The Best Palm Sanders for Woodworking in 2022
Good woodworking craftsmanship is one of the most satisfying experiences, both for the craftsman and the owner of the finished product.
Meticulous hand-sanding and many hours go into some of the most beautiful pieces of woodworking on the planet to achieve that perfect finish.
One way to save time without sacrificing that perfect finish is to utilize a good quality palm sander.
Not only can a palm sander save you time, it also provides a smooth and consistent finish over broad areas.
What is a Palm Sander Best Used For?
The palm sander, also known as the finish sander, is best suited for finishing work as it’s alias would imply. Able to be operated with one hand, leaving the other hand free to support your work, the palm sander works very gently to remove small amounts of wood for a fine finish and is rectangular, or square on the bottom.
Palm Sander vs. Orbital Sander:
Palm Sanders often get confuse with Random Orbital Sanders. These are the two main power sanders available for woodworking. Each of these are incredible time savers and produce a nice even result if used correctly. However, while they are both very useful, they are also both different in their applied results.
As we have stated, the palm sander is made for finish work and beautiful results.
Perfect for stripping and removing larger amounts of wood, the random orbital sander oscillates off-center, producing a scratch pattern and is designed for a rougher application and will not give you a finished result.
The bottom is circular, as opposed to the rectangular, or square bottom of the palm sander.
Corded or Cordless Palm Sander?
Just about every power tool these days are going to come in a cordless model. Small spaces where you have power readily available with an extension cord are just fine for corded and you may even save a little money.
However, if you’re out on the jobsite or off-grid where you don’t have power, the obvious choice is cordless. We think it is worth the little extra money to go cordless, as it is simply easier to maneuver without a cord dangling in your way.
How Do I Choose a Palm Sander?
The most important factors in choosing the right palm sander are OPM (orbits per minute), Pressure Detection, Dust Collection, and Impact Protection.
Orbits per Minute (OPM):
With palm sanders, you’re doing finishing work, so it is very important to keep fully charged batteries around to maintain your OPM (Orbits per Minute). A higher OPM will result in much finer results and seeing as how you’re doing finishing work, you’ll want to stay consistent with this.
Pressure Detection:
Designed to achieve a pristine finish, pressure detection devices have a gauge that will either light up or vibrate to let you know when you’re applying more pressure than intended.
Dust Collection:
If you have ever done any serious sanding jobs you know that dust is an issue for the quality of work, conditions of the jobsite, and most importantly, your health.
Built in dust collectors keep the surface of your finish clean so the machine is not running over old dust and skipping. They also make cleanup much easier and keep the dust fibers out of the air and out of your lungs!
Impact Protection:
If you’re a professional moving from jobsite to jobsite, or if you are just hard on your tools, this is feature made for you. Added impact protection will be worth the money in the long run.
OK, now that we’ve gotten a run-down on the basics. Let’s take a look at a few of The Best Palm Sanders for Woodworking in 2022!
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The Best Palm Sanders for Woodworking in 2022
DEWALT DWE6411K
The DeWALT DWE6411K 1/4 Sheet Palm Sander Kit has a 2.3 amp motor that delivers 14,000 OPM.
The separate counterweight reduces vibration and along with the rubber over-mold grip provides comfortable sanding.
A shorter design allows you to get closer to the work surface and the one-handed locking dust bag attaches securely to the sander to aid in dust collection.
Or, you can just attach the sander directly to the DeWALT DWV010 8 Gallon Dust Extractor & Automatic Filter Cleaner or the 10 Gallon DeWALT DWV012 dust collectors.
FEATURES & SPECS:
2.3 AMP motor sands at 14,000 OPM
Rubber overmold texture will provide a smooth and comfortable control while sanding
Improved paper clamp features for better paper retention
Locking dust-port system that allows the user to lock vacuum hose up with the sander
Reduced overall height of the sander to get the user closer to their work
Foam pad for flatter sanding plane
Separate counterwieght for reduced vibration
Rubber dust boot over the switch to protect against dust ingestion for longer switch life
Dust port is designed to fit directly to DWV010 or DWV012 dust collectors
To attach dust port to other vacs with 1 1/4" hoses use DWV9000 Universal Quick Connector
The Makita BO4556 2 Amp Finishing Sander combines fast, smooth performance with a contoured rubberized palm grip and is ideal for woodworkers and finish carpenters who require a top of the line sander.
Weighing in at only 2.5 lbs, the Makita BO4556 2 Amp Finishing Sander delivers 14,000 OPM for a smooth and pristine finish.
The precision engineered all ball bearing construction significantly reduces vibration and noise.
Additional features include a rubber sealed switch engineered to prevent dust contamination, and an efficient through-the-pad dust collection system to help provide a cleaner work environment.
FEATURES & SPECS:
14,000 OPM for faster and smooth finish sanding
Precision engineered all-ball bearing construction for reduced vibration and noise
Contoured, rubberized palm grip design for improved operator comfort
Large clamping lever for quick and easy paper installation
Efficient through-the-pad dust collection system for a cleaner work environment
Conveniently located on/off switch for easy one-handed operation
Rubber-sealed switch prevents dust contamination for longer tool life
Aluminum cast shoe base for increased durability
Double insulated
1-year limited warranty
Our budget friendly/solid quality choice for our list today, the SKIL 7292-02 1/4 Sheet Palm Sander w/ Pressure Control is the perfect tool for faster stock removal and smooth results when you're putting the finishing touch on your project.
The pressure control indicator lets you know when the right amount of pressure is applied and warns you when there's too much. The pad brake eliminates gouging.
Micro-filtration captures and contains fine dust particles to keep your work surface cleaner. A sealed switch keeps dust out of the tool for a long life. The dust canister is clear, removing the guess work of figuring out when to empty it.
And, like the rest of the palm sanders on our list today, operates at 14,000 OPM for that smooth and pristine finish.
For the quality, extra features, and price, this would be the Rugged Man favorite on our list today.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Pressure control technology warns user when excessive pressure is applied
Micro-filtration captures and contains fine dust particles
Clear view dust canister removes guess work of when to empty canister
Built-in vacuum adapter - for maximum dust collection
Soft-grip design for added comfort and control
Dust sealed switch for extended tool life
Input Voltage & Frequency: 120V
Input power (ampere) (watt): 2
No Load Speed (r.p.m.): 14,000
Pad size: 4 IN. x 4-1/2 IN.
Tool Height (inch): 6
Tool Length (inch): 9
Tool Weight (pound): 2.6
Tool Width (inch): 4.5
“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”
—St. Francis of Assissi
There are a lot of things that we can spend our time doing in this life that bring us a deep level of satisfaction and fulfillment. It is my belief that we should spend a great deal of time searching for what that thing is or what those things might be, if we don’t already have a grasp on at least one.
Woodworking, and finish work in particular, is one of those things. What a satisfying and accomplished feeling it is to complete a woodworking project with a finish that a man can be proud of.
Each one of the palm sanders on our list today will do a fine job for just about any project and none of them will break the bank. Fortunately, finish sanders do not require a very large investment to get started and can pay themselves off very quickly if you choose to take that route.
We hope you learned something today and maybe walked away with a better idea of what you are after and the differences between various power sanders.
Hopefully, you are all finding something inspiring to do or create with at least part of your time. Make the most it. Do something great with your hands.
Be well, stay Rugged.
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