Random-orbit Power Tools- Palm Sanders

Asif Abrar 8/2/2024

129 likes 410 Words

For over two decades, random-orbit palm sanders have been the go-to tools for efficiently smoothing rough surfaces in various settings. They offer a smooth, aggressive sanding action with improved designs that reduce vibration and enhance dust collection. A 5-inch sander, when used with different grit pads, can deliver excellent finishes, although there may be differences in speed, comfort, and dust management among models. Key features to consider are hook-and-loop attachment for easy paper changes and variable speeds to reduce clogging on resinous woods. The Festool Eccentric Sander ES 125 EQ stands out for its lightweight design, durability, and superior finish, earning high praise for its performance and longevity.

An axe is embedded in a weathered wall with palm fronds in the background, creating a striking urban scene.

Pexels Matheus Wladeka

It’s been proven for two decades that the most economical and fastest method to make a rough surface smooth has been to use a random-orbit palm sander. No matter if you’re in the woodshop or a building site or even around the house, the palm sanders are smooth and aggressive. As tool designs have come around to evolve, vibration has been diminished and dust collection has seen improvement. However, what’s most important is that the 5-inches sander can produce a good finish.

First using the PICO-grit pads and then using the P220 – grit pad, 9 hoop-and loop-base 5 inch palm sanders were used to sand a cherry board with each sander until the surface was smooth with satisfaction. When the cherry boards were actually stained and shellacked, they were not distinguishable. A few differences occurred such as some sanders took longer than others to accomplish that result, as well as variations in comfort and dust collection.

An evenly distributed scratch pattern may seem like some sort of contradiction for as “random” –orbit sanders, but that just means that not one specific area is abraded more than the other. These palm sanders establish an across-the –board scratch pattern by coupling an orbital motion that normally distributes the scratches as simply as possible.

Features to look for are the hook-and-loop and variable speeds. Hook-and-Loop is the most customary method to attach paper. Not only is changing the paper easy and quick, but a partially used sanding desk can simply be reinstalled. For resinous woods, variable speed is quite useful. Due to the fact that pads run cooler at slower speeds, low speeds slow paper clogging on woods, like pine.

Person using a power sander on a wooden board in a workshop setting.

Pexels Jeswin Thomas

Festool Eccentric Sander ES 125 EQ has a design of compactness that’s lightweight at 2.4 lbs. This random-orbit palm sander not only ascertains overhead work that’s long-lasting and non-tiring with single-handed mechanisms. When the tool is set down, due to the sanding pad brake, the highest degree of work-piece protection as well as safety is guaranteed. The sophisticated, vastly fine sanding stroke of the ES 125 EQ assures surface quality of the uttermost perfection. The dustproof contained bearing affords a service life of longevity which actually ensures costs of low maintenance. The Jet stream patented sanding pad augments the lifetime of material that’s abrasive by approximately 30% for big savings.

Out of the 9 random-orbit sanders, the Festool ES125 EQ-plus was considered the best overall in a recent poll at 4.84 out of 5.