Best Hand Sander For Furniture Refinishing in 2023: Do You Want to Give Your Old Furniture a Refinishing Job? Get the Best Sander for Furniture!

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Read more about the uses of sanders, how you can choose the best one for you, and how you can benefit from them.

One of the best things about refinishing your furniture is that there are many ways to do it. You can turn even the oldest piece of furniture into something that feels new and fresh for everyone at home. If you’re planning on refinishing your furniture, one essential thing that you can use is a sander. Sanders for furniture refinishing are powerful tools that can get a refinishing job done as easily and as quickly as possible.

In this article, we are going to show you how a furniture sander works, what its benefits are, and how you can choose the best one for you!

Summary – Best Hand Sander For Furniture Refinishing

A sander is a handy tool that can be used to refinish your furniture and give it a better look. However, there are many options to choose from, so you need to consider your needs before selecting the best sanders for furniture refinishing. The best sanders provide ergonomic designs and powerful features that allow for a better experience while working.

If you need a powerful sander for your project, the SKIL 7510-01 belt sander can work on most wood surfaces. On the other hand, if you want a less aggressive option, you can go for the DeWALT DWE6423K random orbit sander.

What is a Sander for Furniture?

A sander is a tool that uses abrasive elements to remove the surface material from pieces of furniture. While the most common way of using a sander was getting a piece of sandpaper and moving it with a block or just with the hand, there are now electric-powered sanders that make the work easier for the user.

Regardless of the type of sander that you buy, they are relatively easy to use, and the maintenance process for them is not complicated, so they’re a handy tool to refinish your furniture.

What are the Types of Sanders for Furniture Refinishing?

Before you choose a finishing sander for your furniture refinishing project, you have to understand the different types of sanders available to you. Each one has a specific purpose, so keep reading to find out which one works better for you!

Orbital Sanders

An orbital sander (Also called ‘Orbiting Sander,’ ‘Finishing Sander,’ ‘Sheet Sander,’ or ‘Palm Sander’) is made from a rectangular or square base that makes small rotations. Orbit sanders are fairly easy to set up since you can easily cut a sheet of sandpaper and attach it to the sander, which makes the job faster. This type of sander is not as aggressive as a random orbit sander, which helps to keep better control of the tool with your hand.

However, keep in mind that this type of sander may not perform as well with removing thick layers of finish. Most people use it for ‘finishing’ purposes, such as rounding sharp edges, eliminating putty, and achieving an overall smoother surface. This is a lightweight tool that works perfectly for smaller projects, so if you need something more powerful, consider going for a random orbit sander.

Random Orbital Sanders

If you want a more powerful tool for thicker layers of finish, a random orbit sander can do the job. Unlike the orbital sander, this type of finishing sander has a round base that also moves in small circles. Random orbit sanders use a specific kind of sandpaper designed for that tool, and it’s fantastic at removing many finish layers efficiently.

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Since this tool is more powerful than its counterpart, it’s more challenging to control it with your hand if you don’t have any experience. You can move a random orbit sander in virtually any direction, thanks to its round base. However, if you don’t have proper control of it, it may leave some marks on your wood piece.

Detail Sanders

This type of sander was designed to work with finishing touches on a project. If some areas are hard to reach by a regular orbital sander or random orbital sander, the detail sander can help with that.

This sander has a triangular base, which allows the point to reach tight spots. A detail sander is usually more affordable than a palm sander or any other finishing sander, but they only work for a particular purpose: details.

Belt Sanders

This is the most powerful type of sander that you can find for a project. While the other sanders are considered a ‘Finishing Sander,’ a belt sander works the best at removing material off a wood piece with no issues. Unlike a palm sander or a detail sander, a belt sander is suited for aggressive work, so it may need more hand control.

If you need a product that delivers efficient refinishing results at a faster pace, and your detail or palm sander doesn’t cut it, consider getting a belt sander.

Signs that You Should Refinish Your Furniture

Wood Discolorization

Wood can start to show its age eventually. The most common sign of this is that the piece can get a darker color, which some people find unpleasant. If you have a wood piece of furniture that got darker over the years, you can consider a furniture refinishing job.

Painting

If your wooden furniture has a coat of paint on it, it can start to show some damage over time, such as marks, water damage, or other small details. In those cases, a refinishing job may take less time and money than repainting the piece of furniture.

Re-Gluing Your Furniture

For example, if you have a loose cabinet door, it may get loosen joints over the years. In some cases, re-gluing the pieces together doesn’t solve the problem, so you have to apply a refinish coat with a sander after you’re finished re-gluing everything. This can help to make the joints last longer without wearing out again.

Materials

Some people who have old pieces of furniture may not need to do a refinishing job. Most pieces created between 1950 and 1960 had laminate or particleboard surfaces, making them more durable than modern pieces of furniture.

This means that old pieces of furniture may be less likely to get damaged fast, but you can still get a refinishing project if you want. However, keep in mind that doing a piece of furniture refinishing job on an old piece of wooden furniture may affect its value.

How to Choose the Best Sander for You

Now that you know the necessary information about sanders for furniture refinishing, it’s time that you find out how to buy the right products for your project. These are the vital things that you have to keep into account before buying a sander for refinishing furniture.

Dust Collector

Current sanders usually come with a dust collector system. This is because a sander can generate massive amounts of dust that can be complicated to clean up after you’re done. This can cause some issues in your workshop and your physical health (since you’re breathing all those dust particles).

Thankfully, a sander for furniture with a dust collector system can help to absorb most of the dust, which allows for a smoother and safer work experience.

Accessories

While most furniture sanders have a specific purpose, some of them can be attached to some accessories that make the work a bit easier. These accessories include a variable speed switch, a dust collector attachment, and detachable bases, so you can install the base that fits your needs the most.

Product Design

Regardless of the type of sander that you’re getting, you want it to feel comfortable on your hand. You are likely going to use the sander for long periods, so if you have a sander that feels uncomfortable on your hand, you may have a lot of issues while working.

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The best sanders for furniture come with ergonomic designs that allow for a better grip with your hand, vibration dampening, and other features that make your work easier.

Sandpaper

While this isn’t necessarily part of the sander itself, it plays a huge part in your projects. If you want to avoid issues with your sanders, consider getting various sandpaper products designed for wood grains. If you do this, you can have a stock of different types of sandpaper, which means that you can use the one that fits your project the best, rather than using the same kind of sandpaper for everything.

Keep in mind the grit and the composition of your sandpaper before buying. The grit refers to the sandpaper’s smoothness or coarseness rate, whereas the composition refers to the sandpaper’s composition materials. If you want professional results, you need to buy a high-quality product.

Product Reviews:

Black+Decker Detail Sander
9.5
Black+Decker Detail Sander
POSITIVES
  • It comes with a detailed finger attachment.
  • The package provides two sandpaper sheets.
  • It comes with a dust collector attachment.
NEGATIVES
  • It’s not suitable for big wood sanding projects.
  • Some of the materials may wear off quickly.
Black+Decker Detail Sander

Black+Decker provides the best sanders for furniture on the market. If you need a detail sander for reaching those tight spots, the Black+Decker BDEMS600 does a great job at it! Its ergonomic design feels fantastic on the hand, and it also includes a detailed finger attachment for better precision on your work.

This sander has a 1.2 AMP motor that works at 14,000 orbits per minute, which is an excellent rate for a detail sander. However, keep in mind that this type of sander works best for hard-to-reach spaces and details; it doesn’t work well for heavier sanding projects. If you need a more powerful tool for thicker layers of wood, consider going for an orbital sander or a random orbital sander for furniture.

Overall, the Black+Decker detail sander is a product that you may want to have if you need a powerful tool to reach tight spaces. Click here to read more about it!

Makita BO4556K 2-AMP Motor Finishing Sander
9
Makita BO4556K 2-AMP Motor Finishing Sander
POSITIVES
  • It has an ergonomic design.
  • It’s an affordable product.
  • It provides a powerful motor.
  • It comes with a rubber-sealed switch, which helps to prevent dust contamination.
NEGATIVES
  • It doesn’t come with a variable speed dial.
  • The build material is weaker than other products.
Makita BO4556K 2-AMP Motor Finishing Sander

If you want to give your wooden furniture a smooth and clean finish in the most comfortable way possible, the Makita BO4456K works perfectly. This product is easy to handle since it comes with a contoured and rubberized palm grip design, and it also has an easy-to-reach on-off switch, which makes it even easier to handle.

The most remarkable feature about this sander is its AMP motor. It works with a 2-AMP motor that drives 14,000 orbits per minute, making it a fast and powerful tool. The sander’s design helps to reduce vibration and hand fatigue, so you don’t have to worry about losing control of it.

Overall, this is an affordable product that you can use for most basic wood sanding needs. Click here to read more about this sander.

PORTER-CABLE PCCW201B Sheet Sander
8.5
PORTER-CABLE PCCW201B Sheet Sander
POSITIVES
  • It doesn’t have a cord.
  • It has a detachable dust bag and a vacuum port for more efficient dust collection.
  • It comes with a variable speed dial.
NEGATIVES
  • The battery is not included in the package.
  • The sanding tips wear out fast.
PORTER-CABLE PCCW201B Sheet Sander

This is one of the best sanders for furniture if you’re looking for a cord-less product that works as efficiently as a corded one. Some of the best features about this sander include a variable speed dial, which allows you to set the motor’s speed from 9,000 to 12,000 orbits per minute. This allows for better control of the sander on a specific type of job.

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This PORTER-CABLE sheet sander is compact enough for handling with one hand, and it also prevents dust accumulation since it comes with a detachable dust bag. If that isn’t enough for you, it has a vacuum port that can hook up to a one-and-a-quarter-inch hose, enhancing the dust removal process.

The most attractive feature about this product is that it’s wireless, so you don’t have to worry about the cord not being long enough to reach some spaces. You just plug in the battery, and you’re good to go! You can read more about this product here.

SKIL 7510-01 6-AMP Motor Belt Sander
8.5
SKIL 7510-01 6-AMP Motor Belt Sander
POSITIVES
  • It has pressure control technology.
  • It comes with an auto-track system that keeps the belt centered on the track.
  • It’s suitable for most wood surfaces.
NEGATIVES
  • It’s not easy to handle with just one hand.
  • The dust collector doesn’t work as well if it’s not connected to a vacuum system.
SKIL 7510-01 6-AMP Motor Belt Sander

The best sanders for furniture need to be powerful and reliable for you, and the SKIL 7510-01 is both of these things! This belt sander provides an impressive 6-AMP motor, making it suitable for working on most wood surfaces. Since the motor is so powerful, the sander includes a pressure control technology that warns you if you’re applying too much force to it.

As for dust collection, this sander has a micro-filtration dust canister that captures most dust particles. Keep in mind that this product needs a 3″ x 18″, 80-grit sanding belt to work properly. Thankfully, the package includes one, so you can get started right away.

If you feel like you need more power for your refinishing project, this belt sander does the job amazingly well. Click here to read more about this product.

DeWALT (DWE6423K) Random Orbital Sander
8
DeWALT (DWE6423K) Random Orbital Sander
POSITIVES
  • It’s very comfortable to use.
  • It’s made from durable materials.
  • It has a powerful 3-AMP motor.
  • It has a great dust collection system and a one-handed locking dust bag.
NEGATIVES
  • It’s not as affordable as other products.
  • The sender doesn’t easily attach to a shop-vac.
DeWALT (DWE6423K) Random Orbital Sander

This is an excellent sander to work with if you need to have more control and comfort in your refinishing job. This product contains a variable speed dial, which allows you to set the sander up to a speed that matches your needs. Its ergonomic design helps to reduce vibrations and hand fatigue. This adds an extra layer of control over the furniture you’re sanding.

Something that we love about the design is that it has a shorter height than other products. This means that the distance between you and the piece you’re sanding is considerably lower, which is more comfortable for working.

This sander is great if you’re looking for something more powerful than palm sanders, while also keeping the same amount of comfort while handling it. Click here to read more about this article.

Conclusion

Your furniture refinishing project needs to be as comfortable as possible for you, so you need to get high-quality products that allow for a smooth experience on your projects. Keep in mind that there are many types of sanders and that some are more appropriate for a particular sanding project than others, so consider your needs before choosing the necessary products for your job.

Why trust Handyman.Guide?

s written by Itamar Ben-Dor, who has 25 years of experience in renovations, carpentry, locks, creation, landscaping, painting, furniture construction, and furniture renovation, works with concrete, plumbing, door repair, and more.

Itamar Ben-Dor has been in the home improvement business for over 25 years. Itamar Ben-Dor is a jack of all trades. He's worked in the renovation field for years, doing everything from locksmithing to carpentry. He's a small repairs specialist. But his true passion lies in furniture construction and renovation - he loves seeing old pieces come back to life with some new woodwork or a fresh coat of paint.

He has taken courses on many topics in these fields at professional colleges in Israel. Over the years, Itamar has also become quite skilled in gardening, carpentry, and renovations. He's worked on projects of all sizes, from massive renovations to small repairs. No job is too big or too small for him!


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Itamar Ben Dor
Itamar Ben Dor

My father is a practical engineer, and as a hobby he was also involved in construction, renovations, carpentry and woodwork at home; So there was always tools, saws, drills and more at home. Already I was a little kid Dad and I would renovate the house. Once we built a shed for garden tools, once we did flooring for the garden, once we renovated the bathroom and that’s the way it is. Long before there was an internet, directories and plans. We would build things, kitchen cabinets, install electrical appliances, do flooring, pour concrete and more ... I in this blog want to pass on to you the experience I have gained over the last 20 plus-minus years since I was a child to this day and give you information about the best tools, project plans, guides and more.

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