I like this one. Adding to my growing list of Ridgid Tools, I bought this Ridgid R.O. Sander to give it a try since burning through the Porter-Cable 333′s was getting old. There are a few good features on this R.O. and so far it’s outperformed most of my duty sanders.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Specifications:

• Input: 3 Amps.
• No Load Speeds: 7,000 – 12,000 OPM
• Orbit Diameter: 3/32 in.
• Pad Size: 5 in., 8-hole pattern
• Tool Weight: 3.2 lb.

Features:

• Soft start and pad brake
• Electronic speed control
• Through body sealed slide switch
• Permanent Magnet Motor™
• Micro Fiber™ hook and loop pad
• On board vacuum adapter

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Experience:

I’m a carpenter but I sure have been through my share of Random Orbit Sanders. Already on ToolboxBlog.com are an AEG and some Porter-Cable models. A few years back I needed a reliable R.O. for my truck toolbox. I bought this Ridgid tool which came with a large case.

A few of the features I like on this tool are the slow-start, the non-slip grip, the easy to operate on-off switch, Velcro cord wrap and the seemingly effective dust collection. The unit feels solid, sealed and smooth.

Links:

Ridgid R2600 at Ridgid.com (Product Data)

Factory-Reconditioned RIDGID ZRR2600 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander at Amazon.com

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My first R.O. Sander ended up being the best random orbit I’ve owned. I’ve been using this German made sander for nearly 20 years. The AEG VSRE 500K is a right-angle 5″ variable speed random orbit sander kit. When I buy replacement pads I can never remember which size this one is because now there’s a 6″ Porter-Cable pad attached.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Features:

• 120V 4.8Amp motor
• Variable Speed 1,000 – 9,000 O.P.M. – N.L.
• Manufactured in Germany

Experience:

I picked up this AEG sander about the same time I bought the Makita 1900B planer. Long ago, I was working burl slab table tops and I needed a good dual-action sander. I used this sander far too long for a sander without dust collection. I’ve used it for most of my sanding at work and in the shop. Still working, I use it for heavy grit paper these days.

Comments:

This is one of the first Random Orbit Sanders that I know of. Newer models feature dust collection through a pattern of holes in the paper. This is pre-hook&loop using stick-on sanding discs. It’s a strong quality motor that has lasted longer than I ever would have imagined in 1990. I replaced the pad several times.

Links:
Here are 3 right angle style R.O. Sanders currently available;

Bosch 1250DEVS 6.5 Amp 6-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Vacuum Port

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Porter-Cable 7336 6-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Only
Porter-Cable 7424 4.0 Amp 6-Inch Variable-Speed Random-Orbit Polisher

A relic from the days of quality tools by Craftsman. Do they even make tools still? When I started woodworking a Craftsman saw was the kind to have. I owned a Crafstman Radial Arm saw but it was too much to move East. I picked up this used Craftsman belt sander when a Sears in San Francisco closed it’s doors and auctioned the entire store.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars because it still works.

Experience:

I had a great Bosch belt sander when I picked this one up so I put this Craftsman Belt Sander to work on the worst tasks. 40-grit belts to remove huge amounts of material, anything dirty, tough or likely to hurt my super-nice Bosch I saved for this crappy unit.

But crappy this Craftsman is not and I soon realized that with a fine grit belt I could get the perfect concave on chisel and plane blades before moving to a sharpening stone. There is something about the metal wheel and the access to the belt that allows me to grind blades by hand with impressive results on this machine that I cannot do with other belt sanders.

Comments:

Like I said, This belt sander was well-used by 1990. I had a Bosch sander which, after getting this Craftsman, I reserved for woodwork, relegating the Craftsman to heavy sanding.. and you know what? The Bosch died, my Porter-Cable died and this ugly used Craftsman tool is still sanding.

I use a screwdriver to wedge the wheel open to change belts but it still adjusts perfectly, runs smoothly, and sands like a good belt sander should.

Links:

Belt Sanders at Sears.com – see a modern Craftsman sander!

Most popular belt sander on Amazon.com, the Bosch 1274DVS ironically the same model this Craftsman long outlasted.

My old school Makita BO4550 1/4 sheet finishing sander has taken a backseat to a host of Random Orbit Sanders in my toolbox but occasional projects call for a finishing sander. I stick to higher grit sanding with this one and use it when I can’t risk removing too much material.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Powerful motor for maximum production
• Palm grip design for operator comfort
• 14,000 OPM for smooth handling
• efficient dust collector makes cleaner work
• 1/4 sheet capacity for easy acess to sandpaper
• Flush sanding on three sides
• Easy-clamp paper holders for fast paper changes

Experience:

I haven’t used this sander in a long time. I used make tables from burl slabs and would use these 1/4-sheet sanders for some of the million levels of sanding. My job as carpenter rarely calls for finish sanders other than R.O. but every now and then a woodworking project needs a good flat sander like this orbital finishing sander.

I don’t prefer Makita over another but I’ve used the newest Makita model and it’s quite smooth and feels better than this BO4550 which is a rattle machine. Maybe it’s just the new rubber grip surface vs this straight-up plastic housing.

Links:

Makita BO4556 2 Amp Finishing Sander – Current popular Makita!

Makita No.b04552 Finishing Makita Sander – Similar Makita model

A triangular orbital sander for corner and detail sanding the Bosch B7000 is probably long outdated but this one is still working fine. Fine, not Fein, this sander gets in corners and right up to the edge where a larger sander won’t fit. I’ve used my Bosch B7000 only a few times in the last couple of years, my jobs just don’t call for much detail sanding these days.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• 120V 1.1Amp motor
• 13,000 OPM
• Removable hook and loop mounting plate

Experience:

I bought this oddball triangle sander to help automate sanding the nooks and crannies on Manzanita Burl. Anything to reach around the natural shapes of roots and branches. I put it to use on some frames and drawers, sanding inside edges. I’ve also used this tool recently for some large mahogany trim. The B7000 was great for sanding the flat faces on some crown molding I made. Other than the odd project my Bosch B7000 is collecting dust, so-to-speak.

Comments:

Speaking of collecting dust, the B7000 comes with a dust exhaust port so I can hook it up to my dust extractor. The removable mounting plate for the sanding pads allows for ample dust extraction and it works pretty well.

Links:
Bosch 1294VSK 2.3 amp Corner Detail Sander Kit-inchcludes Sanding Sheet and Backing Pad Assortment

Fein Multimaster FMM 250Q Basic Variable Speed Tool with Case (Basic Fein Starter Kit)

Fein MultiMaster FMM 250Q Top – Highly Rated Fein Tool

The Porter-Cable Model 333 and Model 333VS are both 5″ Random Orbit Sanders that look the same but one cost about $30 more and is worth it. A variable speed sander is a better choice. Of these two sanders the variable speed model is still working great while two of the single speed sanders have quit.
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Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Specifications:

• 2.4 Amps, AC only
• For 5″ hook & loop abrasives (5 hole)
• 3/32″ orbit
• 12,000 OPM
• SANDTRAP® dust collection canister
• Dust canister rotates 360° around sander
• 1″ O.D. vacuum ready
• 100% ball bearings
• Pad control feature prevents pad spin-up when tool is lifted off work
• Special S.A.P.A. (Self Aligning Paper Applicator) feature built into the case

Experience:

I have quite an assortment of Random Orbit Sanders. I started with a quality AEG variable speed motor with an R.O. attachment in 1989 and it still works. These Porter-Cable sanders were picked up a few years ago for a lot of mahogany sanding. I put them to use quite a bit but since retired them to ‘employee use only’. I personally favor a few others to these but for the money, the 333VS has been a good R.O. sander.

Comments:

I have a couple of comments on the Porter-Cable 333 and 333VS. First of all something trivial and incredibly frustrating. The sander comes in a formed plastic case. When you set the sander into the case you MUST align the 5 holes in the sanding pad with little nubs formed in the bottom of the case. It’s not easy to do and if you don’t do it, the case won’t shut. WTF? They call this a Self-Aligning Paper Applicator. Which came first; The faulty storage case or the faulty excuse for the nubs?

A few of these P-C 333 sanders quit on the job. If you want a real job performer I recommend the right-angle kind. The single speed one vibrated itself to death. Even so, one of my variable speed sanders has a mind of it’s own and increases or decreases speed unpredictably.

Links:

Porter-Cable 333VS 5-Inch Quicksand Variable Speed Random Orbit Finishing Sander (Product Data)

Below are the current Porter-Cable R.O. Sanders at Amazon.com,

Porter-Cable 343K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit – Hook & Loop Pad Single Speed

Porter-Cable 343VSK 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander – Hook & Loop Pad Variable Speed

Porter-Cable 7336 6-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Only Much better!