What is a good all round sander?

Random orbital sanders are simple tools. Sanding by hand is tedious and fixed rotating sanding can leave unseemly circular swirls in your workpiece. In comes the random orbit sander. By alternating the rotating motion with a random oval orbit, this machine ensures that you can take off a lot of material quickly, without having to worry about leaving marks. They provide a perfectly smooth finish. But how do you choose the best one for you? Here’s what to consider.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Random Orbital Sander

Disk size

Orbital sanders usually have two disk sizes – the 6 inches and the 5 inches. Which one you will need depends on the type of project you’ll find yourself working on. If your work area is large, the 6 inches will save time by being able to take off a lot of material quickly. The 5-inch is suitable for small to medium projects.

A great alternative is to find a random orbit sander that has replaceable disks so you can change between the 5 and 6 inches at will. If you think your project size will vary consistently, look for a tool that has this functionality.

The speed

Although most of your sanding will likely happen at maximum speed, having the ability to control and slow down the random orbit sander is very important if you’re going to be working with finer wood or more fragile material. A lower speed means you’ll have a lot more control over how much you’re taking off and it’s much easier to avoid sanding through your workpiece.

Additionally, if you think you’re going to be working with materials that are prone to heating, such as plastics, for example, a lower speed setting will be helpful to avoid that scenario as well.

The handle

These tools can have a two-hand grip, with one handle on the top and the other on the front of the orbital for better control. This also maximizes your ability to keep the tool flat against the work surface. While this is a great feature to have, you might find that for vertical sanding, or for getting in certain corners of walls or maybe even a wood carcass, the top handle alone allows you more flexibility. An additional grip on the front of the tool can impede your access.

Based on the kind of work you think you’ll be doing most often, select the right option for you. Alternatively, go for a random orbit sander with a removable front handle to get the best of both worlds.

Vibration

A random orbit sander that gives off a lot of vibration will create strain much faster than one that limits vibration. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell from any of the features and functions that manufacturers list what the level of vibrations will be. The best way to do it is to look for other customers’ opinions or to try out the tool in a brick and mortar store, even if later you decide to purchase it online, for a better price.

Dust collection

When it comes to sanding, appropriate dust collection is a must. Not only would the dust be annoying, frustrating and hinder our work. It can also be hazardous to breathe in. Choose a random orbital sander with a good dust collection device and preferably a pleated filter for better and more long-lasting absorption. For big projects where you think a dust collection device would not be enough, it’s important to have the option of swapping out the filter for a vacuum collector. So if your random orbit sander can do that, you’ve hit the jackpot!

And even though the dust collection device will do a good job of keeping the dust from accumulating around the workshop, you may want to use a shop vacuum to clean up. The shop vacuum can effectively collect whatever the dust collector missed. 

Power source

Just like most power tools, the random orbital sander can be powered in three main ways.

• Power cord

The most straightforward and usually inexpensive option, the power cord is simply plugged into an outlet and your tool is ready to go. It’s a great option but it won’t be suitable for everyone. If you won’t always have an outlet nearby you can check out one of the other two options.

• Cordless

Powered by rechargeable or changeable batteries, the cordless option has the advantage of being highly portable and easy to work with. No cord to worry about and no need to worry about where to find a socket. However, this option also has its drawbacks. The tool will likely have a limited operability time before the batteries run out, so if your project requires hours of sustained work you might want to look elsewhere. Cordless random orbital sanders can take a while to recharge.

• Pneumatic

If you’re looking for all of the power that a corded tool can offer with some of the portability of a cordless one, the pneumatic option is probably your best bet. If your compressor can produce at least 40 cubic feet of air per minute, you should be able to comfortably use it in your orbital sanding work.

RPM vs OPM

RPM means revolutions per minute and it roughly refers to how many times the disks on your random orbit sander will spin in a given minute. Of course, it’s not a perfect measurement as the disks don’t simply spin statically on an axis. They also oscillate randomly. RPM can be a good approximate indicator of the kind of intensity you can expect from your sander, but it’s not a perfect one.

A better measurement is OPM or Orbits Per Minute which tells you how many random orbits your tool will be doing. This is a more representative metric of what your tool is actually doing.

Motor power

The motor power for a random orbital sander can range from 2.5 to 3.3 Amps and it’s one of the most important aspects in determining the strength of your sander. Some brands might boast higher OPMs, but without the motor power to back it up, they can fall short of competitors who limited OPMs but increased Amps. If you anticipate frequent heavy-duty sanding, consider purchasing a unit with a better motor.

How To Use a Random Orbital Sander

This video from House Improvements will show you how to use a random orbital sander:

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