What term refers to the use of machines (DA sanders) to sand surfaces for a smoother finish?

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Machine sanding uses powered sanders, such as a dual-action (DA) sander, to abrade a surface and create a smoother finish. The DA sander combines rotation with an orbital motion, so the abrasive pad moves in multiple directions. This reduces the chance of gouging and produces a more uniform scratch pattern, which helps the surface become properly prepared for primer or paint. Buffing, polishing, and compounding come later to add gloss and remove the finest scratches, while other tools like eraser wheels are used for different tasks such as removing decals or coatings. So the term for sanding with machines to achieve a smoother surface is machine sanding.