December 2012/January 2013 - Low Resolution - PAWPRINT ...

SANDING & FINISHING
Mirka’s dust free net sanding system
The Mirka CEROS sander uses revolutionary
Abranet abrasives, and connects to a vacuum,
extracting about 95% of the dust from source.
Wayne de Wet.
By introducing a ‘D’ type handle, Mirka’s Handy
sanding block gives the tradesperson more control.
You can vary the pressure as needed, and
still have a good hold of the tool.
INVESTING in top-quality equipment is the key to any business’s success.
It not only saves time, it also quickly pays for itself.
Multiple award-winning painter and decorator, Wayne de Wet, is resolutely
in favour of high-end working equipment. He was first introduced
to Mirka’s dust-free net sanding system at a trade show in London, in
2006. Since then, he has used Mirka products daily in a multitude of sanding
jobs — with no looking back.
Wayne de Wet is well known not only in his sector, he is also an active
writer in various media, tests new equipment and helps fellow industry
professionals choose high-quality equipment. His strive for perfection as
a painter and decorator has also helped him win various prizes: in 2011
he was awarded Grand Winner Dulux Select Decorator.
“Converting to Mirka’s sanding system has not only made my job easier
and more enjoyable, it also creates the perfect base for any painting
work. If you ask any decorator around the world what is the worst part of
decorating, it is usually the preparation stage — that is the filling, sanding
and the cleaning part of the project, but with the dust-free sanding
system even preparation work is a pleasure. I often look at myself and
think I must be made as I actually enjoy sanding now,” de Wet laughs.
Wayne is a specialist in hand-painted kitchens and furniture as well as
demanding home decorating projects. In order to meet high quality standards
he uses Mirka’s CEROS sander and dust extraction machine combined
with Mirka’s Abranet abrasives. He is also a big fan of Mirka’s Handy
and other sanding blocks.
“I have used the CEROS sander for many years and the Handy since it
has been available — to say I like them is an understatement! CEROS and
Handy can be used for a multitude of sanding jobs and it really does make
it much easier, saving time and so I have earned my investment back
many times over,” says Wayne. “The system is so light and very easy to use. I use mine mostly
for ceilings and walls and large flat areas, flush doors and skirting: it copes very easily with two
pack filler, powder filler and much, much more. Recently I used the CEROS on a really heavy
orange peel painted ceiling: the results were amazing and it was so easy to do.”
Using Mirka’s dust-free net sanding system gives a number of clear advantages over traditional
sanding tools, Wayne reports.
“For instance, if you are involved in the redecoration of of a house, the aggressive side to
traditional sand paper can make your fingertips sometimes sore and bleed; or you might
want to sand down a specific part of a job, but because of the traditional abrasives where dust
is not extracted you may over sand,
causing damage to the surface.
“Even fat edges, caused by paint
rolling round an edge and building
up around a corner, can be handled
easily with Mirka’s Abranet system,”
Wayne continues.
“With traditional sand paper you
can try to rub this fat edge out, but
you might end up rubbing the
paint off all the way down the
edge. With Abranet, you could pinpoint
the areas that need to be
sanded. The Abranet also cuts
through dry paint runs and drips
easily, making it less laborious and
time-consuming to get a good
base for painting.”
As a sole trader, Wayne admits
that it is even more important for
him to invest in just the right tools,
products and equipment. “By investing
in top-quality, highly effective systems you will save time and if you save time, you
will make more profit,” he says.
“Before I found the Mirka system, at the end of the day I would look like Father Christmas
covered in dust. Now I’m not covered in dust — I might have a miniscule amount on me, but
I’m not breathing it in, nor is it spreading uncontrollably in my customers’ homes. Therefore,
cleaning up at the end of the day is also a massively easier job to do,” Wayne concludes.
Mirka (UK) Ltd
Tel 01908 375533 ● sales.uk@mirka.com ● www.mirka.com
Page 12 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013