Sanding is an integral part of refinishing furniture, but it is easy to skip or forget. Meanwhile, forgetting to sand your furniture before final finishing will not give your furniture the glowing surface that you wanted. As a woodworker, carpenter, or homeowner, you won’t like to have uneven or rough surface furniture in your house. This is what necessitates sanding. Meanwhile, the traditional method of using hand and paper to smoothen the rough furniture surface can be very frustrating. The only way to get your sanding done professionally and with ease is to get the best sander for refinishing furniture.
You can now see the importance of sanding in woodwork finishing, but how do you get the quality and durable sander suitable for small pieces of furniture or large projects? This is the central aim of this article. It will unveil the factors that make the best furniture sander.
The extensively reviewed products will also give you knowledge of what a refinishing sander looks like.
Comparison Table Of Top Sander For Refinishing Furniture – By Our Experts:
What Is A Refinishing Sander for Furniture?
This question will look unnecessary to casual sander users, but a first-time user will be confused about how they can use a sander to refinish their furniture. However, a sander is a powerful machine that comes in handy with sanding kits that automatically smoothen uneven surfaces on the furniture with a convenient operation.
This unique machine improvises the manual sanding method of holding sandpaper with the sanding disc that makes a circular movement to give a precise sanding.
What Are The Benefits of Using A Refinishing Sander?
The advantages of using a sander are numerous, but below are some of the key benefits that make a sander worthy of your investment:
● It Saves Time
Using a furniture refinishing sander will save your time, unlike the manual or traditional method that consumes a whole lot of time.
● It Gives an Astonishing Look
A manual touch is not comparable to machine work. When you use a hand or manual method of smoothing your furniture’s rough space, you will often get tired and will stop, but using the sander will never frustrate you to stop. You will give your furniture your desired outlook in a few minutes.
● It Requires Less Energy
Since it is machine operation, it does not require full strength to operate the machine. However, you have to be careful and avoid reckless handling of the unit to prevent unnecessary and unwanted accidents.
● Total Maneuverability
The best hand sander for refinishing furniture often comes with a carrying case to allow you to easily pack up the machine and maneuver it from one spot to another.
How to Get the Best Sander for Refinishing Furniture
Critical observation of a product will save you from getting the wrong brand that won’t be durable. You don’t have the time to check all over the market, and that is why we are providing you with these essential factors to ensure you get the best brand.
1. The Motor Power
Generally, the sander for refinishing is electric-powered and comes with a motor that drives the speed of the machine. This engine varies in speed. Below are some of the motor capacity:
- One-amp
- 7 amp
- 2 amp and lastly
- 3 amp
Choosing a motor will depend solely on your preferences because the highest the motor capacity, the more speed it can deliver. Meanwhile, the orbits per minute for the motor capacity ranges from 7,500 to 14,000 OPM, according to the reviews below.
However, it is essential you consider your type of project and preferences repeatedly to ensure you get the authentic brand.
2. The Vibration Control
Since it is a powerful machine that works on a solid surface, vibration will undoubtedly occur, and this might cause a shock in your hand. The only way to overpower this is that the machine should have vibration control. The two vital things vibration control do are:
- It totally prevents hand fatigue or strain
- It delivers an ultimately comfortable experience
These two factors are the main reason why you need to consider vibration control before buying.
3. Dust Collective System
Sanding creates a lot of dust. This is an essential factor you must consider. Since a sander’s primary function is to smoothen uneven spaces, it will definitely produce sawdust that, without prevention, can cause untidy finishing. It is crucial you consider a sander with a dust collection bag to ensure you have a neat workspace and precise sanding.
4. Easy Operation
When considering this factor, you should put aside your budget because user-friendly sanders can be more expensive than others. However, it is the best experience you would want to have—the ergonomic design, the multiple positions gripping, all the comfort-enhancing features, and the lightweight.
5. Durability
Having all the factors listed above without durability is incomplete. This feature will allow you to use the machine for an extended period without replacing or fixing any fault on the device. Consider the durability and portability of the unit to elongate its lifespan and ensure easy transportation.
6. The Price
This is the last essential factor to consider. You surely know that what is worth doing is worth doing well. So some expensive refinishing sander on the market is costly and comes with high-efficient features. However, consider your budget alongside the elements and the functionality to ensure you don’t exceed your budget.
Studying and understanding the numerous types of refinishing sanders on the market can be challenging because of the market’s diverse variants and fogged status. However, reading the pros and cons of each sander together with this excellent guide will help you choose the best sander for refinishing furniture that will serve you well.
You don’t need the traditional method of finishing your furniture. What you need is the best sander for refinishing furniture.
The sophisticated technology gave birth to the innovation of the TECCPO Mouse Detail Electric-powered sander.
This exceptional sander comes with 12 pieces of sandpapers to ensure smooth and dust-free sanding. This saves you the cost of buying sandpapers every time.
It is a perfect tool for home decoration, and it comes in an attractive color. In addition, the 1.1 Amps power rate of the motor and 14,000 orbits per minute enhance the efficiency of the machine.
The ergonomically designed Mouse Sander comes with a compact size and head design that allows the machine to reach narrow spaces and other hard-to-reach areas to ensure professional handling of your project.
At a Glance
- It features a reusable dust collection bag that absorbs dust to ensure you have a clean working environment and smooth finishing. It comes with an in-built driven fan that facilitates the absorption of the dust into the dust bag.
- It is compact and lightweight. It comes with an ergonomic soft rubberized handle that delivers a comfortable working experience. This handle helps prevent hand strain or fatigue.
Pros
- It comes with a complete package plus 12 pieces of sandpaper
- Lightweight and durable
- Ergonomic and compact design
- Soft rubberized handle
- Dust collection system
Cons
- It is a bit noisy
You can’t count the best sander for refinishing furniture on the market without the BLACK+DECKER sanders.
This unique brand produced a massive series of sanders with different features and functions to ensure you have an efficient and comfortable working experience.
The BDEMS600 is one of the exceptional series. Aside from the attractiveness, it is ergonomically and compactly designed to obliterate hand fatigue and allows you to use the sander in narrow spaces.
The compact design also enhances the storage of the machine. The 3-position grip allows you to maneuver the machine effortlessly.
This ensures easy operation and application of the sander on different projects.
Aside from the compact design that will enable you to work on hard-to-reach spots, the finger attachment on the machine is a plus advantage that is interchangeable to work in narrow spaces.
At A Glance
- It features a hook and loop system that enhances the changing of the sandpapers.
- The dust collection component is another plus advantage. It comes with a container that absorbs dust and micro-filtration to ensure you have a neat working space and precise finishing.
- It is electric-powered and comes with a powerful 1.2amp motor with up to 14,000 orbits per minute.
Pros
- 3-angle rubberized grip
- Powerful 1.2amp motor
- Dust collection system with micro-filtration
- Lightweight and durable construction
Cons
- Limited 2-year warranty
This is another model of BLACK+DECKER refinishing sander. It comes with features similar to the BDEMS600 but with different functions.
The affordability of this model is one of the advantages over the first one.
The BDERO100 model comes with an easy on/off paddle switch with a handy lock on it. This allows you to comfortably power on/off the device.
Unlike the first one that comes with a 3-position grip, the BDERO100 comes with a softer handle for easy control and relieving hand strains.
The exciting part of this exceptional model is the high-performance 2.0 amp powerful corded orbit sander that ensures efficient project handling. The motor delivers 12,000 orbits per minute for fast sanding.
At A Glance
- The compact design allows versatile and narrow application of the machine on many projects.
- It features an onboard dust collection system that absorbs unwanted dust to keep your working environment and project free from dust and debris.
- Thanks to the comfortable grip handle that allows you to work comfortably without the fear of hand strain or fatigue.
- It comes with a hook and loop for fast and easy swapping of the sandpaper.
Pros
- Best known for its affordability
- Compact design
- Lightweight and durable
- Powerful 2.0 amp motor
Cons
- Limited manufacturer’s warranty
The WEN electric palm sander offers total control in your hand.
Unlike some other models that require full-hand gripping, this elegantly constructed sander offers precision sanding by controlling the machine with your palm (single hand).
Affordability, portability, and functionality are the exceptional features of this unit.
It comes with a powerful and high-efficient 13,500 Orbit Per Minute.
The small but powerful WEN 6301 detailing palm sander comes with a one-amp motor that sands away the abrasive surface and passes the dust through the vacuum adapter to the dust collection bag.
The light weight of this unit ensures that you are free from hand fatigue or strains. In addition, the sanding pad comes with fan-assisted dust collection holes with an angle-tip that provides application of the machine in narrow spaces.
At A Glance
- It features an ergonomically designed non-slip rubberized backing that perfectly fits the palm and prevents unnecessary slipping off the machine from your palm.
- The hook and loop base pad facilitates the removal and installation of sandpapers between grits.
- The stress of controlling the flow of sawdust is over with the center-mounted dust collection bag that absorbs dust and keeps your workspace free from debris.
Pros
- Powerful one-amp motor that provides 13,500 OPM
- Velcro base pad
- Lightweight and compact design
- Durable construction
Cons
- No multiple choice of sandpaper
The repetition of this brand on the list shows that it is the best sander for refinishing furniture.
The BDEQS300 model is also affordable and comes with some elements similar to the first one we earlier stated.
It will interest you to know that this model also comes with a powerful and high-efficient performance 2.0 amps motor that runs at 1,600 OPM.
Since the engine’s strength is the primary factor that determines the functionality of the machine, the powerful motor of this model makes it suitable for virtually all sanding projects.
The paddle switch activation facilitates the handling of this unit. It makes turning it on and off an effortless task.
Apparently, no sander on this list can not fit for narrow space application. This ergonomic and compact design allows you to work in hard-to-reach spaces.
At A Glance
- It features triple-layer filtration that filters the dust and passes it to the dust collection space to ensure you have a smooth finishing and clean workspace.
- You might find the neck gripping stressful and unsafe, thanks to the soft-grip handle that facilitates the machine’s maneuverability.
Pros
- 270-degree flush sanding clearance
- Soft grip paddle switch
- Powerful 2.0amp motor with 1,600 Orbit/minute
- Affordable and durable construction
- triple-layer filtration for smooth work
Cons
- It is slightly heavyweight
The SKIL corded detail sander is powerful but yet easy to use and maneuver.
It can handle both small and large pieces of furniture efficiently. The compact design also allows you to get rid of the small and hard-to-reach spots effortlessly.
The handle is well positioned directly over the sander’s plate, making it easy to handle and control.
The lightweight SKIL detail sander comes with vibration control features that ensure comfortable use of the machine. This feature prevents shock and hand fatigue.
The transparent box of this unit comes with micro-filtration that efficiently separates dust from your work to keep both the furniture and the environment clean.
Having a powerful motor of one-amp with 12,000 orbits per minute ensures the machine can handle almost all sanding projects and deliver a great outcome.
At A Glance
- It includes three pieces of sandpaper in the package. This saves you the expense of getting extra sandpapers when the need arises.
- The hook and loop system is an exceptional feature that enhances the changing of the sanding sheet.
- The dust collection system makes the maintenance of this unit a hassle-free task.
Pros
- Low-vibration and easy changing of sanding sheet
- Micro-filtration system
- Efficient performance
- Lightweight and durable
Cons
- It comes with only three pieces of sandpaper
Bosch is popularly known for the dependability of its products.
This is also a palm sander that delivers ultimate comfort for you. The comfortable soft-grip top and the body frame offer you multiple handling angles.
This also alleviates hand fatigue. Additionally, it will excite you to know that this sander also comes with a low-level vibration which allows you to use the device for an extended period.
The most interesting feature of this polisher is that it comes with variable-speed control that allows you to adjust the sander’s speed between 7,500 to 12,000 OPM following your working preferences.
It comes with a pad dampening system that helps you eliminate surge marks on either contoured or flat working surfaces.
In addition, this handy sander perfectly fits your palm with the aid of the easy disc attachment.
At A Glance
- This palm sander’s easy disc attachment feature is the hook and loop disc attachment system that facilitate the removal and installation of the sanding paper.
- It features a dust collection bag with a micro-filtration system that filters dust to give a precise, neat, and smooth working surface. The compact design allows you to use the machine in a narrow space to ensure you have complete and perfect work done.
- It comes with a complete kit content that includes the sanding disc, dampening ring, sanding pad, vacuum adapter, dust container, and a carrying case for easy movement.
Pros
- Complete package kit
- Perfect money for value
- Durable and compact design
- Easy disc attachment
Cons
- Packing all kit at once can be heavyweight
Undoubtedly, refinishing sander with a carrying case remains the best.
Since the unit can not function alone without the sanding pad, sanding paper, dampening ring, sanding disc, vacuum adapter, and other required components, it is necessary to come with a carrying case for easy machine transportation from one job site to another.
Thanks to the Makita engineers for packing the entire machine into a portable carrying case.
The Makita Finishing Sander is a corded electric-powered machine that comes with a powerful motor of 2.0 amp that delivers up to 14,000 orbits per minute to ensure efficient and smooth finishing.
All ball-bearing construction of this unit ensures low vibration and emits low noise.
The rubberized soft grip handle helps you improve the operation of the machine. It enhances the comfortability of the handling of the unit.
At A Glance
- It features a superior dust collection system that absorbs the dust to offer you precise and neat sanding. This also helps you keep your working environment clean.
- It features a handy on and off switch that provides a comfortable operation.
- Having a rubber-sealed switch helps you prevent dust from dampening the durability of the machine.
Pros
- It comes with a carrying case
- Lightweight and durable construction
- Extra powerful motor
- High-efficient performance
Cons
- It is relatively expensive
Mere seeing the DEWALT model on the list alone will make you know that it would supersede others.
The highest motor capacity we’ve listed since is 2.0 amp. Still, this exceptional machine comes with a super powerful motor of 2.3 amp and delivers up to 14,000 OPM for ultimate comfort and high efficiency.
The portable unit is also a palm sander that does not require you to use your entire hand to operate it. Since it is a palm sander, it comes with a rubberized over-mold texture that provides precise, smooth sanding.
This feature also ensures comfortable and total control of the machine.
Proper protection of the sanding paper will not only elongate the machine’s lifespan but also make the paper last for a reasonable period.
The DEWALT sander comes with a paper clamp of the 1/4 sheet sander that ensures proper paper retention.
At A Glance
- Besides all these exceptional features, it also comes with a portable and attractive carrying bag for easy maneuverability.
- Having a dust collection system is not enough when it comes to the DEWALT brand. Thanks to the DEWALT engineer for featuring a lock system for the dust port that allows you to fasten the vacuum hose with the sander.
Pros
- Foam padded sanding plane
- Different counterweight for vibration reduction
- A carrying case is included
- Paper clamp plus locking dust-port system
Cons
- It is relatively heavyweight
Makita BO3710 is another exceptional model. The BO3710 is the one with the least motor capacity on the list.
It comes with a powerful 1.7 amp motor that can deliver 11,000 orbit/minute.
Meanwhile, this is not suitable for users who want more working speed. However, it can handle any work with its designated speed and provide an efficient and smooth finishing.
It comes with a convenient operation, but it is not handy for transportation as it weighs 3.3 pounds which makes it the heaviest on the list. Despite that, the weight does not affect its functionality and durability.
It is ergonomically designed with a rubberized grip handle for added comfort. The in-built counterbalance system helps reduce vibration to prevent hand fatigue and stains.
At A Glance
- It features two large finger groove trigger switches and a lock-on button to ensure comfortable operation and control of the machine’s power. The finger trigger is well designed in a perfect shape that suits fingers.
- It also comes with a dust-collection system that helps you keep your working space and project away from dust and debris.
- It features two-way handling options. The extended bottom handle and the neck are the two most straightforward ways to maneuver this unit.
Pros
- Lock-on button and finger trigger switch
- Rubberized grip to prevent vibration
- Durable design
- Efficient performance
Cons
- It is heavyweight
- It is expensive