But for all its faults many people find a sanding to be relaxing. Its not overly demanding or technical, theres no measurements to be taken or holes to be drilled. Sanding is also a sign of the completion of a project. Sand allows you to concentrate on finishing what you’ve spent time building.
Sanding can be made fun by using a tool that is both efficient and easy to use. Having a tool you enjoy breaking out on occasion is a pleasure.
Quick Look – Top Palm Sanders
Orbital And Random-Orbit
There are two types of palm sanders: random orbit and orbital. An orbital sander, also known as a finish sander, has a rectangular or square base. They dont require a premade sanding sheet but rather use sheet of your regular 9 x 28 cm sheets of sandpaper.
An orbital sander works by simply vibrating back and forth or in a small oval shape to remove material. This runs the risk of leaving behind a clear pattern of scratching that will show up in your final product. These sanders can remove more material slowly than random orbitals, but their flat edges allow you to sand in corners and up against edges, like inside cabinets.
A random orbit sander has a round base and requires premade sanding discs to be attached to the bottom. Random orbit sanders are named this because their base spins or vibrates quickly while being rotated in an irregular pattern. Imagine simultaneously using two different settings on a spirograph and you can see how they came up with the name.
Random orbit sanders will not leave behind any recognizable patterns of sanding scratches, swirl marks or other markings in your material.
Random orbit sanders are more aggressive and so remove material more quickly than an orbital sander. An orbital sander is less aggressive and therefore more cost-effective. You can also save money on the product’s life because you can use sheets of sandpaper that are less expensive than the discs.
Features To Consider
With palm sanders there are a number of different features each can have to be considered. They all serve the same purpose: to remove materials and give a better finish to your project. This is why a palm sander’s performance in this task will always be the most important.
The size and weight are also important factors. A lower profile sander will fit into tighter spaces that a taller one cant get into. The weight of the sander can make a significant difference in a short amount of time if you use it on anything other than a horizontal surface.
Comfort is another feature that will make a difference the longer you use the sander. Rubberized overmolding on grips and an ergonomic design can have a significant effect on your comfort. A sander that doesnt transfer a lot of vibration to your hands can also save you from developing numbness or even hand/arm vibration syndrome.
Finally, sanding is a dirty job and anything that can be done to keep it cleaner is a benefit. A good dust collection system, with or without a filter, will be noticeable. Even better is a port to connect to a vacuum that will haul most of the dust away as its created. Although no sander can pick up all of the dust, it is useful to have a few.
The Orbital Bernie
DeWALT D26441K
The DeWALT D26441K is a solid mid-tier sheet sander. At just over 13 cm, itll fit most anywhere and at 13 kg its light enough to use on vertical and overhead jobs without wearing you out. The 2.3-amp motor runs at a constant 14,000 OPM (orbits per minute).
This sander has plenty of power to tackle any job you throw at it. However, this particular sander can be a touch too aggressive at higher grits. It lacks variable speed so it is important to choose the right grit sandpaper. If in doubt use a lower grit. You can switch out the sandpaper by using a single clamp at the front and two wire clamps at each end. Although the 3-point system is a bit cumbersome, it keeps the sandpaper in place so it’s not difficult to remove.
Even though its powerful, the ample rubber overmolding on the grip makes it comfortable to use and the D26441K doesnt transfer a whole lot of vibration to your hands. The dust collection system works well at collecting large particles of dust but since the D26441K uses a cloth bag and no filter, the smaller, more dangerous particles will pass right through the bag.
You can connect to DeWALT vacuums directly from the box via the rear port. You will need an adapter to connect to your DeWalt vacuum if you don’t have one. To extend the life of your sander, the D26441K comes with a dust-sealed switch.
Makita is known for producing top-quality products. Their sheet orbital sander is no different. It uses an all ball bearing construction to keep the 2.0-amp motor relatively quiet and to reduce the amount of vibration the sander transfers to your hands as it buzzes along at 14,000 OPM.
The BO4556K is just 11kg and has a profile just over 14cm. Two large wire clamps make it easy to change sandpaper quickly and easily. It is also worth noting that the shoe is made of aluminum, and not plastic. The dust sealed rocker switch operates more crisply than other models.
The BO4556K has dust collection built in and can be used to empty the bag into a cloth bag. Similar to the DeWalt, the cloth bag does not catch the larger particles. However, it doesn’t hinder the smaller and more dangerous particles. The dust collection was okay but left a fair amount of dust laying around after the job.
In theory, the BO4556K will accept a vacuum attachment to increase its dust collection capabilities. However, the port that comes off the back of the sander is quite small (3/10 cm) and will not readily accept run-of-the-mill vacuum attachments without some jerry-rigging.
The sheet orbital sander is half the price of the other orbital sanders and has some nice features. It is by far the tallest of the three with a 15 cm profile and lands in the middle of the pack for weight at 12 kg. It runs a 2.0-amp motor at 14,000 OPM.
Like the other two, it has a dust sealed switch but its not protected by a rubber boot. The 7292-02 comes with a clear plastic canister that collects dust particles. And while the dust collection works pretty well, the port on the rear will allow you to readily connect a vacuum attachment to the sander.
The Skil has a pressure control system that is very useful for beginners. This system uses a series of lights to indicate whether you’re applying enough pressure or the correct amount.
It is a great sander for the price. However, it does not come without its problems. Most of those issues center around the suspect quality of the build. The wire clamps are somewhat flimsy and have been known to break and fall off completely. This is a serious failure that renders the sander useless. It is also known for quickly wearing down the pad that covers your shoe.
The Random Orbit Sanders
Bosch ROS20VSC
The ROS20VSC random orbital sander is an excellent choice at a great price. The 2.5-amp motor is equipped with a variable speed dial which allows you to adjust your OPMs from 7,500 up to 12,000. Thats handy if youd like to dial back the power for finer sanding jobs.
The sanding pad is pliable and will allow you to sand contoured material easily. But the soft pad can cause rounding of edges you might want a little sharper. Beneath the pad is 35,000 strong hooks to attach a standard 13 cm sanding disc to.
The ROS20VSC is designed to be comfortable and easy to use. This tool is easy to use and has a lot of rubberized overmolding. It runs smoothly with low vibration. This will keep your fingers from humming for hours once you’ve finished sanding the picnic table. The dust collection canister is a transparent, sturdy plastic and removes easily with a twist and pops right back on.
The ROS20VSC is a great dust collector. It has a filter that traps dust particles to a diameter of less than a micron. And it has a dust sealed switch for a longer life. If you dont want to use the canister and filter, it includes an adapter to connect to any vacuum hose from 1 to 1 or it can connect directly to a Bosch vacuum.
Its taller than many of the finish sanders at 15 cm but not excessively tall and at 16 kg its still a very manageable weight for vertical and overhead sanding jobs.
The ROS20VSC is a great product. The ROS20VSC is not as aggressive as some may like, and the sanding pads were sometimes a little too soft. But those issues were few and this sander is otherwise extremely well regarded.
Black & Decker’s BDERO100 is a low-cost random orbital sander, but it is very powerful. The 13 cm disc pad connects to sanding discs via a solid hook and loop system and the 2.0-amp motor will achieve 12,000 OPM. Although the BDERO100 does not have a variable speed feature it can still produce a great finish if you choose your Sandpaper Grit wisely.
Other measurables are a profile of 15 cm and it weighs a nice and light 15 kg. It has a lot of rubberized overmolding for a comfortable grip. The BDERO100 is not as low on vibration as some of the others but it wont vibrate so much it shakes your fingers to death.
Dust sealing the switch will extend its life and make it more reliable. Although, it is a cloth bag so it will capture larger dust particles but smaller ones wont be trapped. You wont be able to easily connect the BDERO100 to a vacuum as it is, and there does not appear to be an adapter available to do so.
So if thats important to you, youll need to get creative or look at a different sander.
While the BDERO100 is not super powerful or full of flashy features, it does do the job it is intended to do quite well and it does it for a low price.
Final Thoughts
Make sure to take into account what jobs you foresee yourself asking your palm sander to do. Personally, I think the two types of sanders (orbital and random orbit) are different enough to justify keeping both on hand but if you were to only go for one, a random orbit sander is a bit more versatile.
While sanding isnt necessarily a glamorous job, it is a necessary step to getting the best finish on your project. Using a tool that is not only comfortable but does the job well takes a lot of the fuss out of the job. You might find that you actually enjoy it.
