You will need to use a power sander in your DIY wood projects. There are tons of sanders on the markets, with each having a specific use. If you are ready to use a power sander for your wood projects, there are many choices, and selecting the best hand sander depends on the type of wood and finishing job you will be doing. The size of the hand sander is crucial. If you are working on a small area, you wouldn’t want to use a large sander, nor will you want to use a smaller sander for bigger projects. There are factors to look for in the best hand sander for wood, and selecting properly can give you the best tool that can give you convenience and effortless results.
| PRODUCT | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander |  | Check Price |
 | VonHaus Random Orbit Sander/Orbital Polisher |  | Check Price |
 | DEWALT Palm Grip Sander Kit | | Check Price |
Best hand sander for wood–Projects That Need an Electric Sander
- Recycling wood furniture and refinishing it
- Eliminating stains or paint from door cabinets
- Changing the paint in wooden areas of your home
- Restoration of old vintage pieces such as chests and drawers
- Repainting the frames of windows
- Removing rusts from outdoor furniture
- Best hand sander for wood-different Types
Types of Best hand sander for wood
Large, Floor Sanders
Wood floor sanding cannot be undertaken efficiently with a sander for furniture. Instead, the job requires a larger machine so it can be done right. Sanding wood floors are usually one-time projects, such as when you are refinishing the wood in a house while remodeling.
Old wood floors will come back to life when you sand them. Large floor sanders can be rented when you need them, but typical homeowners will use a floor sander infrequently, so it is impractical to purchase one.
Belt Sander
Among all kinds of hand sanders, this type has the most power. It can take up an entire sheet of sandpaper and power through most projects. It is the best sander for projects which involve tabletops and larger furniture such as desk and dressers, which have wide surface areas.
Bringing the life back of raw wood can be a time-consuming process unless you are using the right sander for the project. However, you will need to have a firm grip on this tool since it can speedily power through the surface if you don’t handle it properly.
Palm Sanders
You will need a palm sander for a lot of your home DIY projects. If you happen to own your home, there is little reason to hire a professional to do simple sanding jobs such as sanding down a floor or window frame. These projects can easily be done. For this type of project, a palm sander is handy.
Palm sanders can hold a quarter to a half sheet of sandpaper and can be used on wide flat surface areas.
Detail Sanders
If you are looking to restore furniture, the sander you will need is a detail sander.
This sander points to one side, and it will help you reach and sand corners.
If you are sanding the bottom part of a desk, you will need a detail sander to get to the difficult corners. Together with a palm sander, this is one of the best sanders that can be used for restoring furniture. Detail sanders are also best for smaller projects and hobbies with much detailed work and intricate areas.
Best hand sander for wood–Choosing a Power Sander
No one sander can do all jobs. The type of sander you will use will depend on the job at hand. If you are going to become a regular DIYer, you will want to invest in a few different kinds of sanding tools with specific functions.
The ideal sander for refinishing furniture can also be simultaneously used for other wooden areas in the house.
A bigger piece of furniture can benefit from a belt sander or a palm sander. For the smaller details of this project, you can certainly use a few pieces of sandpaper manually to clean up hard to reach corners and remove most of the extra paints or stains.
An orbital type is also called a finishing sander. When you remove the largest stain or paint areas, you can use the orbital sander to obtain a smooth finish.
If your project has a ton of small details, you will have to use many sandpaper sheets. You can also make use of sanding gloves that make the process effortless. However, beautiful outcomes will depend on your elbow grease.
Best hand sander for wood–Tips on Using Your Sander
When you begin a project and need to eliminate the old finish, you will be using the biggest sander and the grittiest paper.
Once you remove the finish, you will need to replace it with lighter sandpaper with a finer grain. The result is a smooth finish where you can add your distinct mark as you stain or color it with your choice.
Do not press down on your machine too much. You might think it is logical that pressing down on your sander would make your work faster, but it can actually slow down the motor of the sander and the paper.
If you press down on your machine, it could overheat the motor, and once the motor overheats, it will break down the sander after some time.
Do not hold the sander in one area for a prolonged time.
If you are dealing with stubborn areas, use sweeping movements over the area and then move away.
Do not leave the sander in one area on the wood. The result will be grooves that you’ll have to work harder to eliminate.
Best hand sander for wood–buying guide
Corded vs. Battery-Powered
A lot of power tools nowadays come with the option of either corded or battery-powered. You should consider your space. A corded type can be more effective and efficient and never run out of power or slow down to lower orbits per minute. For basement projects, garages, or sheds, corded sanders are a good choice. To use them, simply pair them with an extension cord, and they can be used in any space with an electric outlet.
On the other hand, battery-powered sanders are great when a workshop doesn’t have access to electricity or when the project is being done outdoors and away from power outlets. This type of sander can have issues with maintaining a regular OPM level once their battery gets low. To keep this from happening, make sure the batteries are fully charged and switch them regularly even before the power becomes too low. Sanders that uses a battery, also wins it in terms of maneuverability. There is no need to avoid cords and trip over them as you work.
Orbits Per Minute
The bottom part of a palm sander moves in tiny circles at various speeds. If the speed is slower the cooler the sander and sandpaper will be, but the sander will also be much slower and less forceful at removing material. Speedier opm will accomplish the project quicker and result in higher temperatures that can destroy heat-sensitive materials. The best choice for better control in any project is a palm sander with various speed settings. This will allow you to utilize the sander in finer applications that require lower opm or in broader applications that would benefit from a speedier opm.
Dust Collection
Sanding is a project that creates a lot of mess. It is a good thing that many brands of power sanders have begun attaching built-in dust collectors to their products to make cleanup more effortless. These dust collector attachments clear the area so that the fine finishing touches of a job can be added without the sander having to skip over areas that have been dust-covered.
It is also important to note that more than the final finishing of your project is the care of your health. Remember that as you work with wood, you will need a dust mask to keep you from inhaling dust and dirt accumulated into the air. A dust collector attachment can effortlessly remove harmful particles from a project before they circulate in the air.
Top 3 best hand sander for wood
OUR TOP PICK!
OUR TOP PICK!
Product Name: BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander
Product Description: This best hand sander for wood operates at 14,000 orbits per minute and is a detailed sander that will get any project done. It allows you full control of its direction. The sleek design of this best hand sander for wood features three different grips to suit your job. The first is a precision grip for maneuvering, and the next is a handle grip for tight spaces and finally is a palm grip for surface sanding. Because of this versatility, this best hand sander for wood is great for furniture refinishing.
Availability: InStock
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Durability
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Power
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Attachments
Overall
Summary
This best hand sander for wood is lightweight at only 3 pounds and has a compact body that is easy to maneuver. The dust produced in this sander is minimal and is therefore easy to clean and comes with a dust canister with microfiltration. However, when using this best hand sander for wood, a dust mask is still recommended. It is easy to find replacement parts for this unit in any home improvement store. This best hand sander for wood is ideal for all-around household use and might just be the best hand sander for furniture out there on the markets. The price is affordable at only $40.
Pros
- Compact size
- attachment and sanding pad included
- Easily fits in tight spaces
Cons
- No negative reviews so far
Runners Up
VonHaus Random Orbit Sander/Orbital Polisher
This best hand sander for wood has to be the best choice when it comes to the best orbital sander specific for furniture. One of the best features is an on-lock switch that goes from up to 13,000 rotations per minute. Plus, it only takes a 5-inch orbit space. The design of this best hand sander for wood is ergonomic and comes with a soft grip and adjustable front handle. This sander can be used on many types of surfaces like woods, plastic, and even metal. The final result will not leave any sanding marks.
This best hand sander for wood also comes with a dust collector to maintain cleanliness in your workspace and your lungs. However, it is still recommended that you wear a dust mask. This unit comes with three polishing pads and nine finishing pads.
The cost of this best hand sander for wood is $80.
The ergonomic design of this best hand sander for wood provide a soft grip for comfortable one-hand use. It comes with a dust extraction parts and dust collection bag, which will keep your project and surrounding area clean. It also comes with a long 7-inch power cable. This best hand sander for wood has a compact and lightweight design, which is great for DIY and light industrial use.
DEWALT Palm Grip Sander Kit
This best hand sander for wood is a powerful palm sander with an orbit of up to 14,000 rotations each minute and comes with a counterweight to minimize vibration. Dewalt palm grip sander best hand sander for wood is designed for coming up with smooth outcomes on surface areas. It comes with rubber material to fit over the switch, which will keep the dust out and lengthen the unit’s lifespan overall.
One unique feature of this best hand sander for wood is it can hook up your vacuum hose. The kit is complete and includes the sander, dust bag, sandpaper punch, and a convenient carrying case. This best hand sander for wood sells for $50.
This best hand sander for wood has a 2.3 AMP motor, which can send up to 14,000 OPM rotations. The rubber material gives a smooth and comfortable grip while sanding.
The paper clamp has an improved designed, which provides better paper retention. The dust port has a locking feature that allows the user to lock the vacuum hose with the sander. This best hand sander for wood comes in a smaller height, which allows the user to get close to their project.
Final Thoughts
The typical homeowner will have many wood pieces in their home, whether it be furniture or wooden structures in the house, such as wooden floors and wooden decks. Over time these will need maintenance and restoration, so it is crucial to have the proper tools to come up with beautiful results. The best hand sander for wood will help you achieve your DIY goals and helps make difficult jobs easier.
