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Best Palm Sander / Random Orbital Sanders 2024 – Updated by Burbro Editors on April 14th, 2021
Whether you’re sanding furniture, a deck, your fence or other pieces of woodworking, you’ll want to use an orbital sander. A palm sander is an easy way for you to sand down large wood areas and smooth the surface of the wood without spending hours using sandpaper.
If you’ve been looking for palm sanders, you’ll know there are a lot of sanders you can choose to work on your projects. However, this doesn’t mean that all these palm sanders are high-quality, durable, worth your money, or capable of doing a quality job.
In this tool review, we’ll look at the best palm sanders you can use in 2024. We’ll also provide a comprehensive buyer’s guide that helps you know what to look for when you’re choosing a sander so that you can find the right tool for your job.
Best Palm Sanders of 2024
We’ve reviewed the best palm sanders and random orbital sanders and compiled the best tools in a list so that you can quickly find the tools you’re looking for. We’ll also provide a list of runner-up tools that are good alternatives.
Here are the best palm sanders of 2024.
- Best Power Sander for Woodworking: Makita XOB01T Cordless Palm Sander
- Best Palm Sander for Furniture: DeWalt 20V MAX Random Orbit Sander
- Best Palm Sanders for Decks and Fences: Ridgid 18V Cordless Palm Sander
- Best Palm Sander for the Money: Milwaukee Random Orbit Palm Sander
- Best Palm Sander for Controlling Dust: Bosch ROS20VSC Corded Palm Sander
- Best Cheap Palm Sander: Craftsman Random Orbit Sander
Runner-Up List
- Also Good: Black and Decker 5-Inch Palm Sander
- Also Good: Ryobi Cordless Palm Sander
- Also Good: Festool FEQ Rotex Sander
1. Makita XOB01T Cordless Palm Sander
One of the Best Power Sanders for Woodworking.
As a woodworker, there’ll be times when you need a power sander or palm sander to clean up the surface of the wood that you’re using for your projects. One of the best palm sanders that can be used for woodworking is the Makita XOB01T Palm Sander. The Makita XOB01T Palm Sander features a 5-inch sanding head that uses random orbit technology to sand the wood. It also comes with a comfortable grip that can easily be gripped by the palm of your hand, so you have more control while sanding. The Makita Palm Sander uses an 18-volt Ion-Lithium battery that powers that sander and provides between 7,000 to 11,000 orbits per minute (OPM). This palm sander comes with 3 power settings such as low, medium and high sanding power. This battery can also run for up to 65 minutes of sanding before you’ll need to change the battery pack. One thing that we love about this Makita sander is that it comes with a dust collector that removes the dust from your work area. It also comes with a battery docking station so that you can charge a spare battery while you’re working so that you won’t have to wait for the batteries to recharge.
Features: 18V LXT Ion-Lithium Cordless Motor; 3 Speed Settings (7,000 / 9,000 / 11,000 Orbits Per Minute); Ergonomic Handle; Dust Collection Bag
Dimensions: 8.7 x 21.22 x 8.27 Inches; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
2. DeWalt 20V MAX Random Orbital Sander
The Best Palm Sander for Furniture.
If you’re restoring furniture, you’ll need a palm sander that can smooth the surface of the furniture so that you can begin staining the wood. A sander you may be interested in is the DeWalt 20V MAX Palm Sander, the best palm sander for furniture. The Dewalt 20V MAX Random Orbital Palm Sander comes with a cordless design that uses the Dewalt battery packs, which can be interchanged with other Dewalt MAX tools. This battery system provides enough power for sanding speeds of 8,000 to 12,000 orbits per minute (OPM). When you’re sanding furniture, there’ll be fine dust that’s floating through the air. One of the reasons that this palm sander is great for furniture is that it comes with a brushless motor that isn’t affected by the fine dust that floats into the motor. With the Dewalt 20V MAX Palm sander, we love that it comes with a textured rubber grip that’s easy to hold so that you can get better control. We also love that the sanding pads come with an 8-hole design, making them easier to remove and replace.
Features: MAX 20V Ion-Lithium Battery; Variable Sanding Speed (8,000 – 12,000 Orbits Per Minute); Replaceable Hook and Loop Pads; Ergonomic Handle; Dust Bag
Dimensions: 25.9 x 22.9 x 14 cm; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
3. Ridgid 18V Cordless Palm Sander
One of the Best Palm Sanders for Decks and Fences.
One reason people use palm sanders is that they need to sand and paint their fences or decks. If you need a palm sander for your deck, you’ll want to look at the Ridgid 18V Cordless Palm Sander. The Ridgid 18V Cordless Palm Sander features a cordless design that uses the 18-volt battery packs so that you won’t need to run power cords across your yard. This provides enough sanding power for 7,000 to 11,000 orbits per minute (OPM). The Ridgid cordless palm sander also comes with AirGuard technology, which collects 90% of the dust that’s produced from the sander. This feature is nice because it keeps the sand out of the air, from attaching to your clothes and getting in your eyes. One of the things that we love about this power sander is that you can attach your shop vac to the sander’s back. This will allow the shop vac to suck up the air without using the dust bag for dust collection. All you’ll need is a shop vac with a nozzle that’s 1 ¼ inch or 2 ½ inches, which are the standard hose sizes.
Features: 18-Volt Brushless Motor; AirGuard Technology Collects 90% of Dust; Variable Speeds (7,000-11,000 RPM); Shop Vac Compatible
Dimensions: 8.82 x 5.91 x 5.71 Inches; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
4. Milwaukee Random Orbital Palm Sander
The Best Palm Sander for the Money.
When you’re choosing a sander, you may not want to spend a lot of money on new tools. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly palm sander, you’ll want to look at the Milwaukee Random Orbital Palm Sander. The Milwaukee Random Orbital Palm Sander features a corded design that provides enough power for 7,000 to 12,000 orbits per minute (OPM). It also comes with speed control so that you can adjust the speed of your palm sander. With the Milwaukee Palm Sander, you can use the plastic dust collection box on the rear of the palm sander. You can also attach a vacuum hose to the sander’s back to collect the majority of the dust that the sander creates while sanding. One of the things we like about the Milwaukee Palm Sander is that it comes with quick detach sandpaper pads. These pads come with built-in holes so you can quickly detach the sandpaper and replace it with new sanding pads.
Features: 3-Amp Magnet Motor; Corded Power Source; Variable Speed (7,000 – 12,000 Orbits Per Minute); Dust Collection System; Shop Vac Compatible
Dimensions: 5 x 9.8 x 5.7 Inches; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
5. Bosch ROS20VSC Corded Palm Sander
The Best Palm Sander for Controlling Dust.
If you’re sanding wood in your workshop, you may not want the fine dust to be messing up your workspace. While many palm sanders are good for dust collection, they don’t get the micro dust that filters through the air. If you’re wanting to use the best palm sander for dust collection, you’ll want to look at the Bosch ROS20VSC Sander. The Bosch ROS20VSC Sander features a corded design that provides sanding speeds of 7,500 to 12,000 orbits per minute (OPM). It also comes with a speed adjustment dial that you can use to adjust the sander’s speed while you’re using the sander to get the right sanding speed for your materials. The Bosch ROS20VSC Sander also comes with a fine dust filtration system that’s used for dust collection. This filter can trap and collect the fine dust that’s produced from the sander. With this filter system, you’ll be able to remove dust that’s as small as ½ of a micron in diameter. One of the things we love about the Bosch Palm Sander is that it comes with low vibration sanding and an integral pad-dampening system. This technology is designed to prevent any ‘swirl’ patterns left on the wood by the sander.
Features: 2.5-Amp Motor; Corded Power Source; Variable Speed (7,500 – 11,000 Orbits Per Minute); 8-Foot Power Cord; Shop Vac Hose Adapter
Dimensions: 9 x 5 x 6 Inches; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
6. Craftsman Random Orbital Sander
The Best Cheap Palm Sander.
When you’re buying power tools for your woodworking shop, you may not want to spend a lot of money on new tools. If you’re looking for the best cheap palm sander, you’ll want to look at the Craftsman Random Orbital Sander. The Craftsman Random Orbital Sander features a corded design capable of providing sanding speeds of up to 12,000 orbits per minute (OPM). It also comes with a comfortable, textured rubber handle that makes it easier for you to grip and control the palm sander while you’re working. With the Craftsman Random Orbital Sander, you won’t need to worry about the dust messing up your workspace. This is because it comes with an onboard dust bag and an opening that can be used to attach a vacuum hose to the sander’s rear. All you’ll need is a shop vac that has a 1 ¼ inch hose so you can connect it to the sander. One of the things we liked about this tool is that it comes with a narrow design, making it easier for you to get in tight areas. Some sanding tools come with bulky batteries, but this sander is corded so you won’t have the bulk that prevents you from sanding in smaller areas.
Features: 3-Amp Motor; Corded Power Source; Up to 12,000 Orbits Per Minute; Built-In Dust Bag; Shop Vac Compatibility; 3-Year Limited Warranty
Dimensions: 10.13 x 5.5 x 5.75 Inches; 5-Inch Sanding Pad
Palm Sander Buying Guide for 2024
We want to help you find the best palm sander for your project, so we’ve created a buyer’s guide to help you understand the features you should look at when choosing a palm sander to get the right sander for your needs.
If you’re new to using or owning palm sanders, this buyer’s guide may be especially helpful for you. You can reference this buyer’s guide to help you understand the features you’ll want and need on your sander.
Benefits of Using a Palm Sander
Before we begin looking at the features that you’ll want on a sander, we want to look at the benefits of using a palm sander. After all, if you don’t know the benefits of using a sander, you may not know that you need one for your project.
The main reason people use sanders is that a sander can save you hours when you’re sanding large wood areas. Instead of manually sanding down your deck, patio, or fences with handheld sandpaper, you can quickly get the sanding job done by using a sander.
The sanders are also able to collect the dust that’s created through the process of sanding down the wood. Some sanders come with a dust collection bag, and some sanders come with a port that can be used to attach a shop-vac for better dust collection.
How To Choose the Best Palm Sander
Now that you understand the benefits of using a sander, it’s time to look at the various features you may want on your sander. When choosing a sander, you’ll want to consider these features to ensure that you get the right sander for your project.
Here are some key features to consider when choosing a sander.
1. Choose the Power Source
When choosing a palm sander, you need to choose the power source you’d like to use for your sander. With palm sanders, there are two types of power sources that you can choose from to power your sanders, such as corded sanders and cordless sanders.
The corded palm sanders come with an electrical cord that you plug into the power outlet. This makes it easier for you to have unlimited power throughout your project, and you’ll never need to worry about recharging battery packs or finding battery packs for a dead sander. However, one of the problems with corded power sanders is that the cord may not be long enough to reach your project, so you’ll need to run extension cords throughout your workshop or yard.
When you’re using a cordless power sander, you’ll be using battery packs to power the sander. The cordless power sanders are more comfortable for you to use when working in tight areas or areas where you have no power source. However, the cordless power sanders will require that you recharge battery packs, and you’ll always need to ensure that there’s a battery pack charging in the docking station so that you always have power for your orbital sander.
2. Select Sanding Speeds, Power, and Orbits Per Minute
As you choose a palm sander for your workspace, you’ll need to consider the sanding speed and power that sanders can provide. When it comes to palm sanders, the measurement used to estimate the sanding speed is called orbits per minute. Typically, a palm sander will be able to sand between 7000 and 12000 orbits per minute.
Some sanders come with one speed, which means that you’ll only be able to use your power sander with one sanding speed. However, other sanders allow you to select the sander’s speed with settings such as high, medium, and low speed.
You can also find sanders that comes with an adjustable dial that allows you to adjust the sander’s speed while you’re using the sander. This makes it easier for you to work on your project and adjust the speed while working to ensure that you’re using the right sanding speed for the type of wood you’re sanding.
When you’re using high-quality palm sanders, there will also be a technology called pressure detection. The pressure detection will have a light to alert you or vibrate the sander when you use too much pressure while sanding the wood. This will ensure that you’re not pushing too hard on the sander and leaving grooves in the wood.
3. Pick a Base Plate System
When choosing a palm sander, you also need to consider the base plate on the bottom of the power sander. The base plate is the area on the bottom of the sander where you attach the sandpaper or sanding pads. The orbital sanders come in two sizes, such as 5 inches and 6 inches. If an orbital sander is smaller than 5 inches, it is considered a finishing sander. If a sander is larger than 6 inches, it’s considered to be a professional wood sander.
When you’re choosing the sander’s base plate, you’ll need to consider the technology being used to attach the sanding discs. Some palm sanders come with a hook and loop system for attaching the sanding discs while other sanders come with an adhesive bottom, which allows you to quickly attach and remove the sanding pads on your sander.
Most sanders come with baseplates with holes in the bottom of the base plate, which are used to remove dust as you’re working. If you’re using sanding pads that come with an adhesive, you’ll want to line up the holes on the sanding pad with the holes on the base plate to ensure that dust can get collected while you’re sanding.
4. Choose a Dust Collection System
If you’re going to be using your sander indoors, you’ll want to ensure that the sander comes with a dust collection system to prevent dust from floating in the air where you breathe or landing everywhere and making a mess of your workspace.
You’ll find most power sanders come with a dust collection system built into the tool so that you don’t need to clean up your workspace once you’re done sanding with the power sander. Oftentimes, sanders will come with a dust bag or dust collection container on the rear of the power sanding tool.
Some sanders also come with an attachment that allows you to connect your sander to a shop-vac. All you’ll need is a shop vac with a vacuum nozzle that’s the standard 1 ¼ inch or 2 ½ inch hose size, and you’ll be able to clean up the dust in real-time with your vacuum cleaner.
5. Comfortability and Ergonomics
Since you’ll be using your palm sander with the palm of your hand, you’ll want to ensure that the sander is comfortable to use, grip, and control while using. If the sander is uncomfortable for you to grip, you may find it difficult for you to use the sander for your projects.
When choosing a palm sander, you want to ensure that the sander’s top comes with a textured rubber top and an ergonomic handle that allows you to hold and grab the power sander easily.
If the power sander comes with buttons and speed dials, you want to ensure that the speed dials are within reach of your fingers so that you can easily adjust the settings on the sander while you’re sanding or using the power sander for your project.
Some cordless palm sanders also come with a bulky battery pack, causing a problem if you’re trying to sand in tight areas. If you’re going to be using your sander for smaller areas, we recommend going with a thinner sander that comes with a cord so that there’s less bulk to get in the way of your workspace.
Summary
We hope that this tool review has helped you find the best palm sander for your project. If you’re new to using a sander, we recommend that you use our buyer’s guide to help you through the process of choosing the right palm sander for your workbench.
Always remember to shop with a budget so that you find the right power tool that’s cost-friendly for you. You’ll also want to find a tool that comes with a warranty, so you have protection from defects caused by the factory.
