10 Best Electric Sanders and Their Uses

Any carpenter, even a novice, will require a sander. Sanding is necessary for nearly every woodworking and wood-finishing endeavor. When shopping for a sander, consider your needs. Wood can be sanded to make it smooth, worn to a specific thickness, and removed splinters.

A sander that may be appropriate for one work won't be appropriate for all due to the wide variation in functions and project sizes. Some Sanders are more versatile than others. A woodworker may appreciate variety, but no single sander can perform all tasks.

Top 10 Electric Sanders and Their Applications

1. BELT SANDER

The Belt Sander is the most prevalent form of the sander in any contemporary workshop. Because it uses a sanding belt wound around two drums, this tool is known as a belt sander. While the front drum spins freely, the back one is propelled by an electric motor.

Additionally, it features a tension release mechanism that is helpful because it makes changing the belts simple. Additionally, most models have a tracking adjustment knob that keeps the belt centered.

BELT SANDER USES:

• A portable belt sander is the most influential electric tool for flattening and sanding wood surfaces. Woodworkers and builders often use this kind of sander to level table tops, rough wood boards, dressers, etc.
• Scribing is also a possible use for belt sanders.
• The bench-top or stationary model helps sand smaller work components. 

2. DISC SANDER

As suggested by its name, a disc sander has an abrasive-fixed spherical sanding pad in the shape of a disc. There are two different types of disc sanders, depending on the design.

TYPES OF DISC SANDER

#1 BENCH-TOP DISC SANDER

The abrasive disc is fastened to a circular backplate on the stationary bench-top disc sander. Typically composed of steel or aluminum, the circular backplate fastens to the driving motor using a screw in the middle. The disc's diameter can range from 4 inches to 12 inches.

Additionally, depending on the task, you can use different grit sizes of paper with this type of Sander. Additionally, a clean finish is produced that is ideal for slick surfaces because of how quickly the disc rotates.

BENCH-TOP DISC SANDER USES:

• A tabletop disc sander is a handy machine tool when you need to sand a small workpiece quickly.

#2 PORTABLE OR HAND-HELD DISC SANDER

The portable Disc Sander is one of the most unusual varieties of Sander. Although it also comes in a table-mounted version, power drills are where it is most usually found. The portable disc sander sometimes referred to as an offset disc sander, functions similarly to an angle grinder except that the disc rotates perpendicular to the body of the power tool.

Using a vice or other clamping tools, you must carefully secure the workpiece before applying the revolving disc for sanding.

PORTABLE OR HAND-HELD DISC SANDER USES:

• Their uses are similar to those of a portable belt sander. On the other hand, a disc can sand more expansive areas and reach edges and curves that a belt sander cannot.

3. COMBINATION DISC AND BELT SANDERS

At first, it's impossible for you to envision what it would look like if these two high-end machines were combined. However, the Combination Disc-Belt Sanders is a valuable tool if you have a lot of work that you need to hold by hand and shape.

DISC AND BELT SANDERS USES:

• Combination discs and belt sanders are ideal for two different task categories. And that is to flatten edges and faces by carefully sanding edges.

4. OSCILLATING SPINDLE SANDER

The OSS, or oscillating spindle sander, is a member of the drum family and has a stylish sanding drum that projects from a freestanding table or countertop. This benchtop sander is a versatile tool for polishing straight and curved edges.

Size variations are also available for oscillating spindle sanders. This includes the benchtop variants with drums 12 to 2 inches in diameter and 4 inches in length. On the other hand, the freestanding tables have drums with a diameter of 4 inches and a length of 4 inches.

OSCILLATING SPINDLE SANDER USES:

An OSS is mainly used for rounding off board edges. Additionally, many OSS models allow the front of the table to be angled at a 45-degree angle to provide beveled edges. And this sanding tool performs superbly on curved surfaces due to the vertical arrangement of the drum.

However, it is also effective at sanding straight surfaces, making it more adaptable than other kinds of Sanders.

5. ORBITAL SANDER

A rectangular or square sanding pad on an orbital sander moves in tiny circular pathways, hence the name. From a piece of standard-sized sandpaper, you can cut a rectangle and clip it to the sanding pad. As a result, this powerful instrument is sometimes called a sheet sander.

ORBITAL SANDER USES:

Large surfaces already pre-sanded with belt sanders are often finished with electric orbital sanders.

6. RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER

This sander functions like an orbital sander and features a round sanding pad. It spins and moves in tiny circular orbits. This indicates that the sanding pad will travel across the workpieces. This produces smooth surfaces.

Additionally, a Random Orbital Sander has various pad sizes available in either a 6-inch or 5-inch diameter. Additionally, PSA or pressure-sensitive adhesive discs are an option. Otherwise, depending on the type of sanding tool, with surface discs that resemble Velcro.

RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER USES:

• Finish sanding without swirl marks is performed with an electric random orbital sander. It is more potent than an orbital or palm sander and can swiftly complete vast areas.
• The most noteworthy feature of this sander is that you can use it for nearly any sanding chores. In reality, it can perform the tasks of both a belt sander and an orbital sander, including stock removal and ultra-smooth sanding. 

7. PALM SANDER

Finish sanders are another name for palm sanders. A square pad oscillating in precise circular orbits creates incredibly smooth finishes. Due to its square sanding pads, it is also excellent for sanding corners.

In addition, this sanding tool works well for smoothing plaster, paint, or varnish. However, you wouldn't want to use it to remove rough material. It is also excellent for use with fine veneers and plywood.

PALM SANDER USES:

• Corner and finishing sanding is the specialty of a palm sander. It can typically be used for smooth surfaces and finishing chores, but if you have problems utilizing it, there is a potential that it could leave marks. 

8. DRUM SANDER

The drum sander comes in two varieties.

#1 FLOORING DRUM SANDER

A drum sander is extremely powerful and unusually large, like all other members of the drum family. It requires two people to be transported from one place to another as evidence. Typically, drum sanders are rented due to their large size and high cost.

Additionally, this sanding tool is excellent for removing adhesives and other bothersome and undesired materials. It's also wise to remember that, like a drum sander, a big-size random orbital sander is likewise used for sanding large floor expanses. The only difference is that drum sanders are more challenging to handle.

DRUM SANDER USES:

The fact that Drum Sanders has a consistent thickness is one of their most valuable qualities. They are both quick and very effective. Furthermore, they have remarkable adaptability because they can handle big and trim boards.

#2 BENCHTOP DRUM SANDER

The sandpaper is fixed to a sizable rotating drum in this type of drum sander. Wood boards can be finished, or their thickness reduced quite effectively with a drum sander. Set the distance between the abrasive drum and the conveyor belt to the proper size before placing your board on the belt. The sanding drum will eliminate the high spots as the wood board moves through it.

After flattening the board, you can further sand it to thin it out. But remember that a drum sander can't take the place of a power planer. While a player may remove material much more quickly, a sander offers a better finish.

9. DETAIL SANDER

Compared to an accurate sander, this kind resembles an iron. A Detail Sander is a member of the orbital sander family with a triangular pad with self-adhesive specialty sandpaper. This sanding tool may occasionally have additional attachments for better, more accurate, or specialized tasks. This tool's unusual shape is intended to reach nooks and crannies that a standard sander often can't. It is used, for instance, in the spindles of a traditional chair leg to fit through narrow places and around corners.

Additionally, Detail Sanders is effective and quick in sanding unusual shapes. You can use them for crafts and other things as well.

DETAIL SANDER USES:

This kind of sander works well for sanding confined spaces. Beginners can also use it quickly because it is small and straightforward. It is also reasonably priced; however, it makes a noise you can hear when it runs. Additionally, it does not apply to the removal of heavy stock.

10. DRYWALL SANDER

The drywall's surfaces are smoothed, and any leftover adhesives embedded in them are removed using this method. Users typically attach the tool's handle close to the hub to work efficiently.

Most Drywall Sander models come with a vacuum to gather dust that may fall off while it operates. Another version of this sanding tool has longer handles to reach higher areas, such as ceilings and high walls. This is because a ladder or stepping block is likely required.

DRYWALL SANDER USES:

This largely depends on the task you had in mind. To remove the paint, you might use a standard belt sander. However, a finishing sander could be required for finishing.