The Best Sanders for Furniture Refinishing for 2024

Best Sanders for Furniture Refinishing - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

No matter if you are a professional furniture craftsman or DIY enthusiast, you might be in need of a new sander for your next refinishing project and you are at the right place.

You cannot test all the sanders yourself, so we have decided to do that for you.

We have gone through all the reviews and made a list of the best five sanders on the market.

Also, we offer you our Buyer’s Guide, too to help you figure out the best fit for you.

Once you get it, you will not have to do all your sanding by hand.

Spoiler Alert - Check out my top choice here >>

Top Rated Sanders for Furniture Refinishing

Model Rating Buy Now
Makita BO4556K (Sheet Palm Sander)Makita BO4556K (Sheet Palm Sander)
4.1
Check Price
Bosch GSS20-40Bosch GSS20-40
4.7
Check Price
BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 (Detail Sander)BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 (Detail Sander)
4.1
Check Price
PORTER-CABLE 382 (Random Orbital Sander)PORTER-CABLE 382 (Random Orbital Sander)
4.2
Check Price
SKIL 7302-02 (Detail Sander)SKIL 7302-02 (Detail Sander)
3.8
Check Price
* Ratings are based on Editor's own opinion.

5 Best Sanders for Furniture Refinishing Reviewed

#1. Makita BO4556K (Sheet Palm Sander)

Top Pick
Makita BO4556K (Sheet Palm Sander)
Check Price on Amazon

The number one on our list and definitely the best of the best is the Makita BO4556K.

The tool comes with a 2 Amp motor driving 14,000 OPM combined with minimal vibration and hand fatigue.

The on/off switch is designed so as to prove how important details were to the producer.

What users complain related to these tools is the paper installation, but with Makita, this is a breeze.

The tool also boasts amazing dust collection system.

The only thing that is missing is variable speeds, but if it had it, the price will be even higher.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

  • 14,000 OPM
  • Fast and smooth finish sanding
  • Low vibration
  • Comfortable design
  • Quick and easy paper change

Cons

  • Single speed
Check Price on Amazon

#2. Bosch GSS20-40

Bosch GSS20-40
Check Price on Amazon

Our runner up is the Bosch GSS20-40 is definitely a great choice as it is a more powerful tool than the Makita.

They have the very same features –a dust collection hose, 2.0 Amp motor, good ergonomics, and clamped-in sandpaper.

The Bosch boasts the 3-sided vertical sanding along the edges of the pad and users consider it a real plus when sanding in drawers and bookshelves.

The reason why it is not our top pick is the OPMs, as this unit is unable to match the finish offered by the Makita.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

  • Powerful
  • Little vibration
  • Easy paper change
  • Can be attached to your shop vac

Cons

  • Fewer OMPs
Check Price on Amazon

#3. BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 (Detail Sander)

BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 (Detail Sander)
Check Price on Amazon

Our third choice is three times less expensive than both our Top Pick and Runner-Up,

That is the Black & Decker BDEMS600 Detail Sander.

It has only 1.2 Amps but impressive 16,000 OPMs.

This represents a great balance between power and control.

You will have the ability to get into tiny spaces.

Some users find it as a disadvantage that the tool does not have the option of attaching a dust collection hose, but the dust collection system works fine for the small volume of sawdust which is considered enough for a detail sander.

The tool is designed for small and light jobs.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

  • 16,000 OPMs
  • Usable in the nooks and crannies
  • Price

Cons

  • Can be tough to find replacement paper
  • No hose
Check Price on Amazon

#4. PORTER-CABLE 382 (Random Orbital Sander)

PORTER-CABLE 382 (Random Orbital Sander)
Check Price on Amazon

The only Random Orbital Sander on our list is the Porter-Cable 382.

This is a good choice for those who have palm and detail sanders.

What you get with this tool is a 1.9 Amp motor and 12,000 OPMs.

The users claim that the tool lacks power and that it can be used only for lightweight jobs.

Another disadvantage is that it is heavy, thus causing more fatigue.

Dissatisfied users also said that there is a frustrating on/off switch and a dust collector that falls off.

All these are enough to make it our fourth choice when it comes to sanders.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

  • Useful only for modest demands

Cons

  • Feels weak
  • Underpowered
  • Poor on/off switch
  • Poorly-designed dust collector
Check Price on Amazon

#5. SKIL 7302-02 (Detail Sander)

SKIL 7302-02 (Detail Sander)
Check Price on Amazon

The fifth position is taken by a detail sander – the SKIL 7302-02.

The tool comes with eight detail attachments.

Users appreciate its 12,000 OPM, as well as its comfortable ergonomics.

However, the majority of them consider it frustrating due to the fact that it frequently breaks in a variety of ways.

What SKIL needs to do is to redesign it and make it sturdy and dependable, which will thus improve its durability and people will love it more.

Check current price on Amazon >>

Pros

  • Eight nifty attachments
  • Easy to sand the tiniest and hardest-to-reach areas
  • 12,000 OPMs

Cons

  • Usable only for the lightest use
  • Breaks easily
Check Price on Amazon

Sanders for Furniture Refinishing: The Ultimate Buying Guide

If you still have not determined which sander for furniture refinishing project is the right for you, then we will speak more about various types of sanders and their characteristics.

You can choose among an orbital, a detail and a random orbital sander.

Sander

What should I know about Orbital sanders?

The first thing you notice when an orbital sander is in question is that it has a square or rectangular base that rotates in tiny circles.

You should attach a standard-sized square of paper to it and easily cut full sheets of sandpaper to size.

We have to mention that the orbital sanders are less aggressive, easy to handle and causing fewer problems.

What you get are the smoothest finishes.

Its square shape makes it ideal for corners and edges.

Being that it is less aggressive, it means that it cannot remove layers of finish.

What about Random orbital sanders?

The second type is the random orbital sander, which comes with a round sanding surface that moves in an ellipse.

It requires a specially-designed paper with a hook and loop system.

The ROS is great for removing thick finish layers.

The fact that it is round makes you able to move it in any direction on your wood, but you cannot do corners.

You need to have in mind that it might drag you around your project and leave gouges and marks.

If this would be your first time to work with it, we suggest practicing on scrap wood.

What is important about Detail sanders?

The detail sander, as its name suggests, it perfect for details.

The project with nooks and crannies that has to be sanded requires this kind of tool.

It is designed to use a triangular piece of sandpaper so that it can reach tiny crevices.

Some users appreciate the fact that it is less expensive, but they do not like that it is less powerful than the other sanders.

How significant are power and ergonomics when choosing one?

The power is not the most important feature when it comes to finishing sanders.

Actually, as you will be doing your furniture refinishing, you need a lot of control and finesse, and that cannot be done with a great power motor.

Furthermore, you will be working with it in your hand and holding it for quite some time, so less vibration is definitely considered more comfortable.

Avoiding extra vibration improves the comfort, but finding the tool that fits naturally in your hand is worth every penny.

If you can go to your tool supplier and hold some of these in your own hand before buying one would be ideal as you will be able to feel whether it is comfortable or not.

Dust collection

The sanding is followed by sawdust everywhere.

Sanders usually come with little onboard bags to collect dust.

This is not enough for larger tasks, so some more advanced models allow you to hook up a hose between the sander and your shop vac, thus collecting the dust more effectively.

Conclusion

All in all, we have gone through many models and determined that the Makita BO4556K is our Top Pick, being that it produces the fastest, smoothest finish and is the most comfortable to work with.

For those people who want to spend less, the Black & Decker BDEMS600 Detail Sander is an affordable option which is capable of the tiny-space work at 16,000 OPMs.

We are sure that now you can identify what the best tool for your job is.


I hope you liked my article about Sanders for Furniture Refinishing, if so, please share or comment.

Leave a Comment

×
SEARCH PROGRAMS
Get information about programs near you or online.