Power Sanders and Accessories

There are many type of power sanders out there. But before we get into them, there are certain safety measures you should take before doing any woodworking project with a sander. Follow these easy steps to finish your project safely:

1. Wear eye and ear protection when operating power sanders. Ear plugs will work, but we recommend heavy duty noise canceling headphones. Many power sanders are very loud, especially when they first are turned on. Eye protection should be safety goggles with complete eye protection, including on the sides. There is nothing worse than sawdust in your eye.

2. Wear respiratory protection, such as a disposable respirator. Disposable respirators can be purchased for a very cheap price, and a nicer respirator is worth the investment if you plan to do a lot of sanding. Do not overlook this crucial step.

3. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Long hair should be tucked or put up in some way.

4. Be sure to be in a room with adequate ventilation. Use appropriate dust collection systems. Many sanders will come with a vacuum hose attachment, or a dust collection bag of their own.

5. Never force a sander by pushing down too hard. The weight of the tool should provide adequate pressure on the workpiece. Forcing can cause overheating, kickback, stalling or burning. Worse, you could injure yourself.

6. Secure the workpiece before using a portable electric sander, using a vise or clamp. This will keep you safe and keep your piece from being damaged.


There you have it. Follow these easy steps and you will be on your way to completing your next woodworking project safely and successfully.

Belt Sanders

Belt sanders are probably the most common thing people have in mind when they think of a sander. They have a looped pieced of sandpaper fitted around two wheels, which spin the sandpaper around at a very fast speed. This is probably the most heavy-duty of the hand-held power sanders, and should be used at the very beginning of a rough sanding project. Some examples of times to use a belt sander would be removing lots of old paint or stain, basically preparing a surface for more detailed work by removing the old. These sanders are very aggressive and can remove a lot of material in a hurry, so be sure to pay attention while you are using them, especially on softer woods. If this worries you, then a belt sander with a variable speed adjustment is for you.

You may have also heard of a narrow belt sander. This is just a normal belt sander that is not as wide, making it useful for smaller hard to reach areas.

Palm Sanders

Palm sanders are also sometimes called finish sanders, or pad sanders. They have a small rectangular pad on the bottom, which usually takes a 1/4 or 1/3 sheet of sandpaper. It vibrates in a somewhat circular pattern, and must be moved along the wood in the same circular motion to avoid scratching. When used correctly, they provides a nice smooth finish on flat, easy to access surfaces. This would be a perfect sander to use after the belt sander does the heavy-duty work.

Detail Sander

Detail sanders (sometimes called a contour sander) are smaller than other handheld sanders, and are used for getting into tight spaces and sanding odd shapes that other sanders cannot handle. The pad is usually triangle shaped, but many of these sanders come with multiple attachments to aid in reaching even the smallest of spaces. These tools are usually used for small craft projects and even mill working, such as window and door casings.

Random Orbit Sander

Random orbit sanders are probably the most versatile sanders around. They are great for jobs big and small, and they are small enough to get into most tight spaces. These sanders have a round pad that moves in a circular motion, with a little bit of random variation to prevent swirl marks on your piece. They also feature variable speed control, which is great when you are working with soft wood, or you are getting to the end of your sandpaper. Dust collection is built into the random orbit sander, usually coming with a dust collection bag, but sometimes with a vacuum hose attachment. There are small holes on the circular pad that sucks up the sawdust as it is created. Because of these holes, special sandpaper specific to random orbit sanders must be used. This sandpaper also has holes that line up with the dust collection holes. If you are looking for an all-around sander that is great for multiple purposes, the random orbit sander is for you.