BLACK+DECKER Mouse Detail Sander, Compact Detail (BDEMS600)
- The electric sander has 3-position grip for control and ease of use in many applications
- Compact size gets into tight spaces and maximizes user control
- An included detail finger attachment can be interchanged to help sand hard to reach spaces
- Hook and loop system helps make paper changes easy. Dust Collection: Yes, Canister
- Features high-performance dust collection with micro-filtration for a clean workspace
- 3-position grip for control and ease of use in many applications
- 1.2 amp motor for material removal with 14,000 orbits per minute
TYPES OF SANDERS AND THEIR USES
If you go to the nearest hardware store you can find different types of electric sanders and sanding products on the market. Each of these types of sanders has its own specific purpose!
If it's your first time buying an electric sander and you're not sure which type to choose, here's a list of several sanders and their uses that can help you.
In this article, I've included 10 different types of sanders and their uses. This is to provide useful information on which to choose for a specific task. The list includes electric sanders such as belt sanders, disc sanders, combined disc and belt sanders, oscillating shaft sanders, orbital sanders, random orbital sander, drum sander, palm sander, detail sander and drywall sander. See what kind of sanding tool is applicable to the task you have!
10 different types of sanders and when to use them
There are several different types of electric sanders and their variations. Also, I found that some of these sanding tools might have different regional aliases that make it even harder to determine which type to work with. For that reason, I'm going to talk about the 10 most commonly used types of sanders that cover all your sanding and polishing needs.
1. Belt Sander
In any modern shop, the most common type of sander you can find is the belt sander. This sanding tool is called a belt sander as it incorporates a sanding belt wrapped around two drums. The rear drum is powered by an electric motor while the front drum rotates freely.
It also has a tension release lever which I find useful because it allows the belts to be easily changed. In addition, most models have a tracking adjustment knob that always keeps the belt in the center.
Uses
A portable sander is the best electric sander for flattening and smoothing wooden surfaces. Joiners and carpenters use this type of sander extensively to level table tops, rough wood planks, dressers, etc. The belt sander is also excellent for scraping, while the stationary or bench version is useful for sanding smaller work pieces.
cons
The sander's brutal power is both its strength and its disadvantage. Power is a serious issue with the belt sander! If not used correctly, this powerful tool can leave grooves, especially at the end of the planks.
2. Disc sander
A disc sander, as the name implies, has a round disc-shaped sander on which the abrasive is fixed. Depending on the design, there are 2 types of disc sanders.
- Portable or handheld disc sander.
- Bench Disc Sander.
Portable Disc Sander
It's one of the rarest types. It is best known as an inclusion in electric drills, but it also has a table-mounted version. Also known as an offset disc sander, the portable disc sander works similarly to an angle grinder, except that the disc is rotating perpendicular to the power tool body. You must clamp the workpiece securely using a vise or other clamping devices and place the rotating wheel on the work for sanding.
Uses
They have more or less similar uses to a portable sander. However, a disc can cover larger areas and it is possible to sand edges and curves that a sander cannot reach.
Bench Disc Sander
The benchtop stationary disc sander has a round back plate to which the abrasive disc is attached. The circular backplate is usually made of steel or aluminum and is fixed to the drive motor with a screw in the center. The diameter of the disc can be between 4 and 12 inches. A height-adjustable worktable that will act as the workpiece support is attached to the front of the wheel. You will move the workpiece or wood against the sanding wheel that rotates at high speed. Be sure to set the space between the worktable and the abrasive wheel as close as possible to prevent the part from getting stuck in the middle.
You can also tilt the worktable at different angles to match the miter cuts you've made to sand a smooth, straight edge.
Also, you can use different size paper for this type of sander depending on the task. And due to the speed of rotation of the disc, this provides a smooth finish, perfect for large areas.
Uses
A benchtop disc sander is an excellent machine tool when the workpiece is small and you need to sand it quickly.
3. Combined disc and belt sanders
You probably can't even imagine at first what it would be like to combine these two professional-grade machines. But the combination disc belt sanders are, in fact, a very useful tool if you have a lot of work that requires you to hold it by hand and with the shape.
Although you can purchase it as two separate sanding products, the combination disc and belt sanders are ideal for smooth belt sanding along with great support. Furthermore, this combo saves space and they are also highly versatile.
Uses
Combined disc and belt sanders are perfect for two types of jobs. And that's precisely grinding edges and flattening edges and faces.
4. Oscillating Spindle Sander
An oscillating shaft sander is included in the drum family, which features a sanding drum that protrudes from a freestanding table or bench. This bench sander is an excellent tool for finishing curved and straight edges. It works in such a way that when the engine runs, the drum also goes up and down on its axis. This allows the surface of the wood to touch the entire drum, which not only helps to remove the grooves, but also reduces wear on the drum surface by using its even distribution.
An oscillating shaft sander also comes in different sizes. This includes bench models that have a length of 4 inches and drum diameters of ½ to 2 inches. On the other hand, freestanding tables feature drums 4 inches long and 4 inches in diameter.
Uses
Mainly it is specially used to smooth the board edges. Additionally, several large models include the ability to tilt the front of the table approximately 45 degrees to create beveled edges. And due to the drum's vertical design, this sanding tool works excellently on curved surfaces.
But it's also effective at sanding straight surfaces, which makes it highly flexible compared to other types of sanders.
5. Orbital sander
An orbital sander has a rectangular or square sanding plate that moves in small circular paths and hence the name orbital sander. You can cut a rectangular piece of standard size sandpaper and attach it to the sandpaper. Therefore, this tool is also known as a sheet sander.
Uses
Electric orbital sanders are primarily used for finishing large surfaces pre-sanded with sanders.
A belt sander is relatively inexpensive and is ideal for heavy jobs that require a lot of material to be removed. However, if you are not careful, it can damage soft woods. On the other hand, an orbital sander is specialized in all types of finishes. The only downside to using orbital sanders is that they are not as useful for large-scale material removal.
6. Eccentric Orbital Sander
This type of sander has a round sandpaper and works similarly to an orbital sander. Its round pad moves in small circular orbits and also rotates. This means that the movement of the sanding board on the pieces is random. This results in smooth, clean surfaces, unlike orbital sanders, which leave a visible swirl pattern.
An eccentric orbital sander also has different pad sizes, offered in 6 inches diameter or 5 inches. In addition, it is also available with pressure sensitive adhesive discs. Otherwise, with velcro-type surface discs depending on the sanding tool model.
Uses
An electric eccentric orbital sander is used to finish the sanding without swirl marks. It can quickly finish large areas and is more powerful than an orbital sander or palm sander.
The most notable thing about this type of sander is that it is applicable to almost every sanding task. In fact, it can do the job of an orbital sander and sander in one; particularly gentle sanding and material removal. However, don't be surprised if this sander shows less efficiency than belt sanders designed for heavy material removal.
This tool is ideal for anyone opting for a versatile all-purpose sander.
Orbital sander VS Eccentric orbital sander
The main differences between the two sanders are in the shape of the sanding plate, head movement patterns and material removal rate. An eccentric orbital sander has a round pad, while an orbital sander has a square-shaped pad.
The sanding pad of an orbital sander moves in a specific pattern that can leave swirl marks on the job. On the other hand, the Eccentric Orbital Sander moves in random patterns that produce almost no swirl patterns. The eccentric orbital sander is the more powerful of the two and can remove material at a faster rate.
Finally, the eccentric orbital sander costs more when compared to an orbital sander and a palm sander. You will also need to purchase special sandpaper made specifically for the round fitting.
7.Palm Sander
They are also called a finish sander. They incorporate a square block that oscillates in small circular orbits that provide ultra smooth finishes. It's also great for sanding corners because of its square sandpaper.
A palm sander is also called a ¼” sander because the size of the sandpaper is one-quarter of a standard 9 x 11” sander. It uses spring clips that hold the sandpaper perfectly in place. And if I compared it to other basic sander types, I can say that it's quiet and light enough, which makes it easier and more convenient to control. For polishing jobs, this type of sander is one of the most popular options.
In addition, this sanding tool is also perfect for smoothing paint, varnish or plaster. It's also great to use for thin veneers and plywood, but you wouldn't want to use it to remove rough material.
Palm Sander VS Orbital Sander
If you want to know the difference between palm sander and orbital sander. Here are the things that vary between the two:
The main differences between the two are in size. A palm sander is a smaller version of an orbital sander. Other differences include ease of use, price and type of application.
While an orbital sander is moderate to control a sander, it is very easy to maneuver. The smaller size palm sander is significantly cheaper. When it comes to specialty, an orbital sander is ideal for large scale removal and polishing. Plus, it's perfect for finishing and priming, but it's easy to sand too much, so be careful when using it.
On the other hand, a palm sander is specialized in sanding corners and finishes. You can normally use it for smooth surfaces and finishing tasks, but chances are it will leave marks if you have trouble using it.
Also, these two different types of sanders look a lot alike. However, their differences lie in the tasks they are good at.
8. Drum Sander
There are two types of drum sanders.
- The bench top drum sander for wood.
- Drum floor sander.
Bench Drum Sander
This type of drum sander has a large rotating drum on which the sandpaper is attached. A drum sander is highly effective in reducing the thickness and finishing of wooden boards. Place your plate on the conveyor belt and adjust the space between the abrasive drum and the conveyor belt. As the wooden board passes, the sanding drum starts to remove the high spots. When the board is flat, you can sand it further to reduce the thickness. However, remember that a drum sander cannot replace an electric planer. A planer can remove material at a much faster rate, but a sander provides a better finish.
Drum Sander
Similar to all members of the drum family, a sander is particularly bulky and incredibly powerful. As proof, it actually requires two people to be transported from one place to another. Thus, a drum sander is most commonly rented because of its massive construction that parallels its hostile price. And because of its power, I find it difficult to control which is quite worrying if users aren't being careful. If something worse happens, it can leave marks on the floor.
A drum sander bears a resemblance to a lawn mower in terms of use because it is also pushed. I used it once to remove the ink and it's showing great efficiency so I recommend it.
Furthermore, this sanding tool is also perfect for removing adhesives as well as other irritating and unwanted substances. It is also important to note that a full size version of the eccentric orbital sander is also used for wide floor areas such as a drum sander. The only difference is that drum sanders are more difficult to control.
Uses
One of the best things about drum sanders is that these tools are consistent in terms of thickness. Thus, they are fast and highly efficient. Plus, they can handle both large and small boards, which makes them great in terms of versatility.
There are two things that to me are a drawback to this sanding tool. The first is the relatively expensive price and high weight. This makes execution difficult, requiring you to ask other people for help.
9. Detail Sander
This type of sander looks more like an iron than a real sander. A detail sander is actually a member of the orbital sander family that includes a triangular-shaped pad that uses a special self-adhesive sandpaper.
Sometimes this type of sanding tool comes with different accessories for a better and more precise or specialized task. The unique shape of this tool is actually designed to hit crevices that a basic sander usually can't. It is used for mounting in tight spaces and corners such as the axes of a classic chair leg.
Furthermore, the detail sander is also efficient and effective in terms of sanding unusual shapes. They are also useful for crafts and more.
Uses
This type of sander is great for smoothing out tight and narrow spots. Because it's compact and easy to control, beginners can also use it with ease. It's also relatively affordable, but produces an audible noise while running. Also, it is not applicable to heavy material removal.
10. Drywall Sander
Are you curious about this metal detector-like tool? At first, I thought the same too, but Drywall sanders only show up as a metal detector because it's a disc sander attached to a long pole. It is used to smooth drywall surfaces as well as remove remaining adhesives stuck to the drywall. Also, people often clip the handle close to the hub to get a closer job.
Most drywall sander models include a vacuum to collect dust particles that fall while you work. The reason another variation of this sanding tool has longer handles is to allow the device to sand higher places like ceilings and high walls that normally require a ladder.
Do I really need to buy a drywall sander?
It really depends on the work you intend to do. You can use an ordinary belt sander to remove paint. But for finishing, you may need a finishing sander.

