9 Best Electric Sanders for Wood of 2023

Do you want to try woodwork DIY projects at home? Woodwork projects require specific power tools, and among these tools is the sander. The sander can speed difficult jobs like smoothing out jagged pain and scrubbing old furniture before repainting.

You can also use the sanders to debug rough edges on metals, smoothen a rough tool handle, remove rust from surfaces, and smoothen drywalls. This is an indispensable tool, and you can use it for almost all home improvement projects. Thus, you should find the best electric sander for wood for your projects.

Here is how to choose a sander and the types of sanders you will find in the market today.

Top 9 Electric Sanders for Wood Comparison Table

ImageNameSpeedAmperage CapacityRating (1-5)
1. CRAFTSMAN CMEW231 Random Orbit Sander12,000 orbits/minute3 Amps4.7
2. BLACK+DECKER BDEQS300 Electric Sander1,600 orbits/minute2 Amps4.6
3. Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander7,500-12,000 orbits/minute2.5 Amps4.7
4. Makita BO5041K 5" Random Orbit Sander4,000-12,000 orbits/minute3 Amps4.8
5. DEWALT DWE6421K Random Orbit Sander12,000 orbits/minute3 Amps4.8
6. BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander14,000 orbits/minute1.2 Amps4.6
7. SKIL SR232301 Corded Multi-Function Detail Sander13,500 orbits/minute2 Amps4.6
8. PORTER-CABLE 7346SP Random Orbit Sander2,500-6,800 orbits/minute4.5 Amps4.7
9. BOSCH OS50VC Electric Orbital Sander8,000-11,000 orbits/minute3.4 Amps4.6

What to Consider When Buying an Electric Sander for Wood

Operation Type

You should consider the sander’s operation and the type of work at hand. For instance, you should know the surface that needs sanding, a sander that works on a car’s body, building a shelf, or fabricating requires different grits.

You might need several sanders to handle different surfaces. For example, a random, orbital, or palm sander can work on most of the project, and the detailed sander can work on the tight spot.

Corded or Cordless Sander

You can choose either a corded or cordless electric sander. For instance, the corded electric sander does not run out of power and needs a constant power supply. Thus, you can work with the sander in an indoor or outdoor environment with a power supply. You don’t have to worry about running out of power or charging the device when working on different tasks.

However, a corded sander can limit your flexibility as you need to work close to a power plug. You can work from anywhere if you buy a cordless sander, but they have limited power sources, but you can elongate its life if you carry the charger.

Although a cordless sander might be heavier since it has a battery, you can opt for the cordless ones, which might be lighter. Moreover, the corded electric sander might drag as it is tied to the power outlet. You should choose the electric sander which meets your needs.

Power Level

Different sanders have different power levels no matter the power source, as individual sander amps and motor determines the power you will get from the tool. When working on heavy projects, it would be better to go for powerful sanders.

You would go for less powerful sanders if you want to accomplish lighter sanding. Thus, it is better to think about the toughness, how often you use your tool, and the best amps for the DIY projects.

Vibration Control

If you are used to the regular old sandpapers, you need to consider the vibrations feature, as electric sanders vibrate in action. Although this feature might not seem like an issue, it might lead to hand fatigue when welding the sander for an extended time.

You can have a hard time holding and controlling a vibrating tool. However, some sanders have vibration control, and it would be better to go for those with little control as they are easy to handle.

The Contact Area

You will choose an electric sander based on the contact area, all sanders don’t have the same pas size, and some are so large and are made for sanding vast surfaces, while others have a small surface area and are helpful for detailed work. Thus, you will decide on the sander pad size based on the work at hand.

Overall Sander Size

It may take time to pick the sander size which you can comfortably handle. However, if you are muscular and sturdy, you can go for a heavy sander. Ensure you can handle the sander well, especially if you are working in a tight space.

Handgrip

You should ensure it has a good hand grip since you will be holding the electrical sander when working on different surfaces. A good hand grip makes it possible to overcome the vibrations from the electric sander.

The sander should have a well-cushioned and controllable handgrip, making it possible to sand the surface. Moreover, a soft grip might be comfortable despite the vibrations, and you should go for a grip that meets your needs. You should look for a soft cushioned grip when buying an electric sander.

Dust Collection

Sanding creates a lot of dust, and your sander should have a dust-holding unit that prevents dust from entering the delicate parts. Moreover, the sand can clog the tool, and thus, your tool should take care of the mess.

A sand holder with a built-in dust bag would be appropriate for the work. Moreover, you can avoid dust by keeping the workshop clean while sanding different surfaces.

Reducing the dust at the workplace also reduces the dust you would breathe and thus reduce health concerns such as dust mites. Therefore an electric sander with dust collection would be convenient and more appealing than the regular sanders.

Different Speeds

Your sander should offer speed control, as it allows you to set the appropriate speed at which the sander operates. You can choose to work slowly with the sander and increase the speed whenever possible.

The more variable the sander speed, the more control you will have, which leads to more customization and better sanding outcomes.

The Different Types of Electrical Sanders

Belt Sanders

The belt sanders remove rough edges and coarse materials from the surfaces. The sanders are best when beginning sanding on a rough surface. Moreover, when used on hardwood floors, they result in an untouchable finish

Disc Sanders

The disc sanders work on areas that bulky sanders might leave behind. Thus, they are suitable for finishing the sanding and offer uniformity to the surface.

Random Orbital Sanders

The random orbital sanders are versatile and have a high sanding power. However, they are not suitable for large areas such as wooden floors and would work well for small areas where details matter

Finishing Electrical Sanders

The finishing sanders give the surfaces final touches. They are effective when you are looking for the smoothest finish on the surface.

How to Use Electrical Sanders

  1. Choose the sandpaper grit suitable for the floor and load it into the electric sander with the hook and loop system.
  2. Turn the sander to test the speed, and you can sand the different surfaces to determine if the sander is suitable for the job at hand.
  3. Sand away following the wood grains and any other patterns.

Top 3 Best Electric Sander for Wood Reviews

1. CRAFTSMAN CMEW231 Random Orbit Sander

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW231 Random Orbit Sander completes tasks efficiently and is corded, meaning you would need to be close to a power source to use the tool. The sander has 3.0 Amps and 12,000 OPM power which means it can work on heavy-duty sanding.

It has an onboard dust bag that is connected to a vacuum hose. The sander is durable, and dust sealed, meaning it does not get dust to clog quickly.

The sander is rugged and durable and can take challenging projects, and features die-cast aluminum gear which houses a dual-bearing mount on the sanding pads.

The sander also has a solid built-in dampening that prevents any accidental gouges and swirls that might appear when you don’t sand carefully. Thus offers safety and comfort working on tedious detailed work.

Pros
  • It is made of die-cast aluminum; thus, it has a solid and rugged build
  • It offers comfortable dampening unit which is built to high accuracy
  • It reduces accidental swirls
Cons
  • It is heavier than similar tools

2. BLACK+DECKER BDEQS300 Electric Sander

The BLACK+DECKER BDEQS300 Electric Sander is perfect for woodworking and carpentry projects. With its tri-layer filtration, the sander ensures a clean work area, while the soft grip paddle switch provides easy on/off operation.

The included sheet sandpaper and paper punch make it easy to get started on your project, and the dust bag keeps your workspace neat and tidy. Powered by a 2.0 amp motor, this sander delivers 1600 orbits per minute for fast material removal.

This lightweight and compact electric sander are easy to use in cramped spaces, featuring an ergonomic design for maximum comfort. The paddle switch on the top of the sander activates it with a press from your palm, so you can turn it on or off easily with just one hand.

Pros
  • It is lightweight
  • It has low noise
  • It provides a lock and unlock switch for peace of mind
  • It has an ergonomic design
Cons
  • It isn’t as powerful as other sanders

3. Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander

The Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander is comfortable and has the best dust collection, which prevents clogging. The sander offers high speeds when smoothing surfaces and is ideal for professional sanding and home projects.

The dust control uses the rubber O-ring seal and has good airflow and an air-tight canister. Thus the dust does not get into the abrasive pad and will stay clean, elongating its life.

The sander offers speed control, and thus you would want to sand different surfaces effectively. Even if you pump out of position at times, you will effectively control the tool, leaving an excellent and professionally done surface.

Pros
  • It offers different speeds, which makes it possible to control the sander
  • It is made for professional sanding and at-home projects as it is easy to use
  • The sander has an air-tight dust collection which prevents the tool from clogging
Cons
  • The handgrip might be rough

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Sand Wood With an Electric Sander?

When sanding wood using an electric sander, you start by loading the sandpaper into the sander, and it would be better to choose the correct grit.

You should adhere to the hook and loop method when fixing the sandpaper and start testing on the non-conspicuous wooden surface before sanding the visible parts.

What’s the Fastest Way to Sand Wood?

Electrical sanders are the fastest way to sand wood as they offer a clean finishing with little effort. Moreover, the sanders come with speed control, and you can choose how fast you want to sand the wood. Moreover, the electrical sanders have dust holding compartments which make work clean

Should I Sand After Staining?

Yes, you can sand after staining depending on the severity of the stain. If it is a small stain, there are no problems. However, if the stain is large, you can deal with the stain first before sanding the surface.

What is the Difference Between a Finishing Sander and an Orbital Sander?

An orbital sander that works on a large surface produces the best finish for surfaces like wooden floors and might be used for commercial purposes.

On the other hand, the finishing sander works on the final touches and corrects patches left by large sanders, and most people go for the finishing sanders when they want smooth finishing.

What Grit Should I Start Sanding?

You can start with less grit, probably 150 -200, and increase the intensity to get the desired sanding outcomes. Moreover, some high grit sanders might chip off more wood than expected. Thus, the grit would depend on the desired results.

What to Use to Wipe Down Wood After Sanding?

You can use a soft brush to wipe away wood after sanding and avoid rough brushes which could damage the wood. Moreover, you can use a soft cloth to remove the tiny dust particles

What Happens If You Sand-Stained Wood?

Applying the stain makes the wood grain come up, and if you sand it, it knocks down those grains and leaves your piece blotchy and faded-looking. Sand after the first coat of finish. Do not use any form of polyurethane because polyurethane sits on top of the wood instead of penetrating it.

Should I Sand Between Stain and Polyurethane?

You don’t need to sand between coats of varnish. You can just put on more coats. The only time you should sand is if there are minor surface flaws, like dust particles landing in the finish before it has dried.

Conclusion

Starting woodwork can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the best electric sander for wood. Look for an electric sander with speed control, grip, and dust control.

It is important to choose a sander that meets your needs. However, it would be wise to settle with commercial use electric sanders when working on your projects as they are made to last.