The best orbital sander should be able to sand down timber and create a random sanding pattern without leaving swirl marks.

The particles that come off plaster are extremely fine and can be harmful to your health if you breathe them in. The best plasterboard sanders have effective vacuum systems that run the length of the handle and empty either into your shop vacuum or a special dust bag that is included with the sander. Work Lights for Drywall Sanders The controls are well-positioned on the top of the orbital sander. There are just two soft buttons that control the three variable speeds and power off. It’s not got quite the sanding speeds compared to some cordless sanders though. However, 7,000, 9,500 and 11,000 opm are ideal for most sanding jobs. With a round pad that offers both rotating and orbital movement, random orbital sanders are ideal as an all-rounder. Their versatility allows them to effectively function like a belt The WX820 comes with a microfilter dust box and gives you plenty of control thanks to six different speed options. It’s not as powerful as a corded sander, but the battery means you can use it anywhere and is interchangeable with other Worx Powershare tools.We used the sanders on a range of different types of wood, including some with large surface areas, and others with hard-to-reach sections. We also used them with different sandpaper grades to evaluate how each one performs. All of the sanders were used for long enough to be able to assess their ergonomics, including weight and dimensions. Try to keep a firm, even pressure on the sanding pad to avoid creating ridges and get the most out of each sweep of your hand. Anything over 150 Watts with an orbital, the way it builds up power and oscillates will give you a smooth timber finish. I’m always using this sander for detail sanding, especially when I’m going to apply teak oil or similar after as the finish is perfectly smooth. Cordless palm sander is powerful and not far off the power of corded versions How long is the power lead on a corded orbital sander? It’s very similar in weight to the Makita as well which makes one handed operation doable. Both weigh not much more than a bag of sugar if that helps to envisage. As is typical for this type of sander, the BO4556 is compact and lightweight with single-speed operation. It’s easy to use thanks to its toggle switch and soft non-slip elastomer grip, and even has an effective dust bag which isn’t a given for affordable finishing sanders. What’s more, you can make use of regular sheets of sanding paper via the simple clamp system.

If you are going to use the bag that’s supplied then make sure you keep your windows open and you should be wearing a mask and goggles if you’re using this tool full stop. Having a window open will be much better for you in the long term especially if you’ve got a lot of sanding to get through. What grit orbital sanding pads? As you can see in literally seconds it’ll clean up the roughest patches of filler. I just want to point out this isn’t really it’s intended use either, it’s just so powerful that it can cross over jobs superbly which saves you money in terms of how many tools you need! What it does even better is sand rough wood. I’m often inclined to use 80 grit first with a bit of wood laced with two part filler. Once I’ve ripped it down to flat I will then either swap over to 120 grit or keep going if the pad has worn down (and resembles a smother finish anyway). The fact I am controlling the grit at all with an orbital sander really should highlight just how much material this sander removes 🙂 Most powerful orbital sander and best if budget no object: Dewalt DCW210N-XJ 18V XR BL Cordless Sander Featuring a swivel action head that will keep you on the wall, a removable mid-way “D” handle, and a variable speed control between 1,000 – 2,100 rpm, it’s probably the best telescopic plasterboard sander I’ve reviewed so far. The MAKITA BO5041/2 feels very different in the hand to the cordless Makita, in fact it actually feels exactly like the DEWALT DWE6423-LX corded sander. That’s probably because the power lead is dictating the style and grip. I have to say they are similar in performance and price that you could literally flip a coin and get great quality sanding from both. You’d close your eyes and part from the Makita feeling a bit softer in the hand and the extraction bag being cloth you wouldn’t know any different.Type- Finishing woodwork projects which have plenty of rough edges and tight corners is not possible without the help of a detail sander. Smaller projects can be completed with the help of smaller finish sanders, but a bigger and a more difficult one may call for the requirement of a palm sander. Palm sanders are good for projects which need more effort as they have a good grip that will make the job seem easier as well as not tire you out. Being brushless it’s going to last longer than the brushed Makita, it’s also a better power delivery with slightly more control when sanding rough surfaces. You’ll have no trouble with woodwork and if you do pay the money then combine this with the 4 amp battery so the best balance in my opinion. Alternative if Makita unavailable: DEWALT DWE6423-LX 125MM ELECTRIC RANDOM ORBIT SANDER– must have if you don’t want additional battery costs In terms of dust extraction the bag does a half decent job and if you’re looking for a complete kit then this little sander is compatible with the DWV010 or DWV012 dust collectors. Either work just as well. Talking about the extraction bags, I prefer the DeWalt as it’s solid. While the Makati doesn’t flop around because it’s small, I feel the solid bag doesn’t get in my eye line so much when I am sanding ceilings upside down. This could also be down to the size too. The Makita collection bag is much wider.