Comments on: SurfPrep Sander Alternative https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/ Painted Furniture, Home Decor and More! Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: A Ray of Sunlight https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-70108 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-70108 In reply to Jen.

No, we just use the typical filter that it comes with and we just replace them every now and then if we need to. But it’s nothing special.

]]> By: Jen https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-63483 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-63483 Do you use a special filter in your Shop-Vac?

]]> By: Natalie https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-50292 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-50292 I use a variety depending on what I’m sanding. So I use coarse somteimes, but mostly medium, muedium plus, fine and very fine. You cuould probably get away with just medium and fine if you wanted. For scuff sanding, I use Medium or medium+.

]]> By: Natalie https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-47766 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-47766 In reply to Kristi Johnson.

I would use the same triangle shaped foam pads that I shared in this post that even the ONE= version of the sander.

]]> By: Kristi Johnson https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-47450 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-47450 I have the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Corner Cat Finish sander. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a dust extractor tube. But which of the foam pads/sanding sheets would you recommend for this sander? Surf Prep Sander is out of my budget!

]]> By: Julie C https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-47381 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-47381 So glad I stumbled upon your blog! Just bought some for my sander in hopes of helping me with my 100+ year old doors i have been struggling to refinish all the intricate parts.

]]> By: Natalie https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-46745 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-46745 In reply to Lauren.

If you flip furniture all the time, yes a surfprep is worth it. The Ryobi doesn’t sand as well and it isn’t as easy to use (the rectangle shape of the surfprep is much easier to sand furniture with instead of the triangle.)

If you can’t afford the surfprep, by all means, get the ryobi to get you through until you can get a surfprep.

]]> By: Lauren https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-46662 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-46662 For a person that flips furniture regularly would the investment in the surf prep make more sense or would you recommend trying the Ryobi and seeing how long that will last for before purchasing surfprep. Is the finish the same with the ryobi?

]]> By: Natalie https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-42439 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-42439 Great question! No, the holes don’t match up exactly. You can for sure get 1 or 2 of the holes to match up.
Yes the setup still works, but the dust collection will not be optimal because the holes don’t line up.
I honestly haven’t ever tried different sandpaper for the corner cat sander, so I don’t know for sure. I’m sorry!

]]> By: Natalie https://arayofsunlight.com/surfprep-sander-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-41929 https://arayofsunlight.com/?p=6614#comment-41929 Hey! To sand down an oak railing to the raw wood, you will need some coarse sanding sponges as well.
Best of luck!

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