Palm sanders are tools that assist with woodworking task in the workshop. They make it so someone doesnt have to hand sand their project to achieve the desired sanding, which can take many hour. These palm sanders create the perfect surface for the application of a finish to the project.
However, the next time someone walks into a workshop that has a myriad of tool in it, they may feel overwhelmed by the number of different types of palm-sized sanders that are available. Each brand may make a model that they feel is the best for a specific task. However, the difference between these models of palm sanders are far more significant then the color of the sanders or the brand sticker attached to the sanders.
If someone understands the different types of palm sanders available, they can buy an appropriate tool for the job to avoid fighting with it during use. Making the right choice with sanders for woodwork will save someone time and keep them from becoming frustrated with the outcome of their sanding project. Using the wrong sanders may produce unwanted marks on the wood that is difficult to fix.
The sanders may not have enough power to remove the wood that is required to complete a project. The following will discuss the different type of palm sanders and when they can be used on a workbench to achieve the best result. Random orbital sanders are some of the top choice for woodworkers for a few specific reasons.
Different Types of Palm Sanders to Use
1. Random Orbital Sanders
The random orbital sanders will spin the abrasive disc while the pad that is attached to the sanders will also orbit in a small circle. This creates a moving pad that will not produce circular marks on the wood that older models of sanders can create. Woodworkers can use 80-grit sandpaper to sand the project to even 220 grit without having to change the sandpaper.
There may be a learning curve for these types of sanders to learn how to allow the sander to float on the workpiece. However, once someone learns how to use the random orbital sanders, they will find themselves using this tool for almost every project they complete.
2. Detail Sanders
Detail sanders are used for sanding intricate details on a workpiece.
The pads that are used on detail sanders are shaped like a triangle or a teardrop. This makes these sanders suitable for tight spaces like the corner of a wooden frame or the edge of a chair spindle. Most detail sanders will move in a back-and-forth motion rather than the orbital motion use by other sanders.
This avoids any possibility of rounding the corner of a wooden project. Detail sanders will also not damage the veneer that may be applied to wooden projects. Because detail sanders has a smaller motor than random orbital sanders, they will take more time to complete a project.
However, detail sanders will be more suitable for specific jobs rather than remove the wood from a project.
3. Finishing Sanders
Finishing sanders, also known as orbital sanders, will create the ultra-smooth surface for wooden projects. The finishing sanders have a square pad that will orbit in a tight circle without any spinning action.
The orbital motion will create a fine scratch pattern on the wood that will be suitable for preparing maple or birch wood for a clear coat of coat. The square pad will allow the sandpaper to sand right up to the edge of a project without hanging off the edge and potentially digging into the workpiece. These sanders will have modest amount of power to them to make them less suitable for removing old paint or lumber with rough edges.
They are mainly used to provide an effortless sanding experience with the finish ready to recieve another coat of finish.
4. Belt Sanders
Belt sanders in a palm size are meant to be a middle ground between sanders that are used for sanding wood and those that are used to remove wood from a project. These sanders will have an abrasive belt between two rollers that will allow for the sanding of wood that requires the removal of more wood than a random orbital sander may be able to accomplish.
Woodworkers will often use belt sanders when a random orbital sander will take up too much of their time. The straight scratch line made by the belt sander will require sanding with a random orbital sander or hand sanding to even out the scratches. The directional motion of the belt sander means that sanders must be in constant motion with the belt sander to avoid digging into the wood.
This is especially critical with softer woods. However, with the proper use of a compact belt sander, it can often replace a jointer for small jobs or be stored in a cabinet on the shelf where it is needed the most for specific jobs.
5. Multi-Sanders
Multi-sanders have become very popular in workshops with limited space and with woodworkers on a limited budget.
These sanders have different bases that allow for a random orbit sandpaper pad, a triangular detail head, or even a straight-line attachment. These sanders will allow a woodworker to have fewer tools in their workshop to perform the same job as two or three other tools with a specific purpose. However, there will be a compromise in the power or the balance of these sanders.
The motor in a multi-sander is made to allow for different types of motion with the sandpaper pad, so it may not be as powerful as a random orbital sander with a focus on a specific job. However, for those who only create one or two projects each year, the convenience of having one tool perform many of these jobs may be more important than the slight drop in performance that a multi-sander may exhibit.
6. Pneumatic Palm Sanders
Pneumatic palm sanders use compressed air instead of an electric motor to rotate the sandpaper.
These types of sanders are used in many body shop for decades. The main reasons are that pneumatic palm sanders remain cooler during long periods of sanding primer and that they are lighter in the hand since they do not contain an electric motor. Woodworkers who use air compressors for other tools like nail guns or spray guns may also use pneumatic random orbital sanders for the same reasons.
The constant noise from the air hose that is connected to the pneumatic sanders may be a disadvantage for some workshops. Additionally, the requirement for the air compressor to be present in the workshop is another potential disadvantage. However, if the workshop already has the air compressor in place, pneumatic sanders will feel very light when in use and they will not overheat while sanding a project.
7. Cordless Palm Sanders
Cordless palm sanders are becoming a popular tool for woodworkers with the increasing improvements in these tools in recent years. The cordless sanders use a brushless motor and a high-capacity lithium battery that can last an entire day of sanding cabinet projects. Woodworkers can sand their projects anywhere without the constraints of a power cord.
The torque of the motor is still slightly less than corded sanders; hence, woodworkers will have to change the batteries when using a cordless sander for a large project. However, the freedom to move from one project to another without the cord will change the way sanders use their tools. Each of the different types of palm sanders was created to solve a specific problem in the workshop.
Random orbital sanders will erase the scratches that the wood may develop during the plane of the wood. Detail sanders are used to reach into the tightest spots to sand only those spots. Finishing sanders are used to polish the wood to a shine without leaving marks of its own.
Compact belt sanders are used to quickly remove the wood from a project for people who do not have time to sand the project with a random orbital sander. By understanding the movement of each tool, woodworkers will find it easier to select the appropriate palm sander for their project. With an understanding of the tools, they will no longer have to fight with the sanders but will allow them to do their jobs.
The next time someone has a project on their workbench, they should consider the type of project they are creating. Based off the project, they will be able to choose the sander that is appropriate for the project and the type of wood being used. With an understanding of the palm sanders, the woodworker will be able to create a project whose surface is smooth to the touch rather than one that is finished in a manner that is merely good enough for completion of the project.
