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Which sander should I choose?

17K views 64 replies 32 participants last post by  Dejure 
#1 ·
I only have budget to buy one sander. I want to choose either Random Orbit Sander (the round one) or 1/4-Sheet Orbital Sander (the square one). Usually the surface of my to-be-done project is smooth since I use plane to fine-tune it carefully. I want to use the sander to finish the work before painting.

Woodworking is just my hobby. I don't spend a lot of time on it, maybe finish one small project in one or two months. A sand paper holder is my weapon right now.

What is the better choice for my situation? Thanks.
 
#3 ·
Hi - If I were limited to only one type sander, I would go with the finish sander. ROS won't get near a perpendicular surface without damaging it, nor can it get into tighter places. ROS will remove stock faster and leave a good finish though.
On the finishing sander, make sure you get one with a phenolic platen. Many of the cheaper ones have aluminum platens which leave black marks on adjacent perpendicular surfaces. Pain to sand out and usually not where they can be easily reached.:)
 
#16 ·
Hi - If I were limited to only one type sander, I would go with the finish sander. ROS won't get near a perpendicular surface without damaging it, nor can it get into tighter places. ROS will remove stock faster and leave a good finish though.
Hi John

I'd agree with you about not being able to get into tight places, but there are ways and means with ROSs to keep your nice sharp edges. Better quality ROSs (Festool, Metabo, Bosch, etc) have optional backing pads ranging from very soft (for curvy car bodies and boat hulls) to extra hard (for sharp edges) the extra hard ones really work and do reduce edge dubbing dramatically.

Regards

Phil
 
#5 ·
Welcome, I have Dewalt both ROS and the square vibrator , If I had to use only one it would be the square vibrator the ros will clean a board quicker but the vibrator will smooth it better ...just my 2 cents
 
#6 ·
Will,

What sort of stuff are you making? how much time are you willing to spend hand sanding?

To be honest, I have a nice PC random orbit sander, a 1/4 sheet sander, an antique 1/3 sheet sander, belt sander.... All those are great for bigger projects, but for small stuff lately I end up using a little black and decker 'mouse' sander that I picked up at an estate sale. It gets into every corner, and is a pretty neat little tool.

The newer version is linked below

Shop BLACK & DECKER Mouse Detail Sander With Dust Collection at Lowes.com
 
#7 ·
Thanks for that info Doug. I've been using my Multi-Max with the sanding triangle on it but was wondering about that B&D Mouse, the dremel is a little long to really into tight spots.:)
 
#12 ·
Why not a belt sander? One of the few things I recall from 8th grade shop class is that one should always sand with the graing, not across it. An orbital sander, no matter what shape, goes across the grain 1/2 the time.
 
#13 ·
I'll run with the B&D mouse ....its the best finishing sander I have ever owned, not that I have had or used many but a square sheet sander is a right pain by comparison with the B&D mouse. The B&D tools, for the woodworker who is just enjoying himself have come a quantum leap over the last 5 years.
 
#15 ·
A Vote for the ROS

I have a PC variable speed, random orbit polisher-sander, a Fein Multimaster, two Bosch 1/4 sheet ROS's, a Dewalt 1/4 sheet ROS's, 3 PC 1/4 sheet ROS's (one gray and two of the heavy black beasts). Finally, I have a Dewalt and a PC 3x21 belt sander.

If I could only keep one of all my sanders, it would be the most used, which is one of the 1/4 sheet ROS's. Of those, one of the lightweight units would be my preference. Too, I would choose one with easily changed base pads, since the pads wear at the edges from my habitual detail sanding abuses.

The above choice is not to say I wouldn't replace my PC variable speed, random orbit or Fein Multimaster in a heartbeat, if either expired. They, as others suggested, open doors. For example, my PC allows me to produce wood project finishes that are indistinguishable from a sprayed finished, gives me professional quality, swirl free automotive finishes, and does regular stock removal.
 
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#19 ·
Hey, Nancy; you did notice that the last post prior to yours was seven years ago...
But good reviews (and bad) are always welcome, even if the original poster has moved on. :)
I too prefer a pneumatic sander over electric. Mine's a random orbital, 6" diam., that uses the hook and loop system. It's very low air consumption and that's a feature that keeps a lot of potential users from getting them, high air consumption I mean.
 
#20 ·
After I got my ROS I gave my other sanders to my son.
 
#29 ·
I love my ROS, variable speed beasts, sometimes. Other times, I favor my 1/4 sanders. When doing contours or quick, mild round-overs that a router wouldn't improve, handling my Rotex and a hose can make the task even less likeable. For such times, my little, lightweight beasts are king. Even more so if I can fit the item inside my sanding table hood.

If I'm back to flat surfaces, then the twirling varmits outshine the 1/4 sheet.

In the end, as already pointed out, which router type you choose for your first one should be influenced by what type of sanding you are going to be doing the most.


Add to that, the much bragged about Festool paper drops back to being about like any other paper, without good dust collection to remove the fines, before they can load the paper. Clearly, dust collection [and the required blasted hose] will go far to improving sander performance. Of course, it'll make keeping the work area clean much easier too.

____________________

Meanwhile, at a different ranch, I'm always surprised at that so many wonder at new posts on old threads. Improvements on equipment aside, some information remains timeless and it seems, to me, strange to expect a new post, versus carrying on on an old thread. Like Tom said, good discussion.
 
#34 ·
The ROS is out for me. Can't get a good finish. If you're using a plane, you don't want to ruin the planed look by over sanding, so the square would be my choice, although if you are sanding assembled parts, the Mouse sander would be my next choice.

OR, see if you can find the 3M translucent sanding medium, which you can wrap around a block and get outstanding results. Flex it a bit and it's good as new. Has quite a bite too, so you won't kill yourself doing the job. Here's a pic of the old packageing. I love this stuff. Thought they were going to discontinue it so I bought a bunch. You can use it in the vibrating sander. It is also great to wrap around shaped sanding blocks (pix) for things like picture frames. Cool stuff.

And don't forget card scrapers (pix). Inexpensive, exquisite results.

As always, pictures loaded out of order. Wish some programmer would work out a simple way to rearrange them. PITA in trying to share something sequential. The method they have is too complex to be useful and doesn't allow for adding or removing something.
 

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#35 ·
At the end of the day it comes down to what you need to accomplish with the sander. I favor the ROS as I build a lot of cutting boards and boxes. I also use the sanding blocks Tom recommends. One key not mentioned is the quality of the paper as well. I have found that the abirnet from Mirka is worth the investment.
 
#38 ·
I agree for the sake of convenience and speed - but it does take a little discernment to choose papers. Too much rough sanding can make for a lot of work getting to a finish surface. And working through the grit grades is the right way to get there too. In fact, some softer woods don’t even need the finest grits to get to the smoothest surfaces.
 
#40 ·
Square sanders just rotate and leave small circles as it sands. And as you run it up and down the piece, it will leave swirls. Depending on your speed, it could leave marks like sine waves. Of course, that depends on the corseness of the paper.

ROS's don't do that because the pad also rotates...but it doesn't get into corners. Not a problem as there are other means of getting into the corners.

The cheap detailers and oscillating tools (like Fein) have a side-to-side motion. Some of the detailers oscillate in circles (Mouse, Ryobi, others)

The more coarse the paper, the better it is to use a ROS. Finer paper is more forgiving to detailers, oscillating tools and square pads.
 
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