Best Random Orbital Sander For Woodworking Money Can Buy

Whether you are a woodworking professional or an enthusiast, sanding always requires lots of concentration to achieve the desired results. Using your hands alone for such a task is good enough if it’s only a small project. However, for extensive sanding job, a quality random orbital sander will come in really handy.Random Orbital Sander

Picking the best random orbital sander for woodworking is not easy, especially when there are too many products around. To make a purchase without having a firm grasp on available options could cost a lot of money for negligible gains.  Should you need several recommendations, you can find a list of popular products along with their characteristics right here.

What to expect of a good random orbital sander

To obtain a suitable sander, you can’t simply make a decision without knowing every aspect of the purchase clearly. You have to make sure that the product you choose is able to match your needs and requirements. Research the products thoroughly then you will certainly get something that offers you utmost satisfaction.

Generally, there are three things you have to focus on: Orbits Per Minute (OPM), disc diameter and motor amp. These figures will decide if the sander is practical and usable to you or not so plan them ahead. When you have the planned numbers in mind, you only have to search out products that fit the descriptions.

Another thing to worry about is the handle ergonomic, you should go after a product that makes you feel comfortable. Fatigue is an important factor that you must take into account since it will affect the outcome of the sanding. An effective handle design should permit you to maneuver the sander with ease and mostly immune to vibration.

Finally, you don’t necessarily have to go after the most expensive sander all the time unless you have sophisticated demands. In most of the case, the price tag of a nice random orbital sander usually ranges between 50$ and 100$. Sanders for professional uses such as contractors and carpenters would come at a higher cost, around 250$ or so.

Top 6 random orbital sanders for woodworking on the market – 2017

1/ Bosch ROS20VSC Random Orbit SanderBosch ROS20VSC Random Orbit Sander

  • Speed: 7,500 – 12,000 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 5 Inches
  • Motor: 2.5 Amperes

Affordable and quite convenient to use, the Bosch ROS20VSC is a sander well like by experts and amateurs alike. Due to the high-efficiency dust collection, the sander works pretty smooth without making the user feel uncomfortable. The 5-inch disc got plenty of coverage and with the strong motor, you can quickly finish sanding a surface.

Come with a long handle, the sander support two-handed use and generally lower the user fatigue in extended projects. The speed dial is located on top so you can readily change the OPM to better suit the current requirements. You might hit the speed dial by mistake though so place your hand carefully when you deploy the sander.

For intense jobs, the Bosch ROS20VSC possesses vacuum-hose adapter and dust-sealed switch to match heavy uses.  The microfilter of the sander is good at filtering dust and trapping particles generated from the sanding. A carry bag is provided with the sander to let you carry the tool around effortlessly.

Pros

  • Great handling
  • Work well
  • Quiet
  • Barely noticeable vibration

Cons

  • The location of the power button and the speed dial should be reconsider
  • The dust door might open up unexpectedly
  • The hook-and-loop pad doesn’t hold the disc firmly

2/ Makita BO5041K 5-Inch Random Orbit SanderMakita BO5041K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander

  • Speed: 4,000 – 12,000 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 5 Inches
  • Motor: 3.0 Amperes

Powerful and sturdy built, the Makita BO5041K is a lightweight sander that offers excellent maneuverability over a variety of surfaces. Besides wood, the sander is capable of processing metal and fiberglass as well which make it quite a versatile tool. Sanding is not exactly an enjoyable task but by using this product, you could avoid a lot of problems.

The strong motor of the sander let you get through the roughest of surfaces without experiencing excessive vibration. It features multiple grips from the wrap-around rubberized grip for control to the top-handle grip for downward pressure. Because of that, you can comfortably manipulate the sander in whatever manner you see fit.

As a variable speed design, Makita BO5041K permits you to adjust the sander OPM to accommodate different needs. The dust bag got a generous capacity and if required can be attached to an external collection hose. The overall performance of the sander is superb with little operating noise and generally simple to handle.

Pros

  • Adjustable handle
  • Variable speed
  • Lock-on button for long period uses
  • Strong case

Cons

  • Inconsistent quality between products
  • Pad wear out quick
  • Small port

3/ Black and Decker BDERO100 Random Orbit SanderBlack and Decker BDERO100 Random Orbit Sander

  • Speed: 12,000 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 5 Inches
  • Motor: 2.0 Amperes

If you need a sander for simple, irregular tasks then you won’t be disappointed with the Black and Decker BDERO100. With an extremely cheap price tag, almost everyone can get it without having to worry about the cost. While its s quality is surely not the best, you can hardly find a better product for light duty sanding.

The sander speed is fixed at 12,000 OPM so it is not a product with a high level of versatility. Its 2 Amp motor is more or less acceptable though not as powerful as other sanders in the category. The dust collector operation is less than ideal but it won’t give you much trouble in short period works.

The Black and Decker BDERO100 doesn’t have vacuum hose adapter or carrying case which is expected due to the price. Nerveless, for unsophisticated requirements, the sander perform splendidly compare to its cost. At 3.2 pounds, it’s a lightweight product that you have no issue carrying around.

Pros

  • Low cost
  • Nice warranty
  • Tough
  • Little vibration

Cons

  • Fixed speed
  • No case
  • The dust collector could use some improvements

4/ PORTER-CABLE 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed PolisherPORTER-CABLE 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed Polisher

  • Speed: 2,500 – 6,800 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 6 Inches
  • Motor: 4.5 Amperes

Created as a sander and a polisher, the PORTER-CABLE 7424XP is a product with a commendable versatility. The low maximum OPM limit its sanding use to light duty tasks but it will get the job done nonetheless. In the polisher role, you can achieve a high mirror finish on a variety surfaces from furniture to automotive.

Featuring two-position removable side handle, the sander let its user achieve absolute control and decent operation comfort.  The product weighs 5.5 pounds which is a bit heavy for a sander, it’s a common weight for polisher though. A 6-inch polishing pad is provided with the tool when you make the purchase.

Made in the industrial standards, the PORTER-CABLE 7424XP is able to endure heavy uses without noticeable problems. The strong 4.5 amp motor and got a high overload protection so you can use the tool worry free. A 3-year warranty along with a 1-year free of service is the proofs of the product manufacturer confidence.

Pros

  • Can be used as a sander and a polisher
  • Appealing post-purchase policies
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • Only suitable for low-intensity sanding projects
  • Inconsistent quality
  • Customers complain about missing pad when they receive the product

5/ DEWALT D26453K 3 Amp 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit SanderDEWALT D26453K 3 Amp 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander

  • Speed: 7,000 – 12,000 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 5 Inches
  • Motor: 3.0 Amperes

DEWALT is famous brand that only provides quality products and the D26453K here is not an exception. Strong motor, flexible OPM and minimum vibration, this sander shall you complete every task in a blink of an eye.  At only 3.5 pounds, it’s a light product so you are able to manipulate it as you like.

For dust collection, the sander got a generous capacity dust bag and vacuum adapter to ensure dust free operations. Thanks to the assistance of the Controlled Finishing System, potential gauging during startup can be minimized. The textured handle makes it easy to have a firm control on the tool at all times.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Quick disk change
  • Convenient to handle
  • Low noise

Cons

  • The on / off switch should be improved
  • Barely adequate for heavy-duty uses

6/ SKIL 7492-02 2.8 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit SanderSKIL 7492-02 2.8 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander

  • Speed: 12,500 OPM
  • Disc diameter: 5 Inches
  • Motor: 2.8 Amperes

Offering 4 levels of pressure settings, the SKIL 7492-02 allow the user to have precise control over the sanding.

The fixed speed of 12,500 OPM and the 2.8 amp motor mean the sander is mostly good for uncomplicated demands. By understanding its operation, the product is still able to deliver smooth, level surfaces whenever you turn it on.

Pros

  • Cost-effective
  • Dust free
  • Simple to use

Cons

  • Take a long time to cleanse the filters
  • Inflexible
  • Quality of the filters locking tabs is not very good
  • Not good for sophisticated tasks

Conclusion

And those are some of the best random orbital sanders for woodworking money can buy, anything catch your eye? It’s not easy to make a wise decision without enough information about the characteristic of available options clearly. With the help of the article, now you should have a pretty good idea of what is a suitable product.

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