The Best Tools for Effective Hand Sanding
Sandpaper is an acrobatic tool, flexible enough to bend into crevices and around corners. But sanding also requires pressure, which can be hard to apply with just your fingers. A hand sander—often a simple handle attached to a flat surface where sandpaper is mounted—can make sanding jobs a fast and comfortable task. For five options that will get the job done stress-free, read our recommendations below.
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1. 3M Sandblaster Pre-Loaded Sanding Tool
3M’s sanding tool is user-friendly, comfortable, and sturdy. It comes preloaded with the brand’s 120- grit sanding sheet, which uses technology found in industrial abrasives. This sandpaper also lasts much longer than standard paper and can be used wet or dry. It fits very tightly and clips into place so you won’t have to worry about slippage as you work. The 3.7-by-7-inch tool also features a handle that rotates 360 degrees so it moves naturally with your gestures. Note that you can’t swap in just any garden-variety sandpaper due to the tool’s particular size, but if you end up buying non-3M paper, you could trim the sheets to fit.
Buy: 3M Sandblaster Pre-Loaded Sanding Tool
2. Warner Sanding Block Hand Sander
If you prefer a doorknob-style handle, this no-nonsense option from Warner is worth trying. The hard plastic construction allows you to apply serious pressure for jobs that require extra elbow grease. Warner’s sander works with any sandpaper as long as it’s cut to size. The paper tucks into the long sides of the tool; the design makes for a sturdy hold but doesn’t sacrifice ease.
Buy: Warner Sanding Block Hand Sander
3. Lanney Sanding Block Hand Sander
Lanney’s kit will likely fill most, or even all, of your sanding needs, and it’s a great pick for those who need to sand regularly. You get two tools—a sanding block and a teardrop-shaped accessory for getting into grooves and tight places—as well as 20 sheets of precut sandpaper in 10 different grits ranging from 180 to ultrafine 2500. The paper is a wet-dry version made with durable silicon carbide. The sanding block itself is quite large, measuring 6.5 inches long and 3.3 inches wide. The size makes for quick work, but it can be somewhat unwieldy for smaller hands.
Buy: Lanney Sanding Block Hand Sander
4. Dewalt Electric Sander
Orbital sanders use a unique motion—rotating along circular and elliptical tracks—to ensure that your surface will bear no marks or streaks from the sanding process. They’re also just a lot less work than manual sanders. This corded orbital sander from Dewalt is reasonably priced and built to last. The counterweight design reduces vibration so you won’t be phantom-sanding into the night. It’s lightweight, can be used with any sandpaper, and has a bag you can connect to a vacuum hose for dust-free sanding.
5. Microzip Detail Sander
Some surfaces and edges are too small for you to use a standard-size sanding block on. The Microzip sander, with a 3.5-by-1-inch sanding surface, can fill the gap. It fits in your fingertips, with indents for your index finger and thumb that improve grip and comfort. It uses a hook-and-loop system to securely attach specialized sandpaper, and it is easy to purchase refill packs.
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