With nearly 100 years to back their wide range of products, Festool is one of the most renowned power tool manufacturers despite not being the most popular. The company created their first product back in 1925, a chainsaw. Every decade from there on saw incremental yet valuable progress which led to a new product being unveiled every decade from the 50s on.
Today Festool stands as a maker of quality power tools that save you time and keep you safe while using them. The same goes for their random orbit sanders which the company started producing back in the 70s when it introduced the first sander with dust extraction to the world.
What is a Random Orbital Sander?
A random orbit sander is a power sander that works by rotating both back and forth and in the form of elliptical circles. This unique movement makes all Festool random orbital sanders produce a smooth finish on any wooden surface without leaving any swirl marks. When it comes to large-scale projects, a random orbit sander is the most efficient tool you can use when it comes to finishing touches. You may not be able to use them on closed corners you'll definitely be able to create a uniform finish.
Types of Random Orbital Sanders
Right-Angle
A right-angle drive random orbit sander has a body that looks like a barrel which makes it a horizontal model where the motor is placed perpendicular to the pad. The pad runs at about 5,000 orbits per minute which is why the sander is used to finish large surfaces like tabletops, cabinets and doors. The speed of the pad also prevents the sander's 3.5 to 5 amp drive from overheating.
Palm
Palm sanders are more compact and lighter than right-angle drive random orbit sanders. They're so small that you can hold them with one hand, hence the name. However, a palm electric random orbit sander operates at much higher speeds than right-angle drive sanders with the pad making anywhere from 10,000 to 13,000 OPM. A palm random orbit sander is thus more suitable for projects like sanding drywall or refinishing furniture.
In-Line Drive
With an in-line drive model, you get a sander that combines the best features from both right-angle and palm sanders. The motor an in-line drive sander has is used to rotate a 6-inch pad and the sander itself comes with a comfortable and balanced grip. You can use an in-line drive sander for both small and large projects without the bulk of a right-angle drive sander and with the portability of a palm sander.
Important Factors to Consider
Power
The power of the motor in an electric random orbit sander determines how fast the pad is going to rotate. For instance, if you get a sander with a 5 amp motor you can have that 13,000 OPM available at any given time. But know that more amps doesn't always make for a better sander as sometimes you don't need as much OPM.
Pad
Both the shape and size of the pad affect how and what you'll use your sander for. Usually, pads are anywhere from 5 to 6 inches in diameter with larger ones being able to cover larger areas and smaller pads being more maneuverable. For general-purpose applications, a round 5-inch pad is more than enough as it provides both good coverage and control.
Ergonomics
All those orbits whizzing through the pad and tool can be felt on your hands. To make that affect your use of the tool less in the form of fatigue you should consider the ergonomics of the sander. Especially, when using a sander for long periods, you should look for models that let you have multiple grip positions with rubberised grips and a balanced weight distribution being the basics.
Dust Collection
A dust collection system is something that a Festool random orbital sander for sale comes with and with it you don't have to worry about breathing in harmful particles or having a dusty work space. Some random orbital sanders have built-in dust ports while others come with through-the-pad dust collection systems. The former requires the use of a dust or vacuum bag.
Speed
The maximum speed alone is not going to make for a versatile sander. This is why you should also look for one with variable speed control. No matter how quickly the pad can rotate if it doesn't let you go down a notch or two you won't be able to use the sander for anything else than small projects. Unless that's what you want to use it for.
Corded vs Cordless
A random orbital sander for sale is available both with or without a cable attached to one end. A corded sander is more powerful than a cordless one but a cordless sander is lighter and more portable. The latter is also more expensive while the former is a more tried-and-true solution.