Which palm sander?

[OCtoolguy]

I keep reading about folks using a palm sander instead of a random orbital sander. I have an ROS but I don't own a palm sander. I thought I'd ask the question before I run out and buy one. What brands of sanders are preferred here among you folks who have been doing this for a while? I saw one on sale at H/F for $19. I know you don't get much for that price but how bad could it be? I can't afford to buy one of the top quality brands so I was wondering what you all are using. If I hear of too many of you using Dewalt or Porter Cable or ????? I'll hold off and collect more bottles and cans. I'd appreciate any advice,

Ray

 

Edited March 10, 2018 by octoolguy

[NC Scroller]

I only use ROS sanders.  I like the Rigid variable speed ones.

[stoney]

Well Ray here is my take.   Both types have there uses.   One of the benefits of a ROS is its ability to have dust collection.   A palm or finish sander works better for sanding fretwork for example and can deliver a super smooth finish.  You can also obtain a good finish with a ROS and as a rule will remove material faster.   JMHO

[WayneMahler]

I have a ROS I use mostly. I have a Ridgid palm sander and I'm not all that much of a big fan, heavier and hard to control then my old Porter Cable. I used to have a Black and Decker Mouse that was great for fret work and getting into tight places for finish sanding. Light easy to guide and use. I replaced it with a multi function tool but it is heavier and a little more awkward in tight spaces.

[dgman]

Ray, we had this question a couple of weeks ago, so you might go back and look for it. I have both. I have a very nice Makita Palm sander. It comes with plastic punch to punch holes in the paper for dust collection. It works great, but I never use it! I have two old Porter Cable 333 random orbital sanders. One is a spare for when my primary ROS dies as they are no longer available. I keep it permanently hooked up to my Shop Vac with a Dust Deputy in between. I sand all my blanks with the ROS before I cut up to 220 grit. Then, when finished cutting, I'll touch up the fuzzies with a piece of 220 sand paper. In most cases, I don't have to re-sand after cutting.

The palm sander sits in its nice form fitted plastic case on a shelf collection dust!

BTW, I didn't buy the Makita, I won it when I used to belong to the local Woodworking club. I also won the spare Poter Cable 333!

Edited March 10, 2018 by dgman

[Dave Monk]

I have a Porter Cable 330............love it except it is really dusty. I use it with 220.

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/forums/topic/28272-sanding-before-after-or-both/

here was my answer about half way down.

[kmmcrafts]

I have a cheap palm sander.. it's a off brand odd ball sized thing that I bought for $10 at some bargain store.. years ago when i first started.. I figured I'd get the moneys worth out of the sand paper if they thing quit working.. so long story short I used it forever.. well until all the sand paper got used up and I couldn't find anywhere to get ( hook and loop ) the odd sized sand paper.. I tried cutting my own but that posed a mess and the cutting did something to the pads and ended up making the sanded surface scratched up.. Still have the sander.. but any how..

I bought a cheap ROS.. loved it.. used it until the motor smoked on it..  bought another cheap one that I hated.. it sets under the workbench only used a couple times.. I need to dig it out and sell it or donate it to someplace. 

I finally did some research and bought a high end ROS that has a dust collection that was a hard case plastic.. ( one complaint about the cheap ones I had was the bag getting torn and exhausting the fine dust throughout the shop.. Really liked the DeWalt VS one.. but a bag rather than the plastic dust collection. I ended up with a Bosh VS model.. Love the VS as I can slow it down to a crawl for delicate work.. Only sander I use and will never buy one with the dust bag.. as the bags never hold up.. Great if you hook it up to a DC.. My shop isn't that advanced to have DC hooked up to everything yet.. just the big mess machines ( planer and bandsaw.. ) .. If my ROS died today.. I like this thing well enough.. I'd be buying another just like it.. 

as for the palm sander.. I suppose it would matter a great deal on what you make.. but after having the ROS I just don't personally have the need for the palm sander like I originally thought I would.. the one I use to use was used mainly for doing work that the ROS was probably a better fit for anyway.. Sure got my $10 out of it though.. it came with a 6-8 inch stack of sanding papers, LOL..   

[tomsteve]

ray, i think something to look at with an ROS is the orbits per minute and the size of the throw.

i have 2 different ROS. well, actually 3, but ones specifically for auto detailing-the porter cable 7424- massive throw and i can polish up a finish real nice. the other 2- a porter cable and dewalt 5" both have different OPM and throws. i used the porter cable on fretwork as it has a smaller throw and less OPM. 

[OCtoolguy]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. The ROS that I have is a single speed from H/F. I think after reading all of your replies that I will end up buying a better ROS sander. I used to have a Makita palm sander and a Dewalt ROS with dust collection but they unfortunately got sold when we went out on the road. I will start shopping the used market first. Thanks again.

Ray

 

[MrsN]

One thing I can recommend about d1/4 sheet sanders is to try putting sandpaper on before you buy it. Last week I found one in the back of a cabinet at school covered in the wrong type of dust  It didn't take me long to figure out why it had been forgotten, the paper clamping is super awkward. It took me several minutes and more than a few tries to finally get paper on the stupid thing (I was at school so no naughty words or throwing the stupid thing) 

[SCROLLSAW703]

Ray, I use both the ros & a palm sander. And I also have a drum sander. Most everything goes thru the drum sander with 110 grit on it after the planer. IF I need to clean up some planer marks or somethin' on the lumber, I run my ros over it about mid speed. I've got my ros hooked to a 2 gallon shop vac. I think it's a 2 gallon. Anyway it has paper bag dust collection. Then I start in with the palm sander. I get all my finish sandin' done before I start a project.

To be honest with ya, your sanders are like any other brand of preference, Ray. Depending on the conditions they're used in & how they're taken care of, one will last just as long as the other. IMO. TOMSTEVE give ya some good advice about throws. A palm sander, Unless you're goin' to use it alot, a harbor freight one & their replacement plan will do ya well, unless they're like Mrs. N said & it takes til 6 minutes after Sunday to change out the paper. Ya just have to find the ones like. good luck, Sir.

 

[Bill WIlson]

I have both, but rarely use the palm sander.  I always seemrd to have more trouble with swirl marks left behind by the palm sander, but that may have been as much my technique and the paper I was using at the time.  I've used random orbit sanders, with good quality sanding discs,  for so long now, that I don't have much need to use the palm sander anymore.  The ability to connect the ROS to my shop vac & Dust Deputy was a game changer, for me.

[Rockytime]

Does anyone sand by hand? I have a small hand held Dewalt orbital sander but do not use it.

[ike]

I have several of brand name sanders and none of them compairs to the 3 mouse sanders I have I have 3 different grade sand papers and it works real well and they are not tooo expesxive.

IE

[Sparkey]

I have had my Makita for 30 + years and it still works great.

[SCROLLSAW703]

I can't say as I've ever experienced swirl marks from a palm sander. Nor have I used a mouse sander. I have read some about them.