Orbital and random orbital sanders are indispensable for professional carpentry and DIY jobs for sanding wood and other ceramic, plastic, and metal materials.
Let’s see the ranking of the best products with prices and features this year and the buying guide to understand how to choose the best orbital sander according to your needs.
The orbital and random orbital sanders are versatile and easy-to-use sanders that have almost replaced the classic belt sanders. They are more practical and work with a circular rotary movement that allows you to cover a greater sanding surface, thus speeding up the work.
The base or plate can be round or square in orbital and random orbital sanders. A sheet of abrasive paper is attached to the plate, which will have sanding by replacing manual work with sandpaper or other tools.
The orbital wood sander is the most sought-after type. It allows you to finish all types of furniture, tables, shelves, shutters, and many other do-it-yourself jobs at an amateur and professional level. The sander is used to rough and finish large surfaces but is also a valid aid for finishing edges, curves, or small parts.
With the special abrasive sheet, the sander is perfect for polishing various types of metal. Depending on the work we have to do, we can choose an economic orbital sander or a professional orbital sander that will allow us to work for many hours and undertake more ambitious projects.
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How to choose an orbital sander: Types and Characteristics
To choose the best orbital or random orbital sander, let’s see the characteristics that distinguish them.
Power
The power of the orbital sander is expressed in Watts. We can find on the market professional orbital sanders with a power of up to 2,000 watts used in construction sites or large jobs. To buy an orbital sander for use at home, 400 watts are sufficient for high-quality work, and up to 200 watts for occasional hobby work.,
Speeds and oscillations
Considering the number of oscillations or orbits per minute with power is useful. Depending on the work to be done, many orbits per minute may be useful to perform the work faster, especially on a larger sanding surface or a lower number of orbits for precision work.
The best orbital sander is the one that allows you to adjust the speed according to your needs. Furthermore, one must reduce the speed to avoid inadvertently damaging the material to be treated at a start-up.
Supply
The orbital sanders can be powered by electricity or by a battery. A cordless sander is much more manageable and allows easy use without cable clutter. You can also use it outdoors in the garden or a garage without a power supply. An orbital sander cable allows you to work continuously for as long as necessary.
Plate
The plate or sanding pad is the sander that acts on the material to be treated. The plate can be around, square, or triangular (or delta) in shape. While an orbital sander can mount all types of plates, the random orbital sander generally works with a round plate due to the rotary movement, as we will explain later.
Depending on the work to be done, we can evaluate the plates’ size to need larger for large-scale work and smaller for precision work. In addition, the orbital sanders that provide interchangeable sanding pads are more comfortable if equipped with an interlocking system, so replacement is easier.
Abrasive sheets
The abrasive sheets stick to the sanding pad or plate. The orbital sanders can mount sheets of sandpaper, sandpaper, or silicon. You must carefully choose the abrasive sheet according to the work and the material to be treated. For example, the sheets will have a coarser grain for roughing jobs and a finer grain for sanding and polishing.
The abrasive sheet is attached to the plate using velcro, but some orbital sander models have a spring or staple to attach the sheet to remain attached during work. In addition, we can find pre-cut sheets of the same shape as the plate or cut them manually.
Aspiration
The orbital sander provides an aspiration system to eliminate the dust produced by the material being worked on. The aspiration is fundamental to a professional and clean job since the material residues between the plate and the surface could ruin the treated material. Furthermore, the powders are harmful to the operator carrying out the work.
The most practical orbital sanders have a dust collection bag in the back. This way, dust, and residues will be easily collected and disposed of comfortably. Sometimes, it can connect the orbital sander to an external tube to eliminate materials.
Orbital or random orbital sander: What are the differences between the two types of sanders?
The main difference between orbital and random orbital sanders is in the movement of the plate.
The orbital sander provides for the vibration of the plate according to an orbit. Simultaneously, the random orbital sander provides for the plate’s rotation on itself and according to the orbit.
The random orbital sander is more suitable for working on large surfaces, including corrugated surfaces. However, considering that more material is removed with this method, a more delicate orbital movement is necessary to obtain a sanding or finishing.
A random orbital sander generally has different modes, so it can also work with orbital mode, excluding rotation.
The best orbital and random orbital sanders to buy
Below are the top 10 best-selected orbital sanders, with prices and technical characteristics.
- POWERFUL - With a 2.8 amp motor and 13,000 orbits per minute, it's able to deliver a...
- EASY TO CLEAN DUST CONTAINER - The X-flow dust collector uses cyclone force to collect...
- SPEED CONTROL - Variable speed control provides the right amount of power and control...
- 3-Amp motor spins the pad at 8,000 - 12,000 OPM
- Separate counterweight design reduces vibration for improved comfort
- Improved dust-sealed switch protects against dust ingestion for longer switch life
- SMOOTH FINISH: pad dampening system designed to eliminate swirl marks on both flat and...
- EASY DISC ATTACHMENT: through Bosch's signature Hook and Loop disc attachment system,...
- VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL: powerful 2.5 AMP motor allows speed to work-piece and task...
- High performance: 280W powerful fine cooper motor provides up to 13,000 rotations per...
- Sand large surfaces: This sander machine is equipped with a 125 millimetre diameter...
- Built-in dust collection system: The dust extraction system and collection bag prevents...
- 【360W Powerful Motor】The upgraded 3.0 Amp motor, surpassing the 2.5 Amp model by 60...
- 【6 Adjustable Speeds】The 3.0A electric orbital sander provides 6 variable speeds...
- 【Efficient Dust System】An effective through-the-pad dust collection system ensures a...
- HIGH PERFORMANCE ORBIT SANDER - 2.0 Amp corded electric random orbit sander for a...
- HIGH EFFICIENCY - Delivers 12000 OPM (orbits per minute) to quickly sand material
- LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT - Fits in tight spaces for more versatile sanding
- 3.0 amp motor that spins the pad at 12,000 OPM
- Shorter height allows the user to get closer to work piece
- Separate counterweight design reduces vibration for improved comfort
- COMPLETE TASKS WITH EASE: 3.0 Amps and 12,000 OPM of the orbital sander gives you the...
- ON-BOARD DUST BAG: High performance dust collection of the hand sander features on-board...
- DURABILITY: Dust sealed switch of the electric sander provides added durability
- Orbital sander with brushless motor provides runtime and efficiency to get the job done
- Variable-speed control of the hand sander from 8,000 to 12,000 OPM to match the speed to...
- Low-profile height of the power sander allows user to get close to work surface for...
- 3.0-amp motor of the orbital sander spins the pad at 12,000 OPM
- Shorter height of the hand sander allows the user to get closer to work piece
- Separate counterweight design reduces vibration for improved comfort of the electric...
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