The official power sander thread

[13Gigatons]

What sander should I buy?

There are so many, one-quarter sheet, one-third sheet, orbital, etc.

Then there is clamp vs hook and loop, the hook and loop seems a breeze to change out but the sheets cost more.

Also does OPM make much of a difference? One will be 14,000 and another 10,000...what about amps?

 

[UnklSnappy]

I have this one and am very happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D2645...id=1517865480&sr=1-20&keywords=orbital+sander
But I guess it depends what you plan on doing with it.

 

[renz20003]

How bout

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have this one and am very happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D2645...id=1517865480&sr=1-20&keywords=orbital+sander
But I guess it depends what you plan on doing with it.

I have one of these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-Cable-5-in-Random-Orbital-Sander-382/203054710

It was not as expensive as a Dewalt. Works fine, has survived a few drops.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Check your local pawn shops.

 

[BoomerD]

I used to have a couple of Craftsman power sanders. One was 1/3 sheet, the other was 1/4 sheet. Both did the job just fine.

I don't think I could justify the extra cost of the velcro sheets. Just get the sander with the sheet clamps and git er dun!

IME, the ones with the "dust collection bags" were a joke...the sanders work just fine...but don't really catch enough dust to justify putting the bag on them.
The Dewalt linked above looks like the dust collection system might actually work. My little Craftsman 1/4 sheet sander with dust bag didn't.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

IME, the ones with the "dust collection bags" were a joke...the sanders work just fine...but don't really catch enough dust to justify putting the bag on them.

I'm not really sure why they bother with the bags. But the hookup is usually the right size for a shop-vac hookup. (1.25", 1.5", or 2.5", ymmv, adapters are easy to find.)

IMO, that's how you're "supposed" to use them - with some kind of dust collection. The bag is a convenient thing to print their logo on and looks good on the product packaging.

 

[feralkid]

I have this one and am very happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D2645...id=1517865480&sr=1-20&keywords=orbital+sander
But I guess it depends what you plan on doing with it.

You chose wisely.

 

[deadlyapp]

I've got a craftsman 1/3 sheet and a cheap harbor freight orbital. I seem to make more progress with the orbital so I use it more. Have to be careful though since it will make a pattern unlike the sheet.

Honestly the hand held belts are the best if you need a lot of material gone fast

 

[NoCreativity]

I have this one and am very happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D2645...id=1517865480&sr=1-20&keywords=orbital+sander
But I guess it depends what you plan on doing with it.

I've got the same one. And I have abused it for 14 years now. There is a definite decrease in dust when you have the bag hooked up and even more so with the shop vac hooked up.

I have realized that it makes sense to have two sanders. An orbital and one of the 1/3rd sheets. You need something that gets into corners.

 

[Zeze]

Not sure if this thread is cereal.