Best finishing sander: For refinishing furniture

Best cordless finishing sander

1. The ease of use.

A finishing sander should be reasonably easy to use.

Any type of sander should give you impressive-looking results even if you don’t have a lot of experience. Changing sandpapers must be reasonably quick and easy.

2. It’s power and performance.

Finishing sanders should provide just enough power to produce great-looking results.

Unlike most other power tools with which power is often preferable, finishing sanders work best with relatively light pressure.

You should, therefore, go for smoothness and low vibration rather than sheer brute power.

3. The rated and observable speed.

The ability to adjust the speed from slow to fast is essential in a finishing sander.

You need to be able to dial the speed down low for delicate surfaces and crank it up for more aggressive polishing.

4. A light touch with ergonomics.

A finishing sander should feel comfortable in your hand, without too much jerkiness or vibration.

It should be comfortable to use even for prolonged sanding sessions and allow you to position your hands for maximum comfort.

5. The comfort of the handgrips.

You need to consider the type of hand grips that come with your finishing sander.

t should be able to reduce vibration and allow you to control the tool precisely.

6. A working dust collection system.

Dust is an inevitable part of sanding whether you use a powered or manual sander.

Look for a finishing sander with a dust-catching system that is compatible with workshop vacuums.

What do you need to know about a corded finishing sander?

• Corded sanders are usually more powerful than cordless models. 
• Finishing sanders are better suited for long sanding sessions. 
• Electrical powered so no battery weight to deal with.

However, you should understand that:

• The electrical cord can get in the way.
• You need to work close to a power outlet or have a long extension cord. 
• Found to usually be more expensive than cordless models. 

However, you should be aware that:

• The battery adds quite a bit of weight to the unit. 
• Some cordless models are underpowered for heavy-duty work. 
• You can’t work for long on a single charge, so you will need frequent recharging. 
• Additional batteries can be expensive.  

Finishing sanders are powerful tools that will find use in almost any workshop.

If you do a lot of woodworking, a finishing sander is a useful addition to your arsenal.

Finishing sanders are primarily used by professional woodworkers when they want to create a fine finish on the surface of furniture or get a more polished appearance.  

Even DIYers and casual woodworking enthusiasts need to use finishing sanders when we need to create a smooth and polished surface.

Sanders for woodworking results in professional-looking finishes that would be difficult to achieve via manual sanding. 

After using a thickness planer as I recommended here a finishing sander is a fast way to give your boards a final finish.

Orbital sanders perform practically the same function as a finishing sander. And can be used interchangeably, depending on the job.

But orbital sanders aren’t nearly as effective as finishing sanders for producing a fine, polished finish on exposed wood grain.

Orbital sanders can leave circular marks on wooden surfaces.

If you want to have as flawless a surface as possible, you would be better off with a finishing sander that sands in the direction of the wood grain, instead of in a circle. 

Of course, you can start sanding with an orbital sander as a rotating motion is faster and then later you can switch to a finishing sander for the final sand and acceptable result.

In most cases, however, you could probably get the results you want solely by using a finishing sander.

The Makita B04900V is easily one of the best-corded Makita finishing sanders to be found.

Driven by a powerful 2.9-amp motor it’s equipped with a variable speed control dial that ramps up the speed from 4,000 to 10,000 oscillations per minute (OPM).

This lets you adjust the speed according to the task at hand. 

The B04900V utilizes a unique “through-the-pad” dust collection system that keeps the workplace clean and free of dust.

It can hook up to most standard vacuum hose sizes for a more efficient dust collection system.

I like the contoured grips and low vibration, this Makita finishing sander can be used for hours of fatigue-free operation. 

The Bosch OS50VC is the most expensive sander in this roundup, but you do get a lot for the money.

Found to have a unique flush sanding capability that lets you sand close to a vertical position on any surface, which is pretty handy for woodworking jobs.

In addition, the OS50VC is armed with an ingenious SheetLoc clamping system that ensures a perfect fit with any sandpaper.

This unit can even accept stick-on sandpaper, which is excellent for sanding on the go. 

The Dewalt DWE6411K is the best value choice on the subject of cordless finishing sanders to be found. The powerful 2.3-amp motor drives the sander at 14,000 OPM, which is more than enough for most sanding applications.

The DWE6411K efficiently utilizes a locking dust-port system that lets you connect almost any standard vacuum hose for maximum dust collection efficiency.

This particular model uses mesh sandpaper, which is washable and less prone to clogging than standard sandpaper. 

The WEN 6313 may be one of the cheapest sanders in this review, but don’t let the low price fool you.

This compact and lightweight sander is as efficient as other sanders and can give some more expensive models a run for their money.

The 1.2-amp single-speed motor is reasonably powerful, topping out at 12,000 OPM.

This should be sufficient for most sanding jobs. In any case, the 6313’s lightweight and compact form factor makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a ‘no-frills’ sander. 

The Dewalt DCW200B is the most powerful and most efficient cordless finishing sander you can buy. The brushless motor provides sufficient grunt for most tasks and facilitates superior runtime and maximum efficiency in a portable model.

The unit attributes a variable speed control that lets you dial down the sander to 8,000 OPM for delicate work, and ramp her up to 14,000 OPM for more aggressive results.

The DCW200B comes with a remarkably low profile that lets you get close to the surface of your workpiece, allowing for more precise sanding. Other attributes include a secure sandpaper clamp and a dust-sealed switch that ensures trouble-free operation. 

The Ridgid R86064B is a variable-speed sander that lets you go from low to medium to high at a flick of a digital switch.

This gives you a more range of speeds to tackle a wide variety of sanding jobs.

The R86064B accommodates three of the most common vacuum hose sizes available, so you can enhance the efficiency of the onboard dust collection system.

Moreover, the sander boasts an improved sandpaper clip that ensures a more secure hold. 

1. Remove the clamps that hold the old sandpaper in place.
2. Place your sander down on the new piece of sandpaper. Adjust the position of the tool to get the most pieces from a single sheet. 
3. Cut the sandpaper big enough to cover the base of the sander, with a little extra to allow for clamping. 
4. Make sure to pull the sandpaper taut to remove any slackness that can impair performance.

How to use a finishing sander properly?

• Wear the proper safety gear at all times. 
• Position the sander so that the electrical cords are away from the work surface.
• Secure your workpiece before you begin sanding. 
• Affix the sandpaper securely to the base of the sander. 
• Turn on the sander and let the motor reach full speed before lowering the base down to your workpiece. 
• Empty out the dust bag frequently. 
• Start with coarse sandpaper initially, and then move to medium and fine-grit sandpaper.

What you should never do with your finishing sander?

• Never work on slippery surfaces coated with dust. 
• Discontinue the use of a sander with a frayed electrical cord. 
• Do not use your sander without adjusting the brushes, if the motor produces too many sparks. 
• Avoid over-extending yourself trying to reach a spot on the workpiece. 
• Do not apply excessive pressure on the sander. 

The Makita B04900V is an absolute powerhouse of a sander, handling whatever job I throw at it without a hitch. 

The variable speed control provides enough range to handle a variety of jobs, and the dust collection system is positively flawless.

This Makita finish sander features ergonomically designed grips that allow for hours of comfortable use. 

The Dewalt DCW200B is about as powerful a cordless finishing sander as you could get.

Featuring a state-of-the-art efficient brushless motor that goes from 8,000 to 14,000 OPM without a hiccup.

I especially like the low profile that lets me dig in deep for precision sanding: for sanding down dark water stains or polishing metal smooth.

Are you looking for fast aggressive sanding, to prep wood before a finishing sander? Check out our review of the best industrial belt sanders!

Not the sander you need? Check this out!