It’s really no secret that no matter how you do it, you probably don’t like to sand. Sanding can be a really tough and difficult job because it is often very time consuming and if you don’t pay close attention to detail, you might not get the perfect finish you hope to get. With all of these things in mind, it’s simple to see why buying a Sander can be a difficult decision. However, if you choose to go with a electric random orbital sander, you’re going to have more success.

The following information in this post is going to help make sure you have no problem finding the best electric random orbital sander to fit your needs. Not only will you get some of the top product recommendations when it comes to buying a sander, but you’ll also get information about what you need to consider when you are looking at the specifications and features of sanders.

How To Choose The Right Electric Random Orbital Sander

Ease Of Changing Sandpaper

No matter what you are sanding, chances are good that it is going to require several different sanding grits, which means you are going to need to change out the sandpaper quite often throughout the duration of your project. With a hook and loop attachment system, you can easily change out papers by peeling off a piece and adding another. If you can find a sander with this type of system, I highly recommend it because it will make your life a lot easier when you go to sand.

Variable Speed

Ask anybody who does woodwork and they’ll all tell you that the key to getting a perfectly smooth finish every time is control. And you’re going to struggle with control unless you have a variable speed option attached to your sander. With this variable control, you can slow the speed on the sander down when you want to have a smooth finish or reduce the chance of sand-through. In general, the more control you have of the speed, the better your results are going to be.

Vacuum

The debris created from sanding is brutal and there is going to be a lot of dust and everything flying around, which is why I recommend attaching a dust bag or a canister or something to your sander to catch that debris. Something like those on board is better than nothing, but if you wanna take it to another level and really get the best results, I recommend connecting it to a shop vacuum. It will help keep the air cleaner and leave you feeling better about using it.

Grip

In simple terms, the better the grip you have, the better the results are going to be. If you can find a grip that you are comfortable with and doesn’t bother you, then you’re going to have more control over your unit and you can use it for a longer period of time. When you try out the sander, make sure it fits in your hand the way you want it to. Check to see how your fingers wrap around the handle and whether or not they can reach the on/off switch. Lastly, make sure the grip material is not something that will bother you when you use it for a long period of time.

Power Cord

I can’t stress this one enough. Make sure you have a long power cord so that you have the freedom and mobility to take your sander with you and not be tied down by a cord. At the absolute minimum, I recommend a six foot cord for your sander. However, some sanders offer cords that are as long as 12 feet and that can be extremely beneficial depending on your needs.

Performance

When you go to buy a sander, you want to make sure that you are going to get some of the best performance out of any options on the market. If you’re spending the money to buy a sander that doesn’t offer great performance, you’re just wasting your money. While you might not truly know how well it performs until you actually try it out for yourself, be sure to look to make sure that it mentioned uniform sanding and scratch pattern somewhere on the box or in the description of the item.

Compatibility

This has briefly been mentioned in one of the points above, but you want to make sure that you are buying a sander compatible with the majority of common products you can find in a hardware store. With a sander that has a lot of universal parts, you’ll find it much easier to get what you want when you need it. As mentioned before, make sure you buy a sander that comes with standard 8-hole hook-and-loop sandpaper discs, since these are easy to find and they are compatible with most sanders.

Recommended 5 Best Electric Random Orbital Sander Reviews

PORTER-CABLE 382 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander

The sander also provides a longer switch life than the other products mentioned in this review and it also has 100% ball bearing construction.

In terms of the specifications of the product and what it is able to do, you will find that it provides maximum sanding speed when you need it so that you can easily get the smooth finish you desire when it comes to the sander. Last but not least, the controlled finishing system is going to help deliver exceptional results. It maintains a controllable pad speed and also works to minimize the gouging that occurs during start up.

Pros

Cons

DEWALT DWE6420 Random Orbit PSA Sander

The dust-sealed switch works to prevent against dust retention which is going to give the sander a longer switch life.

The dust port on this sander is specifically designed to fit directly into a couple specially designed dust collectors made by DeWalt. The shorter height of this handle and unit is also preferred because it allows the worker to get closer to the project they are working on. Furthermore, there is a rubber over-mold in all of the critical areas of the sander to protect it and the improved dust collection helps keep the air around you clean.

Pros

Cons

DEWALT D26451K Corded 3 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Cloth Dust Bag

Similar to the one that was reviewed above, this particular sander comes with a 3 amp motor that operates at 12,000 OPM to ensure you get a smooth finish at all times. It also comes with an anti-slip top and body grip so that you get the ultimate comfort and control when you use this sander. Lastly, the finishing system helps to maintain a controllable pad speed and minimize the gouging that can occur during start up.

Pros

Cons

SKIL 7492-02 2.8 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander With Pressure Control

In addition to all of those specifications mentioned above, you’re going to enjoy everything else this sander has to offer including the clear micro filtration dust canister, the pad brake and even the built-in vacuum dust port. Last but certainly not least when it comes to these features, you’re going to get a dust sealed switch and three different sanding discs so that you will have no problem getting the finish that you want.

Pros

Cons

Bosch ROS10 120 Volt Random Orbit Sander

The combination of the pad orbit and rotation deliver you a well-blended and ultra-smooth finish with a pretty quick removal rate so you get some good results with it at all times. You’re also going to get a soft microcellular back pad so that you don’t have to worry about the finish because it will end up the same on both flat and contoured surfaces. Lastly, the low-vibration design means that this product is going to work for anyone, even those who may have arthritis or other ailments in their hands.

Pros

Cons

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, I would personally recommend the DEWALT D26451K Corded 3 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Cloth Dust Bag out of the five products that were reviewed above. This sander is going to come at a higher cost than some of the other sanders on the list but it packs in some pretty great features that you’ll love including the cloth dust bag, 3 amp motor, textured grip and body and the controlled finishing system to help you get the best finish you can find. However, if that sander doesn’t work for you for any reason, the other four sanders are all great options that I’m sure you’ll find will work perfectly with what you are looking for.

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