5 Best Sanders for Furniture Refinishing – Detailed Review
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If you want to sand your furniture then you need to have the best sanders for furniture refinishing. Whether you are a professional DIYer or a beginner choosing a sander isn’t an easy task. You can’t just go around your local shop and pick one and hope that it will be good enough.
Instead what we did is we tested a lot of different models and as a result, we made a list of the top 5 best sanders for refinishing wood furniture. For each of the sander, we wrote a detailed review of what we liked and what we didn’t plus we made one buyer guide to help you understand better how sanders work and how to choose one that fits your needs.
So, if you are interested to know how sanders work and to know the best sanders for furniture then make sure the post.
| Products | Product Name | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Quiet  | Quiet |
| Buy On Amazon |
Powerful  | Powerful |
| Buy On Amazon |
Reduced Vibrations  | Reduced Vibrations |
| Buy On Amazon |
Powerful Motor  | Powerful Motor |
| Buy On Amazon |
Variable Speed Settings  | Variable Speed Settings |
| Buy On Amazon |
What Is a Furniture Sander Machine?
You might ask yourself how can you use a sander for furniture refinishing. If you don’t already know, a sander is a powerful tool that is used to smoothen uneven surfaces.
The sandpaper is attached to the sander disc and the disc makes circular movements to sand the object. So, basically, it does the same thing you do manually with sandpaper but just faster and better.
The tool can use a battery as an energy source, or it can be electric-powered. They usually only have an ON/OFF Switch. There are different types of sanders that are used for different projects.
Different Types of Sanders For Furniture
Refinishing wood furniture can be done in different ways. So if you are using a sander to do it then you need to know the different types of sanders and their features.
1. Detail Sander
The detail sander is a triangular-shaped sander. It’s perfect to reach difficult angles that you can’t reach with any other sander or manually. As the name tells for its self, this type of sander is mostly used for details.
It works well, especially if the furniture has carvings or nooks. If you decide to use a detail sander for furniture refinishing then make sure to get one that has a bigger pad. If you get a detail sander with a small triangular then it will take you a lot of time to complete the project.
2. Orbit Sander
The orbit sanders are multitaskers. I have used orbit sanders to sand a lot of things, you can use them to sand almost everything. But, I don’t actually recommend them using for wood furniture restoration because of the circular sanding pad.
If you already bought an orbit sander, or if you are thinking of buying one, then you have to prepare to manually sand the corners of wood furniture because you can’t reach them with the orbit sander. But since their pad is circular that means you can move it in any direction without any problem.
3. Palm Sander/Finishing Sander
As you may have guessed by the name, the palm/finishing sander is the sander that you need to use for wood furniture refinishing. This type of sander is the combination of the orbit and detail sander. In other words, it has all the advantages they have combined minus the disadvantages.
The pad of the palm sander is square-shaped and big, it can reach corners like the detail sander, as long as the corner is too narrow.
Since the pad is big and it creates orbital motion that means that you can sand the piece of furniture faster. You can still use the orbit and detail sander to help you get better results, but I recommend you only using the palm sander when it comes to wood furniture sanding.
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The Best Sanders for Furniture Refinishing
1. Makita BO4556K
Best Features 
- Powerful Motor
- Dust-Collector
- Quiet
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More detailed review ↴
The Makita BO4556K is our top pick. It’s an ideal tool when it comes to refinishing furniture. It comes with a powerful 2 amps motor that delivers 14,000 OPM. It’s one of the fastest sanders on our list.
It features a rubberized palm grip that fits like a glove that helps you to control the sander and even the pressure easier. On top of the sander, you have the ON/OFF button, which helps you to start, to work, and to shut down the sander by only using one hand. It comes with a rubber-sealed switch that protects the tool from dust contamination and by that it gives the tool a longer life.
One of the many things I like about the BO4556K is that it helps me to work without worrying about the mess since it comes with a dust collection system that collects most of the dust, plus on top of that the fabric dust bag has an extra-wide mouth that helps the tool to collect the dust faster.
The construction of this finishing sander is perfect, if you compare it to the other sanders then this model makes less noise plus it has fewer vibrations.
On the downside, unlike other sanders, this one only has one-speed settings — meaning you can adjust the speed to match it with the project you are working on.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor – 2 AMP Motor that delivers 14,000 OPM
- Good Design – The ON/OFF button is at the top which makes it easier to start and shut down the tool with one hand.
- Good Dust Collector – Effective system, plus the extra-wide fabric dust bag helps to collect dust faster.
- Quiet – If you compare it to the other sanders then this one is pretty quiet and it doesn’t vibrate as much as the others.
What We Didn’t Like:
- One speed settings only.
2. DEWALT DWE6411K 1/4 Sheet Palm Grip Sander Kit
Best Features 
- Powerful Motor
- Dust Collection
- Reduced Vibrations
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More detailed review ↴
The DWE6411K Dewalt sander has a powerful 2.3 AMP motor that delivers 14,000 OPM. If you compare it with the previous sander, then this one has a more powerful motor but offers the same speed.
I use it a lot for furniture refinishing, especially on old wood. The height of this model is reduced so it can get the user closer to their work, also the counterweight is separated so it can reduce the vibrations.
One of the best features of this palm sander is the dust-port system, this system allows you to connect a vacuum cleaner with the sander in order to get rid of the dust faster.
I like this feature because I re-finish a lot of old furniture, and as you may know, old furniture tends to make a huge mess with dust. This helps me prevent that. Also, this palm sander has a rubber dust boot over the switch buttons which helps to prevent them from dust ingestion and gives them a longer life.
One of the things I don’t like as much is the dust bag. If not careful, then you can easily make a huge mess.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor – 2.3 AMP Motor that delivers 14,000 OPM
- Dust-port System – Allows connecting a vacuum cleaner to the sander to get rid of the dust faster.
- Fewer Vibrations
What We Didn’t Like:
- Bad Dust Bag: You have to be careful with the dust bag or you can make a huge mess
3. Bosch GSS20-40 Orbital Finishing Sander
Best Features 
- Powerful Motor
- Dust-Collector
- Reduced Vibrations
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More detailed review ↴
The ” Bosch GSS20-40 ” is a powerful sander. It is equipped with a powerful 2.0 AMP motor, that delivers 12,000 OPM. This is a smaller sander, it offers less speed and less power than our first pick.
When it comes to furniture restoration, this sander is helpful because it has an aluminum sanding plate that helps for even sanding and gives you the perfect re-finish quality.
It is equipped with a soft grip. This sander has fewer vibrations if you compare it to other models, which means you can control it easier and it gives the tool a longer life, plus fewer vibrations also mean a smoother finish. I usually use this when I have to give cabinets a fine finish before painting.
This one too has a dust extractor, it comes with an efficient extractor system that collects almost everything.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor – 2.0 AMP Motor that delivers 12,000 orbits per minute.
- Fewer Vibrations – This sander has fewer vibrations if you compare it to the other models.
- Dust Collector System – It has an efficient dust extractor system that collects everything from coarse to fine particles.
Cons:
- Slower – It has fewer OPM than our two first picks
4. Bosch OS50VC Electric Orbital Sander
Best Features 
- Powerful Motor
- Variable Speed Settings
- Fast
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More detailed review ↴
I do believe that quality comes with a price. So if you want to invest more money in your furniture refinishing project then this model is your go-to.
The “Bosch OS50VC ” comes with a powerful motor, it’s actually the most powerful sander in our list. This tool is equipped with a 3.4 AMP motor, it has a variable speed control dial that allows the user to change the speed to match the project they are working on.
The speed is from 8,000 OPM to 11,000 OPM. It lacks a bit when it comes to speed if you compare it to our first two picks.
It comes with vibration control that reduces the vibrations of the tool a lot, which gives you better comfort, the gear housing is made from aluminum which also helps in reducing the vibration. It has an ergonomic soft-grip that helps you work longer hours without fatigue.
It comes with a dust extractor that is efficient plus it has an integrated paper filter and screw-off cap that helps you to empty the beg easier without making any huge mess. This sander is good if you have to work with old woods. The power and the speed can sand through almost every material. So, if you have a rough surface you need to sand, then you should go for this one.
On the downside, this sander costs more than the others.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor – It has a 3.4 AMP motor
- Fast – The speed is from 8,000 OPM to 11,000 orbits per minute.
- Variable Speed Control – Allows the user to change the speed setting to match with the project they are working on
- Fewer Vibrations – Thanks to the Vibration Control and the aluminum gear housing
- Good Dust Collection – It has the paper filter and screw-off cap that allows you to empty the bag easier.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive – Costs more money than the other models listed here
5. Makita BO5041K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit
Best Features 
- Powerful Motor
- Variable Speed Settings
- Fast
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More detailed review ↴
As you may know, if you want to refinish old furniture then you need a sander that has more power. A sander that combines power and speed is the ” Makita BO5041K “. If you compare it to our #4 pick (Bosch OS50VC) then this one has less power, but it’s faster.
This random orbital sander has a powerful 3.0 amps motor that has a sealed ball-bearing construction that gives the tool a longer life. When it comes to speed, this model allows the user to change the speed from 4,000 to 12,000 orbits per minute so it can match the project you are working on.
It has a pad control system that allows you to control the pad when you start the tool. The front handle is adjustable and that allows you to sand in corners and areas that are hard to reach by other sanders. The palm grip is rubberized and it’s comfortable and it helps you control the tool easier.
On the downside, this one costs more than most of the sanders here (except for our fourth pick), but it’s a combination of power and speed.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor – It is equipped with a 3.0 AMP motor.
- Variable Speed Settings – This allows you to change the speed from 4,000 OPM to 12,000 OPM
- Adjustable Front Handle – Helps you to sand corners and areas that are hard to reach.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive: Costs more money than the top 3 picks, but it’s totally worth it!
Best Sanders For Furniture – Buying Guide
Sometimes, even if you buy new furniture, they might need some renovating. The process needs to go smooth and since you will be using the furniture on a daily basis then you need to get good results too.
To get good results from renovating furniture. you need a high-quality sander that has all the features that you need to complete the project that you are working on.
Clearly, there are high-quality and low-quality sanders. There are a few ways to know if a sander is good or not before buying it, such as checking the manufacturer, checking the price, etc. But still, even if you check these two things you can end up with a low-quality sander.
In my opinion, the best way to know if a tool is good or not is to check the reviews and ask the people who used that model before if you should buy it.
That’s why we made a list of the top 5 best sanders for furniture refinishing. We have listed 5 different sanders, that have a different price range and different features, but all of these sanders are high-quality and they will last a lot.
Related Article: Best Sanders For Paint Removal
1. Power & Vibration
The best sander for furniture is the one that is powerful but doesn’t vibrate too much. When it comes to sanding furniture you don’t need a lot of power unless you want to remove a lot of material, which I don’t think that that’s a good idea.
But you do need a sander that doesn’t vibrate too much because sanding takes a lot of time, you need to be focused and you need to hold and control the sander all the time. The less the vibration, the easier for you to control and hold the tool.
2. Speed
One of the most important things when it comes to sanders is speed. The speed of a sander is measured with OPM, the more OPM a sander has the faster it is. If you are working with old wood’s then you need a sander that is fast. Usually, the best types of sanders are the ones that allow you to adjust the speed so you can use it for different projects.
3. Ergonomics
The palm sander needs to fit your palm. Before buying a sander make sure to check if it fits your hand or not. If it doesn’t fit your palm then the chances are that you are going to return that sander because it’s harder to control it if your palm doesn’t fit. The palm sander could also be very small, so it’s recommended to check the dimensions.
4. Safety
It doesn’t matter if you are using a sander or any other tool, safety comes first even if you are an experienced DIY. Before buying a tool make sure to check if it has all the things you need to keep yourself safe. For sanders make sure to check if it has: pad brakes, ergonomic handles, and a dust collection system.
5. Dust Collector
While sanding, especially while sanding old wood a lot of sawdust will be produced. That’s why you need a sander that has a system that will get rid of the dust. Most palm sanders have an option that allows you to connect your vacuum cleaner to the sander and that will prevent the dust from making a huge mess.
Every sander should have a dust collector bag if it doesn’t then don’t spend your money on it. Sawdust can bring you breathing complications and other health problems.
6. Grit Rating
As you may know, you need sandpaper in order to sand something. Make sure to check if the sander you are buying can fit the sandpaper you already own. If it doesn’t then you need new sandpapers.
What Speed Should a Sander Have for Refinishing Furniture?
A. As I said before, I like the sanders that allow the user to adjust the speed. But if yours doesn’t then I recommend the speed from 8,000 to 14,000 OPM’s depending on old and easy is to sand that furniture.
Conclusion
Buying a sander is never easy, hopefully, we have made it easier for you. Before buying one of the sanders we have listed make sure to check their speed and power and see if it fits your needs.
All of them are high-quality sanders and they will do a good job when it comes to renovating furniture.
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