Random Orbital Sander

One of the most popular types of sanders for the woodworking shop is the random orbital sander. Woodworkers use it to remove lots of material quickly, like a belt sander. It is also capable of producing a smoother finish, similar to that produced by an orbital sander. These sanders have a round base that usually measure five or six inches in diameter. That base spins as it operates. An additional elliptical movement is added to the spin to create a more random pattern. The random action it generates helps to cut through wood quickly. You can also use it to make a smoother surface.

Random orbital sanders include variable speed settings so that you can match the speed to the application and material you are sanding. It will also include ergonomic features that reduce vibrations as you work, which is important as a random orbital sander uses powerful motors to help sand away rough surfaces. (source)

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Random Orbital Sander companies worth checking out:

• Festool

• Bosch

• Makita

• Black and Decker

• Dewalt

• Milwaukee

• Porter Cable

• Worx

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1/4 Sheet Sander

This sander is also called an orbital sander. It has been a popular choice in both home and commercial settings since the 1950s. The main purpose of this power tool is to produce a smooth surface that is close to finishing. A spring-loaded base is vibrated by the electric motor, moving in a circular motion. It has a square shape that covers a larger area with each movement when compared to the smaller detail sander. This design also employs a smaller motor that creates a less aggressive type of sanding. The name of the 1/4 sheet refers to its ability to accept a quarter of a sheet of sanding paper. These sanders are easy to load and operate with minimal user effort.

This sander is best used before topcoats are applied or between those coats to help create as smooth of a finish as possible. The price makes them a popular choice for beginning woodworkers and those who are starting to build their tool collection. Some woodworkers recommend purchasing a random orbital sander instead of this sander. (source)

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1/4 Sheet Sander companies worth checking out:

• Dewalt

• Rigid

• Bosch

• Porter Cable

• Black and Decker

• Makita

• Ryobi

Drum Sander

A drum sander is a machine that uses sanding grit on a drum to remove stock. The benchtop and stand-alone machine versions are fed wood that passes between the drum and a table. This is one of the few instances where a sander can help to produce parallel surfaces on the faces of boards. This machine has a larger price tag, but it does provide users a way to thickness boards with less stock removal than a planer. You can also continuously feed wood into this tool, improving your work tempo on projects with many similar components. Cabinet makers and high-volume shops will benefit from buying a drum sander generally more than occasional woodworkers will. (source)

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Drum Sander companies worth checking out:

• Supermax

• Jet

• Grizzly

• Powermatic

• Woodmaster

Straight Line Sander

Straight Line sanders are air-powered tools that are often seen in autobody shops. They work great with wood as well, and sand in a straight line instead of swirling. This type of product is best for larger surfaces that require flattening. (source)

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Straight Line Sander companies worth checking out:

• Ingersoll

• Chicago

• Hutchins

• Astro

• PowRyte

• ATD

Drywall Sander

Drywall requires multiple coats of mud that will need sanding to create a seamless appearance. Patches are another instance where the mud needs to blend into the sheet rock’s flat surface. This tool will allow you to reach farther than hand-held versions and should clog less frequently.

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Drywall Sander companies worth checking out:

• Hyde

• Mirka

• Festool

• Wen

• Dewalt

• Marshalltown

• Yattich

Belt Sander

One of the fastest tools for removing wood by sanding is the belt design. This device uses a sanding belt placed over a pair of rollers. Those rollers linearly drive the belt. A belt sander can be used at an angle or across the wood grain. It will not leave swirling marks like an orbital sander since the belt moves in a straight line. Belt sanders are ideal for woodworkers who work with materials that have rough surfaces. For instance, belt sanders work very well for deck refinishing. Other sanders are not as quick at cleaning up wood grain or leveling uneven surfaces. Fast stock removal also makes this a good tool for sanding to a scribed line. Woodworkers who make curved furniture surfaces will find it very useful for saving time and maintaining their workflow. This power tool also can be used for the free-hand shaping of curves with a little bit of practice. (source)

​Belt Sander companies worth checking out:

• Craftsman

• Makita

• Wen

• Skil

• Black and Decker

• Metabo

• Vevor

• Grizzly

Benchtop Belt and Disc Sander

A belt and disc sander is a more specialized power tool that provides accuracy and control as you work. It consists of two major components: the belt portion and the disc portion. These both run on the same motor drive. A key component with this sander is stability, something that a benchtop platform provides you. The sanding surface remains at the same angle as you work, while a support table keeps your project in place. That creates faces and edges that are flat and consistent across the board.

Benchtop belt and disc sanders are a good choice for woodworkers who do a lot of projects that need accurate edges. That can be critical for miter joints on frames as well as edges on glue-up panels. The table surface on both sanders also provides accuracy for novice woodworkers who may find it difficult to keep hand-held sanders in the proper position when smoothing a board’s surface. (source)

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Benchtop Belt and Disc Sander companies worth checking out:

• Grizzly

• Wen

• Rikon

• Ryobi

• Jet

• Vevor

• Craftsman

• Eastwood

Oscillating Tool or Multi Tool

Oscillating tools are also known as multi-tools. These can use a variety of attachments for cutting, sanding, or polishing. An electronic motor vibrates the tool attachment to perform the job. These devices are hand-held and are powered by an outlet or use battery packs. They can be used almost anywhere that you can reach. (source)

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Oscillating Tool or Multi Tool companies worth checking out:

• Dremel

• Makita

• Skil

• Dewalt

• Craftsman

Right Angle Sander

This power tool has a horizontal housing with the sander positioned at a 45-degree angle. The longer body allows for potential increases in power and torque. Busy amateur woodworkers and professional shops will appreciate the sanding power this tool provides.

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Right Angle Sander companies worth checking out:

• Astro

• Rockwood

• Sioux

• Dewalt

• Makita

• Dotco

Floor Sander

These specialized tools might be for rent in your area. Otherwise, you will probably only use one if you work with hardwood flooring. They are great for removing topcoats and taking minimal grain from the surface. Good units also provide a collection attachment that can hold debris as you work.

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Floor Sander companies worth checking out:

• Clarke

• Lagler Hummel

• Wen

• American Sander

• Powr-Flite

• Bon

Detail Sander

A detail sander allows you to work in tight spaces where other sanders will struggle to reach. These types of sanders often have smaller baseplates; the key design component is its triangular-shaped toe. It is the point that allows you to efficiently sand into corners and along the edges where two surfaces meet. These tools use smaller motors as well as less aggressive sanding materials. You can use this sander for more detailed work on projects that could be more easily damaged. Using a detail sander will leave the area ready for a finish, unlike a belt sander that creates rougher surfaces. Detail sanders are best for a detail sanding for interior corners on boxes, drawers, and shelves. The less aggressive action will also allow you to clean along the interior edges without damaging the converging surface. A detail sander is also a good choice if you do a lot of delicate projects with thin stock, as it will not take a lot of material off. (source)

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Finishing Sander companies worth checking out:

• Ryobi

• Skil

• Black and Decker

• Bosch

• Craftsman

• Milwaukee

Oscillating Spindle Sander

This power tool usually has a benchtop design, although there are hand-held products on the market. The spindle allows you to sand in tight spaces that other models can not, especially in holes where even a detail sander would struggle. This sander uses abrasive material that is wrapped around a cylinder to remove wood. The cylinder moves up and down as well as spins. This creates a smoother surface when finished and allows more of the sanding surface to make contact with the edge of projects. Furniture makers will find this a valuable tool for cleaning along edges. It excels along curved edges as it remains in constant contact along the entire edge. These sanders are also good to use on more delicate wood pieces, such as thin stock or boards with holes bored into them. (source)

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Oscillating Spindle Sander companies worth checking out:

• Laguna

• Rigid

• Jet

• Rikon

• Triton

• Grizzly

• Shop Fox

• Wen

Disc Sander

A disc sander uses a circular piece of sandpaper that spins. It quickly removes wood from a project. A table allows you to hold the piece at the correct angle to the disc so that you can get a highly accurate surface. The disc sander is great for miter joints and flattening edges. (source)

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Disc Sander companies worth checking out:

• Wen

• Bucktool

• Ingersoll

• Rockwell

• Rikon

• Grizzly

• Palmgren

Dual-Action Sander

The motion of this sander is different from that of a random orbital sander. This design moves the base forward and backward while adding some rotation.

It comes in electric and air-powered designs and offers a sanding alternative to builds that leave swirls in the wood.

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Dual-Action Sander companies worth checking out:

• Valianto

• Gedu

• Ingersoll

• Makita

• Chicago

• Goplus

• Dynabrade