An orbital sander is an indispensable power tool. You can use it to strip paint or sand the gloss off a painted surface and so that a new glaze sticks more readily to it. Plus information technology volition strip rust, make clean up flea market furniture, remove a splintered edge from a piece of woods, and take the burr off a piece of freshly cut metal. Of grade, one of the jobs information technology excels at is smoothing woods to set up information technology for a clear finish. Knowing how useful this tool is, we gathered a range of both cordless and corded orbital power sanders and tested them in an endeavor to assist you detect the right one. Read on for buying advice, our reviews of the best, and tips on using and maintaining your sander.
The Best Power Sanders
Know Your Sander
Most of our examination sanders are random-orbit types with a circular pad measuring five or 6 inches across. Random orbit means the pad spins and oscillates in, just that, a random orbital move. This reduces the chances of leaving swirl marks on the surface and allows you to motion the sander both with and across the grain. We as well tested an orbital sander with a square pad (also called a quarter-sheet sander). These tools sand with a consequent orbital motion and piece of work more slowly than random-orbit types. Merely the square pad allows them to sand into corners.
Another difference between these is that the random-orbit variety take sandpaper discs that adhere to their bases with hooks and loops. Orbital sanders use skin-and-stick sandpaper that comes precut or that you cut to fit, or you attach an abrasive canvass to the tool with the clamps on the sander's sides. Both types of sanders take a bag that will capture well-nigh of the dust the tool produces. For more thorough dust command, utilise a sander that has a circular exhaust port to facilitate hooking up to a hose on a shop vacuum.
Battery-Powered Versus Corded
We evaluated both battery-powered sanders (called cordless) and corded models. At the outset of the exam, we wondered if the battery would cause a cordless sander to exist too heavy. Simply when we weighed the 2 types of tools, nosotros found they weigh most the same, once you factor in the cord's heft. Select a cordless sander if you spend a lot of time on task sites and already take lots of cordless tool work going on. Cordless tools are handy and more than mobile when you're climbing a ladder or a scaffold because y'all don't have to debate with the weight of a cord hanging downwardly.
Select a corded tool if you spend long sanding sessions at a bench, especially if you can plug the sander directly into an outlet without an extension cord. In these cases, string drag isn't an issue and there isn't a pressing demand for mobility. A adept example of this is when you sand a piece of furniture. You just demand to work your way down through each dust, slowly perfecting the sanded surface.
How We Test
To put these tools through the paces, we drew rectangles on pieces of oak and maple, plywood, and softwood and sanded each rectangle with an 80-grit disc. Next, we emptied the dust container or purse to check the book of dust the sander collected. Nosotros likewise advisedly wiped down the piece of work surface to get a sense of how much dust the sander missed. As we worked, we assessed the sander's vibration and whether it produced an unpleasant gyroscopic result when we lifted it off the test board. We examined the sanded surface nether bright light to see whether the tools left swirl marks.
Any of the sanders in this test volition serve a homeowner. Professional-form models such as the sanders from Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, and Metabo-HPT vibrate less and are more durable. For homeowner-duty power tools that give nigh a professional level of performance, see the reviews of the Ryobi sanders and the Craftsman. Too note that a less expensive tool equipped with a loftier-quality abrasive sheet will prove more than adequate for most uses effectually the house.
Supply chain issues are causing some of our sanders to come up and get out of stock pretty rapidly. Still, there are other options that we tin recommend. We haven't tested these three sanders, but they're in stock, and like models to these have performed well in our past tests.
All-time CORDED
Bosch ROS20VSC Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: three.5 lb
The ROS20VSC is comfortable, sands fast, and has the best dust drove of the corded sanders nosotros tested. Considering its dust control is and then practiced (owing to a rubber O-ring seal on the dust port, good airflow, and an airtight dust canister), less grit stays on the surface to get footing into the abrasive pad. That ways the pad stays cleaner and lasts longer. Its speed control punch is behind the handle; you can get at it easily, but it's possible to accidentally bump information technology out of position. The sanded surface information technology left was very nice—a hair less smooth than the Milwaukee 6034-21'southward below but still of exceptional quality.
BEST CORDLESS
DeWalt DCW210D1 Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 3.4 lb
• Bombardment: five.0 Ah, 20 V
At total speed, DeWalt's DCW210D1 was the fastest and most ambitious sander we tested. Yet information technology still sands with very little jarring vibration. It's besides of import to note that it did meliorate than many other sanders at lower speeds—some exhibit more vibration and loss of effectiveness as you dial back their speed, merely non this one. If you lot're already invested in the visitor's cordless organization, this tool is a sensible addition. Fifty-fifty if y'all're non, it'due south a slap-up place to commencement since you get the sander, a charger, a battery, and a purse. And the company makes a broad range of equipment from drill and touch on drivers to saws that work with the aforementioned battery.
Aggressive & Effective
Makita XOB01T Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: three.8 lb
• Battery: 5.0 Ah, eighteen V
The Makita XOB01T seemed to sand every bit fast as the DeWalt above, which is surprising given that its top speed is i,000 rpm less than its yellow competitor. Even with the big bombardment, it felt well-balanced, and its dust pickup is good. Downsides? The sander does has a powerful gyroscopic action that requires a slight frontward bias to keep information technology sanding on track. Once yous get used to that, yous're adept to go.
(The price in a higher place is for the whole kit, two batteries, charger, and example included. If y'all're afterwards the tool by itself, wait here.)
BEST VALUE
Ryobi P411 Orbital Sander
• Weight: 4.2 lb
• Battery: iv.0 Ah, 18 Five
This petty sander hits the sweet spot. It'southward not as aggressive as the others, only it does sand well and with a high degree of command. Its dust pickup was surprisingly proficient for such an inexpensive and simple power tool. And this is more than of an observation, just the power button is somewhat stiff. In all, we rate the P411 every bit a expert fit for the frugal power-tool shopper.
Most Versatile
DeWalt DWE6421 Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 2.nine lb
DeWalt'south DWE6421 is a journeyman power tool—a skillful, solid, smoothly operating machine essentially identical in feel and sanding performance to the Craftsman below. Having noticed the similarities, we did some superficial disassembly of them both, removing their bases and the top housing covers. There may be something tucked deep inside the DeWalt to give it an edge in terms of immovability, but it wasn't obvious from to a higher place or beneath. Putting aside cosmetics of color and slightly different rubberized surfaces, these announced to be identical in sanding performance, start and stop speed, weight, and configuration.
Near PRO-QUALITY
Ryobi RS290G Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: four lb
The RS290G is a elementary and solid sander, merely its dust-control bag is not nearly as efficient as the airtight canisters on the Bosch or the Milwaukee. This isn't to say that it does a poor chore picking up grit, considering its competitors do it nearly flawlessly. This Ryobi sands with skillful speed and ability and completed sanding its test areas in most the same amount of time as those others. In terms of the quality of sanded surface it produces, we'd say that information technology's surprisingly good for the cost.
Smoothest
Milwaukee 6034-21 Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 3.five lb
The 6034-21 was the smoothest-running corded sander of the bunch, with a distinct lack of gyroscopic wobble and a pleasant vibration-free motion. Its dust command was good, but removing the dust hat from the canister was ridiculously difficult. Furthermore, it's possible that the chapeau feels similar it'south snapped on when it isn't. You sand for a few minutes and detect that the sander is a dusty mess, as is whatever you're working on. Just be sure you have that lid attached properly, and you'll be rewarded with a pleasant power tool that works smoothly and speedily, leaving a flawless surface.
All-time FOR WIDE SURFACES
Milwaukee 2648-xx Orbital Sander
• Weight: 4.2 lb
• Battery: 3.0 Ah, eighteen 5
You don't accept to muscle this sander to keep it in place, and it feels as if it floats over the board'due south surface. However, the design of the dust canister and the manner it sticks out over the rear of the tool is a chip cumbersome—peculiarly considering that this is a cordless sander, we would have liked if it were a chip more nimble. Then the ideal application is smoothing out a tabular array top or dealing with a crude spot on wood siding. It'due south better there, let'due south say, than working within a drawer. To be fair, however, if you opt out of the canister, you can hands hook up a hose from a shop vacuum to its outlet port.
Best at Sanding Into Corners
Metabo-HPT SV12SG Orbital Sander
• Weight: two.5 lb
Metabo'southward SV12SG was the only quarter-sheet (not-oscillating) orbital sander in the test. It'southward a proficient ability tool that transmitted very little vibration to our hand every bit it went most its work, somewhat slowly producing a reliably shine surface without swirl marks. Its grit collection is quite expert (if not every bit good every bit other corded models), but its dust port isn't hands adaptable to a vacuum. On the other manus, it does have a major reward in that y'all've got multiple options for its annoying sheets. You can use the peel-and-stick kind, buy the pre-cut 5.5 x iv.five-inch sheets designed for such machines, or buy a roll of iv.five-inch-wide abrasive paper from which yous cutting pieces to fit the sander.
Practiced All-Around Cordless
Ridgid R8606B Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 4.8 lb
• Battery: 6.0 Ah, 18 V
This Ridgid orbital sander has a soft-start feature that brings the machine upward to speed with a gentle ramp-up. Our only complaint is a small one: A tight fit between the dust-bag collar and the battery makes removing the bag somewhat hard.
Lightweight
Black & Decker BDCRO20C Orbital Sander
• Weight: 2.8 lb
• Battery: 1.v Ah, 20 V
It's non pro-duty, just the BDCRO20C is a good lilliputian sander for the price and very light. For small weekend fix-up jobs, there's no question it will work well, peculiarly when you're sanding less-demanding materials like white pino. While it'south a good idea to wear a mask with any sander, it's necessary here—it has fairly ineffective dust collection.
Ideal for Craftsman Fans
Craftsman CMEW231 Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 2.9 lb
Like the DeWalt DWE6421, the CMEW231 operates smoothly, leaving a well-sanded surface. It also appears, even under superficial disassembly and analysis, to be nearly identical to that sander. We can't say they're exactly the same mechanically, but information technology'south possible that the DWE6421 possesses heavy-duty components that this sander does not. But if you've already bought into the Craftsman ecosystem, you might prefer this sander.
Best ON A LADDER
Porter-Cable PCCW205B Random Orbital Sander
• Weight: 3.0 lb
• Battery: 1.five Ah, 20 5
Porter-Cable'due south sander is lightweight and capable, making information technology a skillful selection for ladder-based work; you should have no trouble holding it overhead equally you smooth scraped pigment. But before going up that ladder, beware. It'due south easy to call back that the piffling plastic finger that locks the dust canister in place is engaged when it's non. If yous're non paying attention, that can result in a dust spill that will brand a mess out of you and the work expanse.
MAINTAINING YOUR SANDER AND YOURSELF
Sanders don't need a lot of intendance, but they practice demand some. The best thing yous can practise for it is to accident the dust out of it using compressed air (or a can of compressed air purchased at an office supply store) or employ a shop vacuum and piece of work over its exterior, particularly its air vents.
Now protect yourself, especially your lungs: Wear a grit mask when sanding. Ameliorate models have a cream strip to assistance the mask make a better seal to your face. They may also have a vent that reduces moisture buildup under the mask.
Make clean up every bit you lot work to preclude large piles of talc-like grit from accumulating. And when you're done sanding and ready to take a pause, either castor or vacuum yourself off earlier going inside the house or other make clean area. It's also a expert idea to wear an old shirt, coveralls, or a shop frock and get out that in the sanding expanse, rather than bringing dust into the business firm. Having a floor mat outside the store is great, too. Remember what your mom said: Wipe your feet (or take your work shoes off)! This cuts down on tracked dirt, which is more than but a nuisance. Remnants of sanding grit on shoe soles can scratch finished floors, and tracked-in dust can form an eye-watering or throat-scratching irritant as it spreads throughout the business firm.
When it comes to using a sander, information technology'due south pretty uncomplicated, and there are merely these key rules:
- Motility the sander slowly and steadily over the work surface. Racing back and forth is difficult on the tool and whatever you lot're sanding.
- Don't skip more than than one course of grit as you lot motion from coarse to smooth. You tin go from 100 grit to 150 (skipping 120), but don't go from 100 dust to 220 grit. Information technology doesn't injure to motility through each size of grit, from coarse to smoothest, but for all but the finest of work, information technology'southward not necessary.
- Vacuum the surface clean with a store vacuum and a castor zipper when you lot're done with each level of grit. This removes whatever trapped particles hiding on the surface. For piece of furniture-grade finishing, wipe the surface clean with a tack cloth (a sticky piece of cloth used to selection up dust; information technology's sold in the paint aisle) before proceeding to the next dust.
- Don't tip the sander most the edges considering it volition round them off. Of class, if you prefer a slightly rounded corner, that can exist a adept affair. For instance, pigment sticks meliorate to a gently rounded corner than to a sharp one.
Roy Berendsohn Senior Home Editor Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn intendance, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment.
This content is created and maintained by a third political party, and imported onto this folio to aid users provide their email addresses. You may be able to discover more information nigh this and similar content at pianoforte.io
0 Response to "Review of Dewalt and Milwaukee Orbital Palm Sander"
Post a Comment