Stationary disc sanders are best used to:

• A. Square up or clean up the end grain
• B. Shape curved surfaces
• C. Remove large amounts of material quickly
• D. Finish without changing dimensions

Answer: (A)

Stationary disc sanders are especially good for trueing flat edges and cleaning up end grain. The flat, round sanding surface lets you press the end of a board against the disc and remove tiny burrs and fibers to produce a clean, square end. This is essential for joints and for pieces that need to align flush.

Shaping curved surfaces isn’t their strong suit because the disc’s flat face doesn’t follow curves well, which can leave flat spots. Removing large amounts of material quickly is also not their primary strength; other tools like belt sanders or planers handle heavy stock removal more efficiently. And while you can finish a surface with a disc sander, any sanding will shave a little material, so it isn’t focused on preserving exact final dimensions.