethanes, linseed oil, etc. can self-ignite in
the sander dust box or elsewhere and cause re.
To reduce the risk of re always empty the dust
box frequently (10-15 minutes) while sanding and
never store or leave a sander without totally
emptying its dust box. Also follow the recommendations of the coatings manufacturers.
Dust Box with Filter
The dust box provides a dust collection and air ltration system for the sander. Sanding dust is drawn up
through the holes of the sanding pad and collected
in the dust box during sanding. To use the dust box:
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. To insert, slide the dust box chute into the sander's
dust port. Ensure the dust box vents are facing
up and push sander and dust box together rmly.
Use the extender when using larger M18™ battery
packs
3. To remove, grasp the sander and dust box rmly
and pull apart.
4. To empty, using the tabs, pull o the dust box lid.
Empty dust from the dust box and tap lter clean.
Do not clean lter with water or compressed air.
Replace lter when necessary (Cat. No. 43-31-
0105). Reinstall the lid and ensure it snaps into
place.
For more ecient operation, empty the dust box
when it is no more than half full. This will permit air
to ow through the box better. Always empty and
clean the dust box thoroughly upon completion of
a sanding operation and before storing the sander.
Universal Hose Adapter
Use the universal hose adapter to attach the sander
to a vacuum hose.
1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Remove the dust box from the sander.
3. To insert, slide the adapter into the sander's dust
port. Push sander and adapter together rmly.
Connect the vacuum hose to the adapter, twisting
together to secure.
NOTE: For extra length, use the extender.
4. To remove, disconnect the vacuum hose from the
adapter. Then, grasp the sander and adapter rmly
and pull apart.
WARNING
When sander is not connected to
vacuum, always reinstall dust box
assembly back onto sander. Failure to do so
could cause sanding dust or foreign objects to
be thrown into your face or eyes which could
result in possible serious injury.
6
OPERATION
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, always
remove battery pack before chang-
ing or removing accessories or making adjust-
ments. Only use accessories specically recommended for this tool. Others may be hazardous.
To reduce the risk of injury, always wear safety
goggles or glasses with side shields.
Starting and Stopping the Tool
To start the sander, press the ON (I) button.
To stop sander, press the OFF (O) button.
Speed Dial
The speed dial allows the sander to operate at variable
speeds - from low speed (1) to high speed (6).
1. To increase sanding disc speed, turn the dial to a
higher setting.
2. To decrease sanding disc speed, turn the dial to a
lower setting.
WARNING
Finish sanding can produce clouds
of ne dust that could ignite in the
presence of sparks or open ame. Always wear a
suitable dust mask or respirator and use your
sander in a well-ventilated area.
To reduce the risk of injury, inspect for and remove
all raised nails and fasteners from workpiece
before sanding. Striking a fastener while sanding
could cause loss of control.
General Sanding with Random Orbit Sanders
When using random orbit sanders there are a few
things to keep in mind:
• Unlike most sanders, random orbit sanders should
be placed on the workpiece BEFORE the tool is
started. If the sander is started before it is placed on
the workpiece, the free oating pad may be spinning
at a speed that can cause scratches when it is nally
placed on workpiece.
• Unlike most sanders, random orbit sanders can be
moved across the workpiece in any direction (in the
case of wood, regardless of the direction of the grain).
• Varying pressure applied to the sander will aect its
rotating speed. A light pressure is recommended for
ne work, moderate pressure for rough work. Excessive pressure does not allow the pad to rotate enough.
• Keep sanding pad at on the workpiece. Tipping the
sander or using the edges of the pad may produce
an uneven nish, and reduce pad life.
• Keep sander moving in broad even strokes across the
workpiece. Sanding in one spot too long can cause
gouging and uneven results.
• Check the workpiece frequently, random orbit sanders
work more aggressively than simple orbital sanders.
WARNING
Properly secure workpiece before
sanding. Unsecured work could be
thrown towards the operator causing injury.
Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry when op-
erating sander. They could get caught in moving
parts causing serious injury. Keep head away from
sander and sanding area. Hair could be drawn into
sander causing serious injury.
1. Place sander on the workpiece and turn on the
sander.
2. Keep the sanding disc at against the workpiece,
keep the sander moving across the workpiece, and
use long, sweeping strokes.
3. Begin sanding with a coarse grit sandpaper and
gradually use ner and ner grits of sandpaper until
the desired nish is reached. For example when
using the sander on wood, begin with an 80 grit
followed by a 120 grit, then a 180 grit and so on.
Removing Paint or Varnish
1. When removing several layers of paint or varnish,
remove as much as possible with a paint solvent or
varnish remover.
2. Scrape away the residue with a putty knife or other
scraping tool and allow the surface to cool and dry
before applying sander to the workpiece.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of re and explosion, paint solvents and varnish
removers must be removed from the workpiece
and the workpiece must be completely dry before
sanding.
3. Select a coarse grit sandpaper disc to help prevent
the sandpaper from clogging.
4. Keep the sander moving over new areas to avoid heat
-
ing and softening the old coating (paint or varnish).
5. Work in wide, overlapping strokes to produce a
uniform nish.
6. As the workpiece begins to show through the old
coating, switch to a medium grit sandpaper disc
to avoid scratching the surface of the workpiece.
Gradually switch to a ne grit sandpaper until you
achieve the desired nish.
MAINTENANCE
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, always
unplug the charger and remove the
battery pack from the charger or tool before performing any maintenance. Never disassemble the
tool, battery pack or charger. Contact a MILWAUKEE
service facility for ALL repairs.
Maintaining Tool
Keep your tool, battery pack and charger in good
repair by adopting a regular maintenance program.
Inspect your tool for issues such as undue noise,
misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of
parts, or any other condition that may aect the tool
operation. Return the tool, battery pack, and charger
to a MILWAUKEE service facility for repair. After six
months to one year, depending on use, return the tool,
battery pack and charger to a MILWAUKEE service
facility for inspection.
If the tool does not start or operate at full power with a
fully charged battery pack, clean the contacts on the
battery pack. If the tool still does not work properly,
return the tool, charger and battery pack, to a MIL
-
WAUKEE service facility for repairs.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of personal injury and damage, never immerse
your tool, battery pack or charger in liquid or allow
a liquid to ow inside them.
Cleaning
Clean dust and debris from vents. Keep handles clean,
dry and free of oil or grease. Use only mild soap and
a damp cloth to clean, since certain cleaning agents
and solvents are harmful to plastics and other insulated
parts. Some of these include gasoline, turpentine,
lacquer thinner, paint thinner, chlorinated cleaning
solvents, ammonia and household detergents contain
-
ing ammonia. Never use ammable or combustible
solvents around tools.
Repairs
For repairs, return the tool, battery pack and charger
to the nearest service center.
Loading...