Best Orbital Sanders for Fast and Easy Sanding in the UK

Dewalt is one of the indisputable leaders in the field of appliances and power tools for both indoor and outdoor use. The manufacturer produces a whole range of hammers, planers, shears, joiners, saws, screwdrivers, screw guns, impact drivers, grinders, sanders, and other related tools, with all its products standing out in terms of quality of materials, well-thought design, and impressively high performance. The Dewalt D26410 orbital sander is not an exception to this rule.

The tool comes packed in a strong and impact-resistant body made from plastic and stainless steel and features a powerful 250W motor delivering enough force for tackling a variety of finishing tasks. Distinguished by a controlled finishing system, this model offers a variable speed option allowing you to select the pad speed from 4000 to 10000 OPM to align the tool operation with the job at hand and minimise gouges during start-ups. In addition, there are two orbit size settings including a smaller 3 mm orbit for fine finishing and large 6 mm orbit for quick and efficient material removal.

While most home-grade models are fitted with 125 mm sanding discs, the Dewalt has a large 150 mm disc suitable for commercial use. The only thing that can be regarded as a minor drawback is a pretty heavy weight of this model compared to other power tools in its class. Yet, for the Dewalt D26410, it is more of a benefit than a disadvantage. A heavy-duty construction not only prolongs the tool's service life and ensures consistent operation but, paired with a large sanding disc, it also makes this model a premium tool for tough jobs such as rough primary sanding and paint or varnish removal.

By choosing Dewalt, you can rest assured you’ll get a dependable tool that will never fail to cater to all of your needs.

Sanding can take time and a decent amount of effort. When you have a lot of sending tasks coming up in a sequence or you're working on a large woodwork project, a lightweight tool powerful enough to get the job done will be a real lifesaver. And if you seek functional versatility and compactness, there is hardly anything that can beat Makita. Known for their craving for innovations in the field of technologies, the manufacturer always offers a great combo of a well-balanced user-friendly design and stunning performance. This is exactly what the Makita BO5031/2 random orbit sander is all about. The tool boasts a lightweight ergonomic design and comes loaded with practical functions and handy features expanding its applicability and enhancing its performance.

The sander weighs only 1.3 kg which makes it perfect for long-lasting operation, minimising hand and arm fatigue. Besides, it is compact enough to get into those hard-to-reach areas and places. Yet, do not let the small size fool you. A powerful 300W motor delivers the speed up to 12000 OPM suitable for fast and smooth sanding while a variable speed control enables flawless finish. Once you select the speed, the motor will ensure constant power during the whole period of work. All of this will let you use the Makita orbital sander for the whole range of sanding activities, from old coating removal to fine finishing.

In terms of design, this model is a very convenient tool. It features an ergonomically shaped housing with a palm grip handle for a perfect balance during use and non-slip surface for optimal handling. The dust collection system ensures high suction through the base plate and immediately removes the dust leaving the surface neat and tidy. A dust bag features a wider opening for quick and easy dust disposal. A velcro closure on a sanding disc allows for convenient sandpaper change.

Lightweight yet powerful, the Makita sander will be a worthy addition to the tool arsenal of any handyman and professional woodworker.

Rough sanding and fine finishing require different disc rotation speed in order to achieve great results. Finish sanding should be done at fairly high speeds by using 180 to 220 sandpaper grits. While many orbital sanders come with a variable speed range, not all of them can generate high enough speed to achieve ideally smooth final finish or quickly remove thin layers of a top material. Unlike those models, the PEX 220A orbital sander from Bosch generates a truly impressive speed of 24000 OPM ensuring exceptionally high material removal rate. Though it’s a single speed the machine operates at, this is what makes this model one of the top-rated orbital sanders for superfine finish sanding.

Along with a remarkably high speed, the Bosch sander is distinguished by an extremely lightweight design. With the weight of 1.2 kg, the tool is a real find for fatigue-free overhead works when you need to flush drywall joints, seams, and screw holes or sand the ceiling for refinishing. A compact size along with a palm grip design ensures easy one-hand operation allowing you to get into tight spots and tricky areas where bulkier models with additional handles will fail as well as to follow curved surfaces such as cars and boats. Despite its size, this small orbital sander is equipped with a 125 mm pad that will let you sand both relatively small workpieces and pretty large surfaces and quickly rip off even some of the hardest materials from wood and metal when used with a coarse sandpaper.

One more benefit of this model is its exceptionally efficient dust collection system. Like other tools of its class, the PEX 220A is fitted with a built-in dust extraction element that collects dust and feeds it into a dust container. Unlike dust bags, dust container has an embedded microfiltration system developed by Bosch that quickly captures and securely holds dust and fine chips releasing no single particle into the air. As a result, you’ll have a clean workplace and clean air around your working area.

Everyone who is engaged in woodworking, car remodelling, carpentry, or furniture refinishing will appreciate all the values of the Bosch sander for fine finishing.

At the first glance, the Metabo SXE 425 orbital sander will leave an impression of a robust dependable tool that you can trust and that will faithfully serve you for years. And there's a good reason for that. Designed and manufactured in Germany, this machine is distinguished by the renowned German quality and reliable performance.

Speaking of design, the tool was undoubtedly created with the user comfort in mind and was certainly built to last. The whole construction packed in a sturdy shock-proof plastic housing looks very strong and wear-resistant. A dust-proof ball bearing and a durable aluminium die-cast bearing housing add to the overall durability of the tool and prolong its service life. A sleek gun-type handle with a rubber lining provides a secure non-slip grip for convenient one-hand operation. In addition, you can use a palm-grip handle on the top and a special handle in front to get better control over the tool needed for certain kinds of jobs. Like most other orbital sanders, the Metabo SXE 425 comes complete with an integral dust extraction system quickly sucking up dust and chips through the holes on the disc pad. However, instead of a paper or fabric dust bag, the tool features a solid dust filter unit that is not only easier to clean but also much more efficient when it comes to dust containment. Besides, this model allows connection to a vacuum cleaner hose for mess-free long-lasting operation.

Convenient and easy to use, the Metabo orbital sander is a powerful tool offering professional-grade performance. The machine can work at a range of customised speeds from 4000 to 13000 OPM to suit different materials. Moreover, there is a Turbo Boost function that allows engaging additional power reserves for maximum material removal to get a professional finish. Depending on the abrasive grade applied, the tool might sand rather aggressively rivalling a belt sander or it can provide fine smooth finish close to that delivered by finishing sanders. Whatever your sanding task is, the Metabo will ensure a professional quality finish.

When novice woodworkers or beginning handymen choose key power tools to complete their tool arsenal, they usually tend to start their search from the most popular brands and consider a higher price to be an indicator of top quality. Yet, this is not always the case and the Silverstorm 125563 random orbit sander from Silverline proves exactly the opposite. At a reasonable price, this model offers the features and functionality you’d expect from the most premium models and then some on top of that.

Featuring a sturdy and durable construction with an ergonomic non-slip pistol-grip handle, a handy palm-grip handle, and an auxiliary front handle for both one-hand and two-hand operation, the Silverstorm meets all high-quality standards and requirements in terms of design. However, unlike in many market leaders, an additional handle in this tool is fitted with a locking clamp that makes it fully adjustable for a variety of working angles. Hence, it gives you the benefit of an extra support for fatigue-free operation and will let you get into some of the more tricky areas as a more compact palm grip mini orbital sander. In addition, there is a lock-on switch on the trigger to further enhance comfort and improve control over the tool operation. Similarly to more expensive brands, the Silverstorm is compatible with 125 mm sanding discs and has a dust extraction port with a dust bag to remove all the dust and debris from the working area and sanding sheet.

When it comes to performance, like any other random orbital sander, the Silverline sanding machine combines spinning and eclipse movement to deliver a smooth fine finish. And there is one thing in which this affordable sander excels. It’s an electric motor delivering an immense power of 430 Watts. Paired with a variable speed range from 6000 OPM to 13000 OPM, it allows achieving consistently clean finish without any swirls, lines or marks. Meanwhile, the tool’s weight of 2.3 kg provides just enough pressure on the workpiece with minimum user effort.

To sum it up, the Silverline orbital sander is a great alternative for those who are on the budget and need a powerful solution for material removal and surface preparation.