Sanding is one of the best techniques to smooth rough wood or to remove some deep stains and scrapes from wood. Sanding is especially handy if you are restoring old furniture pieces and may need to remove paint or varnish. This is because varnish removers or paint strippers never work quite as well, they can be toxic or can burn your skin, they are damaging to the wood, and they usually result in a sticky mess.
The only issue with sanding is that these projects take a lot of time and they can be very messy. If you are doing a lot of sanding then you should consider investing in the best hand sander as soon as possible.
The 6 Best Hand Sanders to Buy Now
There are quite a few different types of hand sanders on the market. These electric machines have mechanisms that move the sanding paper back and forth or in a circular motion. When you press the machine against the wood, the sander does most of the hard work and scrapes the wood surface.
In this guide, we are going to have a look at some good quality hand sanders that you can buy for your woodworking workshop.
1. The Cubitron 3M Random Orbital Sander
This is the best pneumatic sander for those who love to use an air compressor while sanding. This 6-inch sander is very easy to use and it is made from high-quality materials.
It isn’t the best pick for those with allergies since it doesn’t come with a dust collector but it is a great tool for long endurance work.
Specifications
- Weight – 2.7 pounds
- Size – 12 x 12 x 12 inches
- Type – Pneumatic circle palm sander
- Main materials – Aluminum and composite
- Color – Red
- Motor – 0.28 horsepower
- Compatibility – 3M Stikit Disk Pads
- Dust collector – N/A
- Included – Hand sander, disk pads with adhesive backs, 3M air tool lubricant, 24mm pad wrench, and user manual
Pros
- The sander is very compact in size
- Pneumatic functionality makes it very powerful
- The low profile design is well balanced
- It is very easy to use
- It is very easy to switch between disks
- It is very durable and can be used for a longer duration than electric or battery operated sanders
Cons
- Requires an air compressor to function
- The sander is a bit pricey
2. The Dewalt DWE6421K Random Orbit Sander
This electric orbit sander is a great budget buy if you need something large and powerful. It has a 5-inch disk and is compatible with sanding disks and polishing disks. The sander is easy to use and it also comes with a dust collector to keep your work area a little bit cleaner.
Specifications
- Weight – 4 pounds
- Size – 10.38 x 7.25 x 6.18 inches
- Type – Electric random orbit sander
- Sander disk size – 5 inches
- Color – Yellow and black
- Motor – 3-amp motor
- Rotating speed – 12,000 opm
- Dust collector – Included
- Compatibility – 5-inch 8-hole sanding blades
- Included – Carry bag, orbit sander, dust pouch, and user manual
Pros
- The sander is affordable
- The 5-inch blade is ideal for sanding large flat surfaces
- It is electric which means no batteries to fail you while working
- The sander comes with a storage or carry bag
- You can buy replacement sanding blades for it
- It has a dust pouch to capture dust
- It has a powerful motor and fast rotate speed
- The sander is very easy to use
- The sander is affordable
Cons
- It is not cordless
- The sanding pouch isn’t huge and will require frequent emptying
- The sander can run hot after a while
3. The Bosch GET75-6N Random Orbit Sander
This sander might be a bit pricey but it is worth every penny if you hate dust. The sander can connect to a vacuum cleaner and will suck up all dust while you sand.
It is also corded so you won’t need to worry about batteries and the large 6-inch blade is ideal for sanding large surfaces like floors.
Specifications
- Weight – 5.7 pounds
- Size – 15 x 6.3 x 5.5 inches
- Type – Electric orbit sander
- Sander disk size – 6 inches
- Main materials –
- Color – Blue
- Motor – 7.5 amp variable speed motor
- Rotating speed – 3300 / 7300 opm
- Compatibility – Multi-hole pad system allows you to use various 6 inch disk types
- Dust collector – Vacuum dust collection system
- Included – Sanding machine, instruction manual, soft backing pad, hex pad wrench, sanding disk, removable front handle, 2 vacuum hose adapters
Pros
- The sander can connect to a vacuum to collect all dust
- It is very easy to use
- The large 6-inch blade is ideal for sanding large surfaces or floors
- It has a removable handle that eases handling
- The sander is electric with no batteries that can run out of energy
- It has two sanding modes; random or aggressive
- It can be used for sanding or polishing tasks
- It is an ideal tool for those who are sensitive to dust
Cons
- The sander is a bit pricey
- You will need to connect it to a vacuum to benefit from this function
- It is not wireless
4. The Worx WX820L Multi-Sander Set
If you prefer a sander that can handle large flat surfaces, grooves and other sanding tasks then this is a great pick. This sander comes with five different sanding functions which makes it very flexible.
It is battery powered so you can move freely and it also has a small dust pouch that will help keep your work area clean while you sand.
Specifications
- Weight – 5.99 pounds
- Size – 9.06 x 4.72 x 6.77 inches
- Type – Multi-sander (orbit, finishing, detail, contour and finger)
- Sander disk size – 5-inch orbit or ¼-inch sheet
- Color – Black
- Motor – 20V battery rechargeable
- Compatibility – Various attachments included for orbit, square and pitched sanding
- Dust collector – Pouch included
- Included –carry case, electric sander, dust pouch, charger, battery, 5 sanding applications, various sandpaper sheets or blades, and user manual
Pros
- The sander includes 5 different tools that you can use to sand different furniture pieces
- It is an ideal tool for restoring furniture
- It comes with various loose sanding paper sheets
- The sander is quite affordable
- It comes with a storage bag to keep all your tools together
- It is wireless with a rechargeable battery
- The sander comes with a dust pouch
- The sander is easy to use
Cons
- You always have a risk of the battery running out
- Recharging times can be long
- It can be tricky to learn to use all the different applications
- The dust pouch is very small and will require frequent emptying
5. The Dewalt DCW200B Palm Sander
This sander is a good buy if you are on a tight budget and hate spending a fortune on sanding disks. The sander works with square sanding sheets and you can even cut your own sanding sheets from sanding paper. The sander is battery operated so you can move freely and it has a dust pouch that will collect dust while you work.
Specifications
- Weight – 2.9 pounds
- Size – 9.34 x 5.96 x 6.21 inches
- Type – Palm sander
- Sander sheet size – 5.5 x 4.5 inch sheets
- Color – Black and yellow
- Speed settings – 8,000 to 14,000 opm
- Compatibility – 5.5 x 4.5 inch sheets or sanding paper you can cut to this size
- Dust collector – Dust pouch
- Included – Sanding machine, dust pouch, various sanding paper sheets, and user manual
Pros
- The sander is nice and small for easy storage
- You can use normal sanding paper that you can just cut to size with this one
- It offers two speed settings
- The 5.5 x 4.5 sanding size is perfect for large flat surface sanding
- It is very easy to use
- The machine is wireless since it is battery operated
- A dust pouch is included
- It is light and comfortable to use
Cons
- Batteries are not included
- It is best to invest in several batteries if you want to work for long durations
- The dust pouch is not particularly large
6. The Dewalt DCW210D1 Random Orbit Sander
This sander is very easy to use since it is battery operated. The sander has variable speed settings and a dust collector that will keep your work area clean while you sand. It also comes with a convenient storage bag and a battery charger.
Specifications
- Weight – 4.84 pounds
- Size – 10.3 x8.9 x 5.7 inches
- Type – Battery operated random orbit sander
- Sander disk size – 5 inches
- Color – Black and yellow
- Motorspeed – 8,000 – 12,000 opm
- Compatibility – 5-inch hook-and-loop 8-hole sanding pads
- Dust collector – Dust pouch
- Included – Sander, battery charger, battery pack, carry bag and dust bag
Pros
- The sander is very easy to use
- The large 5-inch blade is ideal for sanding large surfaces
- It is a wireless device that work with battery so you can easily move around
- It offers two speed settings
- You can find additional sanding disks or even polishing disks
- The sander comes with a dust pouch
- It comes with a battery charger
- A carry case is included
Cons
- It can be annoying to recharge the battery
- The battery can run out
- The dust pouch is not particularly large
- The sander is not ideal for small areas
Buying Guide
With so many sanders to choose from, it can be tough to choose the best one. If you are having a tough time choosing the best then perhaps this quick guide can help you decide.
The Best for Allergies and Asthma
If you have allergies or asthma then woodworking probably isn’t the best hobby to try. But if you absolutely must sand then you should buy nothing else than the Bosch GET75-6N. This sander can be hooked up to a vacuum so it will catch and collect all the dust and particles while you sand. It is the cleanest tool on the list.
The Best Multi-Purpose Sander
If you want a sander that can do it all then you should consider the Worx WX820L multi-sander. This sander has various attachments that range from small to large and also an orbit sander. With so many devices, you can sand different types of surfaces with ease.
The Best Pneumatic Sander
Pneumatic sanders are ideal if you are sanding non-stop for a long time since these don’t overheat or burn out. The Cubitron 3M orbit sander is the best pneumatic sander to get if you are someone who loves to keep working without any breaks.
The Most Budget Friendly
The Dewalt DWE6421K is the most affordable sander on our list. This orbit sander is electric and it offers impressive rotating speed. Alternatively, you can also consider the Worx WX820L since this multi-tool is also quite affordable. The Dewalt DCW200B is also a great sander to consider if you want something wireless and affordable to work with.
The Best Electric Sander
Electric sanders are great for those who hate to struggle with dead batteries. The Dewalt DWE6421K and the Bosh GET75-6N are both electric and ideal for those who prefer this type of sander.
The Best Battery Operated Sander
If you love a wireless sander that allows you to move with ease then you can consider the Worx WX820L multi sander, the Dewalt DCW200B or the Dewalt DCW21D1 for your workshop.
Final Thoughts
We are quite certain that all of these hand sanders will be very handy to have in your workshop and we hope that this guide helped pick the best one based on your needs.
If you are also shopping for other quality woodworking equipment or accessories such as woodworking clamps, masks, chisels, or books, then we welcome you to have a look at some of our other buying guides where we compare other superior products on the market.