Palm Sander vs. Orbital Sander: Which One Is Actually Right for Your Project?
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Whether you choose a palm sander or an orbital sander, a power sander is a must-have tool for anyone who refinishes furniture, preps metal for paint, strips old paint, smooths rough wood pieces, or does any project that requires extensive sanding. However, when it comes time to choose between a palm sander vs an orbital sander, how do you decide?
Here, we’ve broken down the key differences between palm sanders and orbital sanders, so you can choose the right type of sander for your projects.
What Is a Palm Sander?
A palm sander is a small power sander that you grip with the palm of your hand. It utilizes a rectangular piece of sandpaper that's exactly 1/4 of a standard sandpaper sheet, leading it to often be called a 1/4-sheet sander.
As one of the smallest common power sanders, palm sanders are ideal for light-duty sanding projects. Their square base allows access to corners, which are impossible to reach with circular sanders like orbital sanders and random orbital sanders.
Palm Sander Uses
Light-duty sanding projects
Sanding inside corners
High-grit finish work that benefits from a less aggressive sanding motion
Palm Sander Costs
Palm sanders are generally less expensive than random orbital sanders. You can purchase a quality corded palm sander from a major brand anywhere from $30 to $70. Cordless palm sanders are slightly more expensive, ranging from $50 to $160.
Additionally, the sandpaper utilized by a palm sander typically costs less than sanding discs used by a random orbital sander. To save even more money, you can buy full-size sanding sheets and cut them into four equal pieces.
Palm Sander Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
Utilizes cheaper sandpaper than an orbital sander | Lacks adequate power for demanding sanding projects |
Square base allows better access to inside corners | Not all models feature dust collection; models that do include dust collection are inferior to the dust collection of a random orbital sander and require the user to poke holes in the sandpaper |
Slightly cheaper on average than orbital sanders | More likely to leave sanding marks than an orbital sander, especially when using lower-grit sandpaper |
What Is an Orbital Sander?
An orbital sander is a power sander that utilizes a circular sanding surface that rotates to quickly sand through rough material and finishes. Orbital sanders aren't commonly used nowadays, as their simple rotation was notorious for leaving swirl marks on wood.
This led to the development of the random orbital sander, which combines a simple rotation and an oval orbit. This random sanding motion helps random orbital sanders minimize the number of sanding marks visible on the surface after sanding. Because of their supreme popularity, most people using the term "orbital sander" are referring to a random orbital sander.
Tip
Regardless of what type of sander you're using, the best way to cut down on swirl marks is to gradually progress through the sandpaper grits, increasing to a higher number as you get closer to the finishing stage.
Random Orbital Sander Uses
Heavy-duty sanding projects
Sanding drywall mud
Smoothing rough wood surfaces
Random Orbital Sander Costs
Random orbital sanders are more expensive on average than palm sanders. A quality corded random orbital sander from a major brand will cost anywhere from $50 to $90, while cordless options range from $60 to $170.
Plus, if you choose an orbital sander, plan on spending more on the sandpaper than you would if you chose a palm sander. Unlike a palm sander, which enables you to buy sandpaper sheets and cut them to size, you must buy the pre-sized sanding discs for a random orbital sander.
Random Orbital Sanders Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
Aggressive motion quickly removes old finishes and smooths rough surfaces | While the random motion cuts down on swirl marks, orbital sanders can be too aggressive for high-grit finish work |
Random movement minimizes visible sanding marks | Compatible circular sanding sheets are more expensive than 1/4-sheet sander sanding sheets |
Nearly all models are fitted with dust collection systems and paper has precut holes for dust to travel through | Slightly more expensive on average than palm sanders |
How to Choose Between a Palm Sander and an Orbital Sander
For most woodworkers and general DIYers, it almost always makes sense to choose a random orbital sander instead of a palm sander. They are more efficient, typically have better dust collection systems, and are applicable in more project settings than palm sanders.
Best of all, a random orbital sander leaves minimal swirl marks compared to a palm sander, which makes it much better for projects that require a clean, smooth surface for finishing.
However, if you're looking to save money on sandpaper or you need a sander that can reach corners better than an orbital sander, a palm sander may be a better pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an orbital sander better than a palm sander?
A random orbital sander works better than a palm sander in nearly every situation because it sands more efficiently, minimizes the visible sanding marks on the material, and usually comes equipped with a better dust collection system.
Do orbital sanders leave swirl marks?
A standard orbital sander, which is not as commonly used compared to a random orbital sander, may leave swirl marks.
A random orbital sander has a random sanding pattern that helps cut down on swirl marks. Swirl marks are further minimized when you properly sand by increasing the sandpaper's grit as you go.
Is orbital or palm sander better for furniture?
An orbital sander is better than a palm sander for most furniture jobs. However, a palm sander's square sanding base allows it to reach inside corners and other places where an orbital sander's circular sanding base can't fit.
Read Next: Sanders to Use When Refinishing Hardwood Floors
Read the original article on The Spruce.
