Palm Sanders and Accessories

The Milwaukee 6021-21 Palm Sander is high quality sander, much like it's predecessor, the 6020-21. The high points are plentiful, including one of the most comfortable grips you will find, and a great feel and balance during use. Variable speeds are a nice touch (and shift smoothly), giving this sander the versatility so many of us desire when doing detail sanding. A cloth dust collection bag comes along, but can be switched out easily for a vacuum hose attachment, which is a must because the cloth bag leaks some. Two vent holes on the left side of the machine are perhaps placed in a bad spot, and can blow motor air into your eyes from time to time. Their placement is out of the way of your hands, however, which is important to prevent overheating. This is a great sander overall, and the 5-year warranty, carrying case and extra sanding disc are great add-ons to an already solid deal. The pros far outweigh the cons, which are a bit nit-picky in this case.

Pros:
Good power
Comfortable grip
Variable speeds
Vacuum hose attachment
5 year warranty

Cons:
Cloth Bag dust collector
Air vents

Read more about the 6021-21

Two words come to mind when I think of Porter-Cable: power and durability. The Porter-Cable 342K palm sander is no exception. This sander features a 2.4 Amp motor which generates 14,000 OPM. An ergonomically designed rubber padded grip, and a dust collection canister enhance the usability and convenience of the product. The dust collection canister is more durable and easier to clean than a cloth dust bag, but doesn't do a great job of collecting dust. A 1 or 1.5 inch vacuum hose can be attached to the 342K instead of the canister if you so wish. The 1/4 sheet pad size helps with getting into small spaces and corners. The 342K also comes with a hole punch for sandpaper, used to match up with the dust collection holes on the pad. This is a nice touch, so you do not have to buy sandpaper made specifically for this sander. Attaching the sandpaper to the pad is a little tricky at first, but is quick and easy once you get used to it. Overall, the Porter Cable 342K is a durable machine with good power and some good accessories so you can get the job done in whatever manner you prefer. For the price and warranty (90 days cash back, 1-year limited), you will be hard pressed to find a better palm sander.

Pros:
Low Price
Durable
Good Power
Dust Collection Canister w/optional vacuum hose hookup
Comfortable Rubber Grip
Warranty

Cons:
Dust Collection Canister still leaves a little mess. Performance was considerably better with vacuum hose hookup.

The D26441K palm sander from DeWalt is heavy duty tool. With it's 2.4 amp motor and 14,000 orbits per minute, it can take on a project of any size. It comes with a dust collection bag which is a nice touch, and its ergonomic design makes it very comfortable to grip and use. The D26441K takes 1/4 sandpaper as opposed to 1/3, which is nice for large surfaces, but can make tight spots a little more tricky. The only drawbacks are the fact that it is not cordless (but we'd gladly sacrifice that for the extra power), and it is a bit loud when you first turn it on. A three year warranty comes along when you buy one new. Overall, the D26441K is another solid product reasonably priced from DeWalt.

Read the full D26441K Review