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A sander is helpful for smoothing wood and other materials, helping to remove splinters and rough edges, and preparing surfaces for painting or staining. There are electric and manual sanders, but which one is right for your D.I.Y. needs?
Manual handheld sanders are essentially a block with a handle, with clamps to hold a pre-cut sheet of sandpaper. Just like sandpaper wrapped around a cork block, they rely on elbow grease to smooth wood, metal or other surfaces, and are ideally suited for smaller, more intricate jobs.
A mains-powered electric sander or a cordless sander, on the other hand, is faster and more efficient than using a hand sander. It creates a more uniform finish, so is better suited to larger-scale projects.
When choosing a cordless sander, or an electric sander that’s mains-powered, consider which optional features will be most valuable for you. Many sanders have padded handles that make them more comfortable to use for extended periods, while others include dust-sealed switches designed to improve longevity. Today’s brushless technology also means a cordless sander will offer comparable performance to a 240V sander.
Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.
Not to be confused with a random orbital sander (see below), an orbital sander is a type of sheet sander that clamps a pre-cut square or rectangle of abrasive paper onto its sander pad. The sander pad oscillates in small circular motions at high speed.
One example of this power tool is a 1/3 sheet sander, which uses abrasive paper pre-cut to one-third the size of a standard sandpaper sheet. This type of small sander is often used as a finishing sander on woodworking and other projects, because it abrades the surface more gradually, allowing for a finer finish, especially if finer-grit sanding sheets are used.
Combining relatively low weight, ease of use and effective sanding power, a random orbital sander is a great addition to your toolkit. As well as moving the sanding disc in tight circles like orbital sanders, they spin the sanding pad at high speed, resulting in a more randomised sanding pattern. This leaves fewer swirl marks, while the spinning action means the abrasive surface removes more material than a standard orbital sander. A random orbital sander often includes variable speed, making it easier to control the rate of sanding.
‘Palm sander’ is a term used to describe a small handheld sander that is often used for detail work. This type of mini sander is more of a category that can encompass small random orbital sanders and detail sanders.
Detail sanders feature a triangular pad, sometimes with a narrow finger extension to sand right into tight corners or to manage intricate shapes. As they are often small in size, detail sanders can fit into the ‘palm sander’ category, too.
To remove greater amounts of material, such as when shaping timber, belt sanders use a continuous belt of sandpaper stretched between two rollers. They are less forgiving than orbital sanders and may gouge timber if not used carefully.
A sander polisher is another tool that removes material aggressively and is often used as a metal sander to clean away rust for priming and refinishing. It resembles an angle grinder but features a circular rubber pad that can be fitted with either a sandpaper disc or a lambswool buffer for polishing.
Use a file sander for power and precision. This tool is like a mini belt sander that extends a narrow sanding belt on a guide arm from a handheld motor unit. If your workshop includes a compressor and you use air tools, consider adding an air belt sander or air orbital sander to your collection.
Bench sanders are heavy-duty, efficient electric sanders designed to be mounted on a workbench. This type of machine normally includes a large belt sander on top and a rotary sander disc on the side.
A variation on this theme is the bench grinder sander, which has a stone grinding wheel mounted on one side and an angled sanding belt on the other. A bench grinder sander is often used for sharpening and cleaning rust off tools, as well as typical bench-sanding tasks.
Many sanders include a dust extraction port where you can connect a vacuum cleaner hose, allowing you to vacuum sander dust away as you work.
In some cases, you can freshen up sanding belts or orbital sander pads by using a wire brush to loosen caked-on residue that’s clogging them. But when the abrasive material starts to wear out, buy sander sheets or pads to replace the old ones to keep your power tool working at its best.
If you want to refinish a hardwood floor yourself, your best D.I.Y. option is to hire a purpose-designed floor sander. To finish sanding around the edges of the floor where the larger sander won’t reach, you will also need to hire a floor edger.
Explore our full range of sanders to pick the perfect tool for the job.
Photo Credit: James Moffatt
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
