Best Palm Sanders - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
People who work with wood know that a sander is a tool that you need to buy at certain moment to make your work more efficient and easier.
It is not only designed for a hardcore woodworker, but also for workers that do simple tasks at their households.
There are lots of jobs that require the assistance of a sander, and if you have made a decision to buy one, you need to be careful which one you are going to get.
Being that a palm sander makes direct contact with your workpiece you have to find a tool which will not damage it at any cost.
We are here to help you find both efficient and affordable palm sander available on the market.
The DeWalt could not but make one more ideal tool.
Number one on our list is the DeWalt DWE6411K, according to the majority of uses the best hand sander on the market.
It deserves this position because it is comfortable, powerful, and easy to use.
The model boasts 3.2 amp motor which can reach up to 14,000 orbits per minute.
This means that users will get the powerful tool which can do a wide range of jobs.
The design of the DWE6411K is also attractive and considered very useful, as the tool is made for heavy use, but at the same time comfortable enough to be used for many hours.
What it also possesses is a heavy-duty paper clamp which is making your sanding material secure while you work on it.
The only disadvantage of this model is the dust bag, being that it lets a lot of dust out.
Not only will it make a mess, but also can be bad for your health, especially if you work long hours.
It is suggested to wear a mask while working with this tool.
Makita, also a very well-known brand, famous for its great and high quality tools has made a palm sander which is quite similar to DeWalt’s in terms of features.
It includes a tough build, an impressive 14,000 maximum OPM, and a nice and comfortable rubber designed to make users comfortable as they work with the tool for a longer period of time.
There is also a clever layout, being that the on/off switch is located in a place on the grip.
This enables the user to immediately deactivate the sander with the same hand he/she is working it with.
You will get a tool case which is both strong and big enough to store the tool and its accessories.
Being that the Makita is our runner up, there has to be something wrong with it.
This sander is expensive and users have noticed a problem with the clamping mechanism.
The clamps that hold the sandpaper are not secure causing uneven wearing and potential errors in your work.
If your budget does not allow you to get a sander belonging to a higher quality category, you can think about the SKIL 7292-02 1/4 Sheet Palm Sander.
This is an affordable tool quite similar to the Black and Decker.
It features a dust seal, an easy paper changing system and a handy pressure sensor.
The sensor is there to inform you if you are pressing down too hard on your work surface.
If we speak about its weaknesses we have to say that its handles are flimsy and you have the feeling that they will easily break off and the dust collection system is not great.
This is due to the fact that the bag does not fit very well on the dust port.
We can conclude that this is also a tool for beginners.
Even though it is the last palm sander on our list, we wanted to take a look at the Hi-Spec DT40261 Finishing Sander, being that it is an affordable option.
The tool features a powerful motor, able to generate 15,000 orbits per minute making it the most powerful of the above mentioned options.
However, in the case of palm sanders, speed is not of crucial importance.
This model has some weaknesses and one of them is the dust collection system which leaves a mess and the dust can affect the worker’s health, it is difficult to change the paper, and it has an awkward interface.
A better option for rarely done small jobs is definitely the Hi-Spec.
Now that you have gone through our top five picks, you can see that we emphasized not only the positive, but also negative sides of all the models on this list.
Our aim was to show you all the possible features that you can find in a palm sander and which to pay attention to.
If you still think that all of this information is not enough, we offer you a buyer’s guide with some key considerations so you can make a decision which is a good hand sander for you.
How important is the comfort?
Many people would not think about comfort as significant feature, as they pay attention to other more important parts of tools.
However, if you spend too much time working with it, holding an uncomfortable and , buzzing handle made of plastic and metal would not be satisfactory and acceptable for experienced users.
That is why more and more producers are investing in comfort features and those products with an ergonomic handle would definitely be a better pick.
Whether those comfort features would be important to you depends on the amount of work you plan to do and how frequent you will use the tool.
You should look for a padded grip, an ergonomically shaped handle and a vibration reduction design if you want a more comfortable tool.
What about ruggedness?
When it comes to ruggedness, there are certain things to have in mind.
Palm sanders are making constant and high-intensity contact with the workpiece and a little attention distraction can lead to the damage of the work.
What you need is a good, rugged tool, being that it will last longer.
Furthermore, it is better than cheaper tools which will not be that tough.
Buyers have difficulties with the testing of a tool’s ruggedness and that is only possible once you have a tool in your hands and believing the manufacturer’s claims related to ruggedness would not be always wise.
If you are not in a position to interact with a tool in person, the other users’ reviews would be of great help.
The users will say whether a tool is well-built or not.
How many orbits per minute are considered good enough?
It is important than a sander produces the higher number of orbits per minute.
This will determine the type of surfaces you can work on, as harder woods would require more power.
Some project will need orbits per minute capability of 14,000 and you will have to have a very powerful tool to reach this.
However, the majority of tasks would not require that much power.
Many sanders are capable of operating under their maximum, but going higher is not possible, so getting a tool with a high maximum OPM would be a better option, but only if you need it for frequent and heavy-duty tasks.
Otherwise, it is wasting of money.
Is the dust collection significant?
Considering the fact that dust can harm both the worker and the tool, the better dust collection system a tool has would lead to the longer life of the device and healthier user as well.
The tool that is on a smaller side, like a sander, would not be considered as causing much damage when the dust is in question, but the fact is that it does.
Sanders have to possess a good dust port as they are fine finish tools, used when the project is almost over.
Those final touches on your wokrpiece cause a lot of dust left and this is a huge matter of health.
The main reason for a good dust collection system is that sawdust is a known carcinogen.
Without the proper equipment, you will be breathing the dust in and damage your health, and that is not what you are looking for.
So, palm sanders with a dust port, and possibly a collection pouch should be your only choice.
You are suggested not to work without gloves and goggles, even though the dust collection system is of a good quality.
Which one is better: a corded or a battery palm sander?
It cannot be determined which one is better as both corded and battery palm sanders have both advantages and disadvantages.
If we speak about battery powered sanders, we can say that they are more workable as you can move it freely wherever you like.
The length of the cord would not be something to worry about, but the problem is that this kind of tool will not run for very long.
The battery has to be recharged before you can use the tool again and that can prolong your work.
Furthermore, battery powered tools have a shorter life expectancy, as the batteries would stop holding power after a while and you will have to purchase new batteries or replace the sander.
You should know that power tool batteries can be very expensive, and replacing the sander is sometimes a more affordable option.
That is the moment when the corded tools come into play.
It does not have limited hours of functioning, but has limited maneuverability.
This kind of tool is useless when you are working outside and there is no place to plug in the cord.
So, neither of these two options is better than the other.
Your needs would determine which one to choose that will work best for you.
What to have in mind related to pleasure detection and dust seal?
A pressure detector can be a very useful feature and some palm sanders come with it.
They are designed to inform you if you press too hard with the sander.
At that moment, the tool will vibrate or the light will turn on.
More experienced users would find this feature significant while this is also great for beginners due to the fact that it will indicate them and prevent them from damaging their workpiece.
Another important feature when palm sanders are in question is the dust sealing.
Dust can have bad effects on your health, but can also damage your tool.
Dust flies and make a mess in our workshop, while entering the inner parts of your sander as well.
This can lead to the clogging up of the motor and damage your tool that it stops working.
This is a reason why you need a tool which includes a dust seal.
It will keep dust out of sensitive areas making your tool to last longer.
Conclusion
By gathering information from our palm sander reviews, you will be a well-informed buyer, which means that you will know how to determine the right model for your needs.
There are lots of good options out there, but of all five palm sanders mentioned, the DeWalt is the best of the best and you will not regret buying it.
It is durable build and its high-performance features make it stand out of all the others available on the market.
If you choose to buy the Black and Decker you will get both the value and quality as this is the best for the money pick.
The world of palm sanders is huge, and you can even do your own research, but we believe that our article included all the necessary information you should know.
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