Best Random Orbital Sanders for Woodworking - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

by Scott Miller Updated on May. 19, 2019

The more serious your work is, the greatest is the need for a random orbital sander.

You can postpone the purchasing in order to save some money and get the more expensive, thus the high-end one, or you can take a look at those low-cost orbital sanders and determine which one suit you best.

Being that you are reading this article, you are probably considering buying one, so keep on reading and find out everything you need to know before making the right decision.

Going through the official websites of different brands with the aim to ideal random orbital sander can be troublesome, so we offer you the list of top quality orbital sanders available on the market.

Spoiler Alert - Check out my top choice here >>

Top Rated Random Orbital Sanders for Woodworking

Model	Rating	Buy Now
DEWALT DWE6423K 5″ Random Orbital Sander	4.6	Check Price
Black & Decker BDERO100 Random Orbit Sander	4.3	Check Price
Bosch Random Orbit Sander ROS20VSC	4.4	Check Price
PORTER-CABLE 382 5-Inch Random Orbital Sander	4.2	Check Price
Makita BO5041K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit	4.7	Check Price

* Ratings are based on Editor's own opinion.

5 Best Random Orbital Sanders for Woodworking Reviewed

#1. DEWALT DWE6423K 5″ Random Orbital Sander

Top Pick

Check Price on Amazon

If you are looking for a top quality random orbital sander, then you are at the right place.

The DEWALT DWE6423K 5″ Random Orbital Sander is the leading one among the most popular brands, such as Bosch and Makita.

The producers have achieved an ideal balance among price, performance, and purchase protection in the DWE6423K model and it rightfully deserves the first place.

The DWE6423K comes with a 3 A variable-speed system which makes it run between 8,000 and 12,000 orbits per minute.

Its great power does not affect the experience as this tool is virtually vibration-free, due to the rubber overmild grip and low-profile design.

Additional advantage is definitely a reliable hook and loop system, too.

All these factors contribute to this product’s great quality and performance, but the best reason for its top place among random orbital sanders is the 3-year warranty.

The buyers get free service for a year and a 90-day money back guarantee which is an amazing offer.

The only drawback that users have noticed is that the detachable dust collection bag does not do its job as well as in some other models.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

Great motor
Durability
Excellent hook and loop system
Purchase protection

Cons

Dust ejection port
Price
Lack of Shop-vac adapter

Check Price on Amazon

#2. Black & Decker BDERO100 Random Orbit Sander

Check Price on Amazon

If you cannot afford buying the quite expensive DEWALT DWE6423K 5″ Random Orbital Sander, you should be aware the fact that buying low-cost power tools would entail some weaknesses and you might not gain as much as you expected from the sander.

One model whose price is in line with is quality and can be considered a good buy is the Black + Decker BDERO100.

It is a fully-functional random orbital sander with a 2 A single-speed system that runs at 12,000 orbits per minute.

However, this sander is only designed for light sanding and relying on it as your main sander cannot be taken as an option.

The users have noticed two noteworthy drawbacks of this model and those are the poor dust collection system and necessity to add your shop-vac, and the fact that hook and loop system wears down sanding pads quickly.

As you will have to fix these issues, your initial saving would not be worthy.

The producers offer a 2-year limited warranty which is not expected for the low-budget products.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

Durability
Economical
Great warranty period

Cons

The power of motor
Lack of shop-vac
Poor loop and hook quality

Check Price on Amazon

#3. Bosch Random Orbit Sander ROS20VSC

Check Price on Amazon

The third on our list – the Bosch ROS20VSC – was the leader when it comes to random orbital sanders before DEWALT came along with its awesome warranty period.

However, the Bosch ROS20VSC still deserves a high place among the powerful and quality random orbital sanders.

The ROS20VSC comes with a 2.5 A variable-speed system that runs at 7,500 to 12,000 orbits per minute which makes it less powerful than the DEWALT one.

This model is easy to use and it can boasts with great durability.

One weakness is only a year’s limited warranty.

The dust collection system on the ROS20VSC is efficient, so you will not need to have a shop-vac.

These two companies are trying to achieve perfection and the only reason why you should decide to buy the ROS20VSC rather than the DWE6423K is the budget.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

Price
Motor
Shop-vac adapter

Cons

Short warranty period

Check Price on Amazon

#4. PORTER-CABLE 382 5-Inch Random Orbital Sander

Check Price on Amazon

The PORTER-CABLE 382 found its place as the fourth on our list, and this does not mean that it is less worth mentioning.

It is another excellent low-cost orbital sander with 1.9 A motor which might be less powerful than in some pricey models, but comes with a 3-year warranty, a year of free service, and a 90-day money back guarantee.

And when we take a look at the price, this is a real bargain.

Even though the 382 is a low-cost model, it is amazing how durable its motor is.

Furthermore, its dust collection system works well, but you will still need an adapter to hook it to your shop-vac, due to the fact that it fills fast

The main drawback of this model is the lack of power as it is designed only for light sanding.

If your needs are greater than that, you are advised to choose a more powerful and high-end random orbital sander.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

Durability
Easy usage
Purchase protection

Cons

Bad dust collection system
Power

Check Price on Amazon

#5. Makita BO5041K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit

Check Price on Amazon

Even though it is the last on our list of top five random orbital sanders, the Makita BO5041K is definitely the model worth mentioning and discussing.

Its performance and functionality makes it everyone’s wish, so many people choose exactly this model to buy.

This device quality can be contributed to the 3 A variable-speed motor which runs between 4,000 and 12,000 orbits per minute.

There is the extended low-speed range enabling precise control over sanding operations.

Additionally, there is two-finger trigger switch with lock-on mode.

You do not have to worry about the dust, as this model has high-capacity dust collection system and what is even better, the built-in shop-vac adapter.

So as to make it more efficient when you do one handed operation, the producers made possible to remove the front handle.

Furthermore, the large 1/8-inch orbital action enables a smooth finish.

As we spoke so much about all the positive characteristics of this amazing device, now we have to mention the reason why it is not in the first place of our list.

The price and the warranty.

Such an expensive price tag is justified by its quality, but the producers offer only a year’s warranty for the Makita BO5041K which definitely should be longer.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

Great motor
Durability
Speed
Amazing dust collection
Shop-vac adapter included
Removable handle

Cons

Price
Short warranty period

Check Price on Amazon

Random Orbital Sanders for Woodworking: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Each woodshop requires a random orbital sander as it is a helpful tool which makes you woodwork impressive.

The sanding pad on a random orbital sander spins around a random orbit and the result is a high-quality finish.

It is a finishing tool and if you have a better one, it will save you a lot of time and effort than sanders of a bad quality do.

However, whether you will get a more powerful one or not depends on your needs and budget.

What are the features I should have in mind before purchasing a random orbital sander?

Superior Dust Collection – While working with a random orbital sander, there will be a lot of fine sawdust that would be all around your woodshop. This can cause some respiratory diseases and it is hard to clean. That is when a quality random orbital sander with perfect dust collection system comes into play.
Shop Vacuum Compatibility – The larger projects require even better solution that the dust collection bag. To improve the dust collection capacity of the sander, you can attach a shop-vac either directly or through an adapter.
Dust Protected Body – The dust is not only harmful to you and your woodshop, but to the tool as well. Considering the fact that this fine dust passes through the tool’s body, it can damage the mechanism and other tool parts. So that the tool lasts longer, it is better to get the model that has a protection for its internal parts from dust.
Multi-Grip – As the majority of random orbital sanders come with only one-handed grip, it is considered a great advantage if the model offer two handed grip. Not only does the two-handed grip improve the control, but also improves the accessibility. The best models are those which allow you to switch between the two grips easily.
Variable Speed – As this is an important feature and if your plans are to have only one orbital sander, than a variable speed system is a must. That way you will be able to decrease or increase the orbits per minute as your work requires. The same effect can be achieved with a single speed random orbital sander but you will need to change the grit of the sanding pad.

Are there any pitfalls to be avoided?

Besides the advantages, there are also some of weaknesses of certain models

Vibration: The well-made machine would transfer very little of the vibration to the user when it is working so it will make your work experience more pleasant and enable you to work longer hours. In order to determine the level of vibration that suits your needs, you can go to a shop where you can try various machines yourself or you can take a look at the customers’ reviews.
Motor Failure: The more prominent the brand is, the fewer are the possibilities of a motor failure. However, everything is possible even to the best of them. So, it is advisable to avoid low-cost products from obscure brands. The best proof of quality is the warranty period.
Underpowered Motor: The ideal power of a motor for light sanding is a 2 to 2.5 A. However, for medium to heavy sanding, you should look for at least a 3 A motor. You do not have to worry about orbits per minute rating as the high number of orbits per minute on a low-power motor is useless.
Low-Quality Hook & Loop: The hook and loop system are important to be of a good quality to random orbital sander’s users. The aim of this system is to allow you to attach the sanding pad to the sander. Before buying a sander, it is advisable to go through the reviews related to this issue.

Is it better to buy a low-cost or an expensive random orbital sander?

The main differences between these two are the power and features.

Which one will you will choose highly depends on the amount of work you do.

The greater work, the better random orbital sander would be required.

You have to pay attention to its performance, reliability, lifetime, and convenience as you would not buy it yearly.

If you are using it every day, you will need the one with better performance and a high-end model would be considered a must.

On the other hand, if you plan to work with it only occasionally, then you do not need an expensive one.

I think I got it, what are my options?

You can choose among the leading brands such as DeWALT, Bosch, and Makita, but there is also a possibility to get any of the other random orbital sanders offered on the market which are not on our list.

The greatest but the most expensive is a Festool random orbital sander.

On the other hand, if you are looking for the low-cost brands, take a look at the official websites of brands such as Porter Cable, Black & Decker, Ryobi, and Skil.

Conclusion

As we did such a great analysis of the best random orbital sanders available on the market, we can make some conclusions.

The first one is that low-cost random orbital sanders should be avoided if your work requires powerful tools and if you have enough money to afford high-end ones.

However, if your budget does not allow you to buy a more expensive one, then the Black & Decker BDERO100 and the Porter Cable 382 are your best options.

For those who are able to pay high prices, the best advice is to buy the DEWALT DWE6423K.

The Makita BO5041K is definitely the best performing high-end random orbital sander, with the greatest features and characteristics, except the short warranty period offered.

Have in mind that this is only a small section of the products on the market and you can always do your own research among some other brands and manufactures, but we wanted to give you a possibility to compare those top ones and ease your trouble of finding the ideal one for you.

Table of Contents