Best Electric Sanders

What Features to Compare

To choose the right sander, think first about what you’re going to use the tool for. Depending on the task, you’ll need to use the sander of the right Type — an orbital sander, a random orbit sander, a disc sander, a belt sander, a detail sander, you can also choose between a hand sander and a stationary sander machine, a power sander and a simple manual one — the variety of types and applications is immense! Each sander is primarily designed for specific tasks. For example, orbital sander tools are perfect for the finish sanding of large flat surfaces. If you’re seeking for a hardwood floor sander, a wall sander (or maybe both) that will provide you with a neat smooth finish, pay attention to this type of sanders. A belt sander is great for quick rough sanding, the high speed of the belt makes it easy to quickly remove a coat, smoothen or curve the workpiece, remove old paint or rust. However, due to the high speed, there might be chips and scratches on the treated material, which requires further sanding with a more delicate sander polisher. A random orbit sander is a universal sanding tool, it easily copes with the finishing sanding, and if necessary you can use a coarse abrasive to remove old coating or paint, remove bumps or round out the edges. The only thing this sander cannot handle is inner corners where its round sole pad won’t get. A detail sander tool does excellent job finishing corners and other hard-to-reach places. The design of the sole makes it easy to handle furniture and complex shapes. Stationary desktop sanders are well-suited for the treatment and precise shaping of small wooden, metal, plastic, ceramic or composite details. If you’re into professional sanding, make sure to have all the types of sander tools at your disposal.

The Performance of a sander determines the time you spend on sanding and the amount of work. There are several factors affecting the performance. The power and the motion speed of the abrasive surface are common parameters for all the sander types. The power determines the efficiency of the sander motor and the load it can withstand. The time spent on sanding and the quality of sanding. The higher the speed, the faster the sanding, yet the quality decreases. Low sanding speed provides for better quality, but it takes more time to complete the sanding. The speed of a belt sander is usually measured in surface feet per minute (SFM), the operating speed of other sanders is usually measured in orbits per minute (OPM). Another parameter important for any detail, orbital or random orbital sander is the orbit diameter of its pad circular movement. The smaller the sander orbit diameter, the smaller the treated area, but the better the sanding. The adjustable speed will allow picking the optimal parameters for different materials. The size of the sander working surface determines the sanding speed, but the small size will allow you to handle fine details more easily.

Comfortable use of the sander increases productivity and reduces fatigue. That’s why the Convenience of the tool is a very important parameter when choosing the right sander. Be sure to consider the type of the abrasive material and the way it’s attached to the sander. Although most sander tools use specific abrasives with adhesive backing, a number of sanders allow using universal sandpaper fastened with clamps. Make sure that the sander you choose has a dust collector and that you can attach to a vacuum tool. The rubberized grip lets you keep a firm hold on the sander during operation. Extra accessories can facilitate sanding, while a carrying bag or a case will provide convenient transportation or storage of the sander and accessories.