In the past, sanding was a physical job that required a lot of time and energy. On top of that, sanding with bare hands didn’t produce constant results since the amount of pressure and effort applied by humans is not consistent.
It is impossible to attain the perfect curves and shapes without spindle sanders since these tools are powerful enough to handle significant sanding work, eliminating the extra hard work like sawing or carving that comes with shaping ply before using sanding paper for the perfect finish.
Today, many woodworkers are rushing to buy spindle sanders for better results and efficiency. With that said, many manufacturers have come up to provide these important tools to the market.
Although it is a genuine gesture, it is good to know that not all spindle sanders you come across are perfect. There have been a lot of cases where users get disappointed.
From accidents to unexpected issues like the tool producing noise and burning smell, there are so many negative reviews on bad spindle sanders.
The danger of using counterfeit workshop tools or equipment can be life-threatening and that is why it is very important to ensure that you buy the right spindle sander.
Top 7 Spindle Sanders Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Amperage | Spindle Speed | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Triton TSPS450 Cast Iron Top Oscillating Spindle Sander | 3.5 Amp | 2000 RPM | 4.7 |
 | 1. WEN HA5932 Variable Speed Portable Oscillating Spindle Sander | 5 Amp | 1800-2000 RPM | 4.6 |
 | 3. WEN 6510T Oscillating Spindle Sander | 3.5 Amp | 2000 RPM | 4.7 |
 | 4. Shop Fox W1831 1/2 HP Single Phase Oscillating Spindle Sander | 3.5 Amp | 2000 RPM | 4.6 |
 | 5. Delta Woodworking 31-483 Heavy-Duty Oscillating Bench Spindle Sander | 2.6 Amp | 1725 RPM | 4 |
 | 6. POWERTEC OS1400 Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander | 2.6 Amp | 1725 RPM | 4.5 |
 | 7. WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander | 3.5 Amp | 2000 RPM | 4.6 |
Types of Spindle Sander
There are three main types of spindle sanders with regards to their portability. These are:
- Portable spindle sanders that can be held and used freely by hand and weigh much less to make it easy to carry and use.
- Floor standing sanders are the biggest and heaviest since they stand on the ground and rise to the height of a normal worktop. Some floor-standing sanders have adjustable heights.
- Benchtop sanders which are medium size and not too heavy, are used on worktops or benches. These are usually mounted to make them firm and stable for use.
Features to Look For in a Spindle Sander
Since spindle sanders can have many different uses, it is very important to consider the features before settling to buy one. As a buyer, the following features are vital in picking your sanding tool.
Power
Different spindle sanders offer different motor power which affects the performance of the tool. Some sanders rotate at a high speed of up to 3200 RPM while some are not too powerful and can only rotate to speeds up to 1800 RPM.
When considering power and rotation speed, you should keep in mind the kind of work that you need the spindle sander for. That is because more powerful sanders tend to cost more.
Material
The kind of material used for building a spindle sander matters a great deal. Normally, there are three kinds of material used in building these tools including aluminum, cast iron, and plastic.
Some are built with a combination of more than one material.
Plastic covering and parts are mostly seen in portable spindle sanders while heavy metals are widely used with heavy sanders especially floor standing sander.
Noise Levels
There are both loud and quiet spindle sanders in the market and you should consider the noise levels with regards to where you intend to use the tool.
If you need a spindle sander to use in your home workshop then, you will need something much quieter so that you can work at any time of the day or night without causing so much disturbance.
Top 3 Best Spindle Sander Reviews
There are so many types of oscillating spindle sanders ranging from different models and designs. When it comes to the best one for you, there are many questions that you will need to answer.
For example, you will want to consider where you want to use the tool, be it at home or in a big workshop with heavy-duty work. You will also need to think about the kind of work you want to do with it.
Woodwork is a wide area and can include making home furniture to main smaller items like signs.
From our intense research to identify the best spindle sander according to buyers’ reviews, we identified the 3 most popular spindle sanders.
1. Triton TSPS450 Cast Iron Top Oscillating Spindle Sander
If you are looking for a sander that is capable of taking on the smallest detail work and big sanding projects this Triton TSPS450 Cast Iron Top Oscillating Spindle Sander will be a great addition to your workshop.
With a 3.5 Amp motor, this powerful machine oscillates and rotates to give you precision results.
The unit itself weighs 32.25 pounds with a sleeve range of 1/2 – 3 inches, making it capable of handling any woodworking job you throw at it.
This powerful oscillating spindle sander is an ideal power tool for sanding contours, arcs, curves and other irregular shapes.
Its powerful cast iron top features an oscillating spindle with a large diameter sanding sleeve allowing you to sand complex shapes and curves with ease.
2. WEN HA5932 5-Amp Variable Speed Portable Oscillating Spindle Sander
The WEN HA5932 5-Amp Variable Speed Portable Oscillating Spindle Sander gives you the power and versatility to achieve professional results. This lightweight and portable design allows for easy handheld sanding in hard-to-reach places.
It features a powerful 5 amp motor that provides anywhere from 1800 to 3200 rotations per minute and 50 to 90 oscillations per minutes with a 1/4 inch stroke.
The adjustable guide plate provides a straight edge to get the most from the removal of your material and help you get consistent results. With its 1.5-inch dust port, you can attach this sander to your dust collection system to reduce the mess.
3. WEN 6510T Oscillating Spindle Sander
The WEN 6510T Oscillating Spindle Sander is one of the most powerful and efficient sanders in the market. It offers 58 oscillations and 2000 rotations per minute with a 5/8 inch stroke.
It comes with six different-sized sanding sleeves (1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/2, 2, and 3 inches in diameter) and five different rubber drums.
This compact sander offers a powerful 1/2 horsepower motor for top-notch performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does an Oscillating Spindle Sander Do?
An oscillating spindle sander is an automatic electronic solution to your wood sanding problem.
The tool works by rotating a sandpaper drum while in an upward and downward motion to ensure maximum exposure and contact between the piece of wood and the sandpaper for the perfect result.
The oscillating spindle sander replaces the convectional way of sanding which required a lot of time and energy.
What Do You Use a Spindle Sander For?
The main use of a spindle sander is to shape and smoothen wood surfaces in a more efficient way. In the past, one had to physically rub sandpaper against wood which is not only tiresome but also time-consuming.
Spindle sanders have been proven to be much faster and efficient in producing the perfect finishing in woodwork. This tool can also be used for shaping and carving wood without the need for cutting.
Can I Use a Drill Press as a Spindle Sander?
Yes, and all you have to do is fix the sandpaper drum and you are good to go. Unlike the spindle sander, your drill press will not be able to move in an up and down motion as the original tool does.
However, it does not mean that you cannot get the perfect results with your drill press sander. All safety measures must be observed when modifying your press drill into a spindle sander to avoid accidents.
Can a Router Be Used as a Spindle Sander?
Yes, but to do this, you will need to make some small modifications to ensure that your drum fits perfectly into the router. Understand that sanding drums are mainly designed to be used with spindle sanders.
You will need to be an expert or critically follow tutorial videos showing how to modify your router into a functioning sanding drum.
Although it can work perfectly, it does not offer everything that a spindle sander does especially the up and down motion which provides the perfect finishing.
What is The Throat Plate Used For on the Spindle Sander?
The main use of the throat plate in a spindle sander is to close the gap between the drum and the worktop. This gives the whole tool a compact look by eliminating any open spaces that can make it tricky to use the spindle sander.
In addition, the throat plate also helps in preventing dust from accumulating under the drum which can prevent your spindle sander from working as expected by limiting the drum’s movement.
How Do You Collect Dust When Sanding?
There are so many ways that one can use to collect dust when sanding with a spindle sander. Most of the solutions are from creative thinking since many spindle sanders are installed with a dust port for connecting a suction mechanism.
Using a vacuum of alternative suction tools, you can easily and quickly collect sanding dust without any complications. As a result, reducing the dust build-up on the worktop can cause a great interference and even mess up the quality.
What are Some Safety Factors to Consider While Using a Sander?
Since you will be dealing with an electronic workshop tool, you will need all the safety gear and measures necessary to prevent injury.
But, the most important safety tip for using a spindle sander is ensuring that the drum is properly installed to prevent it from flying off. You will also need eye protection for the dust and safety gloves to prevent the sander from ripping out your fingers.
On top of that, all the safety measures recommended for people working in workshops should be applied especially for heavy-duty sanding work.
When Using an Oscillating Sander, What is The Recommended Motion?
Before answering the question, you first need to observe the movement of the sander which is a clockwise rotation together with an up and down movement. To attain the perfect results, it is recommended to use a natural flowing motion especially when sanding curves.
Getting the right motion is never a problem once you already know what you want to achieve in the end. You should always be careful when using sanders and ensure that you have the right grip.
How Loud is a Spindle Sander?
This entirely depends on the kind of spindle sander that you choose. Some are loud while others have a silencing mechanism that reduces the amount of noise that the tool can produce.
It is however important to know that the amount of noise that a sander produces has nothing to do with the quality of work that it can do.
Conclusion
As much as spindle sanders are the perfect tools for your sanding needs, getting the right one is usually the problem. Nevertheless, people tend to have different experiences with these tools. That explains why a single spindle sander can have both positive and negative reviews.
One of the reasons why people get bad experiences with these sanding tools is because of buying the wrong item.
The good news however is that using reviews such as this one, you can always make a more informed decision and avoid wasting time and money.
