Best Palm Sanders 2024

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Best Palm Sanders

Best Palm Sanders best palm sander reviews Palm sanders are small and very lightweight sanding machines that you can control using, as the name implies, your palm alone. There are hundreds of palm sanders for sale which makes it tricky to choose one without proper guidance but fear not, I’m here to help. You can find palm sanders that use a square or rectangular shaped sand paper like sheet sanders, in circular shapes like orbital ones or even belts like the famous belt sanders. While palm sanders are a good choice for smaller objects or for the occasional user, they can’t handle bigger or harder surfaces due to their very small sand paper pad size and below average power. I like to use these little machines for small objects that I can easily pick up and turn around with one hand while I sand away with the other, they can’t start a tough job or give a high polish finish but they are good for non-demanding easygoing tasks. With all of that said, beginners can find in these a good option as they are very cheap and some of these have actually surprised me in terms of power and how reliable they are, something I never expected in small sized machines like these. I’ll list the best palm sanders I’ve ever used below.

Best Palm Sanders Comparison

This is a quick comparison of the best palm sanders I’ve tested.

Machine Makita BO4556K Black & Decker BDEQS15C SKIL 7292-02 Black & Decker QS900 DEWALT DWE6421K Dynabrade 56815 Dynorbital Supreme
Picture
Price $ $ $ $ $ $$$
Power 2 AMP 1.5 AMP 2 AMP 2 AMP 3 AMP 0.28 HP
Speed 14,000 OPM Unspecified 14,000 RMP 16,000 OPM 12,000 OPM 12,000 RPM
Type Orbital Sheet Sander Sheet Sander Sheet Sander Sheet Sander Random Orbital Sander Random Orbital Sander
Size 1/4 Sheet 1/4 Sheet 1/4 Sheet 1/4 Sheet 5 Inch Disc 5 Inch Disc
Special Feature Case Included + Great Value Pressure Control Great Dust Collection Case Included Variable Speed + Super Comfort + Potent
Power Source Electric Electric Electric Electric Electric Air
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years LIFETIME
Availability Shop at Amazon Shop at Amazon Shop Now Shop at Amazon Shop at Amazon Shop at Amazon

Palm Sander Reviews

Here you can read an in-depth analysis and opinion of each palm sander seen above.

Black & Decker BDEQS15C 1/4 Sheet Sander, 1.5 Amp

The BDEQS15C is a little palm grip sheet sander that is as simple and inexpensive as they come. It features a decently built body with a comfortable grip design, a dust sealed power switch and a built-in dust collector. It weighs 2.7 pounds making it fairly easy to handle and the 1.5AMP motor can take on simple sanding tasks. Although I’d love to see a sturdier body and more features on the BDEQS15C, it’s still one of the most affordable palm sanders I’ve ever seen and for the price tag it’s a solid machine.

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SKIL 7292-02 2.0 Amp 1/4 Sheet Palm Sander with Pressure Control

This 4 pound sheet-style palm sander offers a solid 2AMP motor, a highly efficient dust collector and an innovative pressure-control display that lights up so you know exactly what force to apply in order to get quality results. The classic palm sander ¼ sheet size coupled with a soft-grip handle ensures that you can easily and comfortably handle the machine. My favorite characteristic of the SKIL 7292-02 is the great dust collector that not only keeps your working area clean but it’s also transparent so you know when to empty it. It’s a solid palm sander at a great price point that is sure to satisfy hobbyist craftsmen.

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Black & Decker QS900 1/4-Sheet Sander with Filtered Dust Collection

With a 2AMP motor that puts out 16,000 OPM (orbits per minute), the QS900 is a great compact palm sander that features a sturdy body and quality elements. Weighing 1 pound and using a ¼ sandpaper sheet size, it’s extremely lightweight and easy to handle, even more so due to the very comfortable soft-body grip. The machine uses a see-through dust canister so you know exactly when to empty it and it’s also very efficient due to the micro-filtering technology. The Black & Decker QS900 is a very well-built palm sander with good power output and stunning mobility.

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DEWALT DWE6421K Random Orbit Sander Kit, 5″

The DeWalt DWE6421K is the classic all-rounder orbital palm sander. It hits all the marks of a good tool such as a quality body, great motor potency and effective features. With a potent 3.0 AMP motor it spins the 5” sanding pad at 12,000 OPM which is plenty of power to deal with a wide variety of tasks. It has great dust collection and the switch is dust-sealed as well, to ensure a longer tool life. It has a well-built durable body and at 4 pounds it’s easy to handle. This particular kit comes with a useful carrying bag to keep the sander and all the accessories organized plus a free of charge 3 year warranty. This is a potent, great all-rounder palm sander that delivers quality results for an affordable price.

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Makita BO4556K 2.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Finishing Sander with Case

After my beloved Speed-Bloc became unavailable to buy, I had to find a suitable replacement for people that wanted one. It had to have its famous quality, size and built-to-last construction. After all this time, I’ve found it – the Makita BO4556K. It’s even got a bit more power with a 2 Amp motor (instead of 1.2 Amp) that puts out the same impressive 14,000 Orbits per minute that the Speed Bloc delivered. The size is the same – the classic 1/4 sheet, and the body even with a different design maintains that comfortable feel, tight grip and easy-on-the-arms vibration. As another bonus, it has a fantastic dust bag that works like a charm. I’ll tell you, as a die hard fan of the Speed Bloc I was almost sure that no other 1/4 palm sander would even come close. After tying a handful of similar sanders I was always let down in one way or the other, until this one. I made sure to sand and finish a bench that I was working on with it and bit by bit it won me over. I can now honestly say, this beast of a Makita deserves to replace the SpeedBloc as my recommended sander. Excellent machine.

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DEWALT D26441K 2.4-AMP Orbital 1/4-Sheet Sander with Cloth Dust Bag

You already know how much I love DeWalt, and this is exactly why. The D26441K gives you incredible quality and performance at a stunning price. It features a 2.4 AMP motor that puts out 14,000 OPM on the ¼ sanding sheet – it packs a punch! Add efficient dust cleaning, comfortable grip and tight clamping and you’ve got yourself a perfectly well rounded machine. The build quality is fantastic, like nearly every DeWalt machine, and it comes with its very own carrying case. It’s potent, light and built to last – all at an attractive price. Recommended for hobbyists and professionals alike!

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Milwaukee 6020-21 1/4-Sheet Orbital Sander

Milwaukee delivers a great palm sander that has a ton of power and a superbly well built body. The ¼ sheet sanding pad is powered by a beastly 3 AMP motor that puts out 14,000 OPM – it’s both fast and tough enough to deal with rough stock while maintaining a constant speed. It delivers a swirl-free, high-quality finish and the ergonomic grip makes sure that you don’t get tired or hurt even after using it for extended periods of time. To further its quality, it has great dust collection and the paper changes are a breeze. This Milwaukee palm sander heavily surprised me, it’s highly potent and has a long lasting construction which are two qualities that I value a lot. If you’re looking for power combined with great construction, this is it.

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PORTER-CABLE 330 Speed-Bloc 1.2 Amp 1/4 Sheet Sander

One of the most famous Porter-Cable machines, the Speed-Bloc has been a favorite for decades and it remains to this day, in my opinion, the best palm sanders available in the market due to its high quality built-to-last metal frame body, smart and sleek design and its power and versatility. This classic puts out 14,000 Orbits per minute on the ¼ sheet sanding pad while remaining silent and without vibrations to ensure the very best results. It has a fantastic ergonomic design, the best I’ve ever seen in a small machine, that won’t fatigue or hurt you even after hours and hours of constant use. In every single work piece I’ve used the Speed-Bloc I’ve gotten stunning results that keep me going back to this little thing time and time again. It’s without a doubt one of my all-time favorite compact palm sanders and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants a fantastic machine, from beginners to professionals this is an excellent choice.

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Dynabrade 59020 Dynorbital-Spirit Non-Vacuum Random Orbital Sander, 5-Inch

Dynabrade’s famous “sprit” air-powered random orbital sanders line is known for its top-tier quality and performance while still maintaining an attractive price. The 59020 Dynorbital Spirit follows those words closely, putting out a potent 12,000 RPM on the 5-inch pad and weighing less than 1.5 pounds even with the extremely durable body. It has the marvelous, super-comfortable palm grip that the Dynorbital line is known for and it has advanced features such as a floating rotor that utilizes five blades in order to produce more usable power while the air is used more efficiently to maintain maximum potency. The sanding results that this thing delivers are of the highest-quality when sanding, both in material removal and fine finishing due to its random orbital action. My favorite detail is the immensely convenient speed control that allows you to regulate the speed of the sander with just your thumb. Perfect for any appropriate situation, the Dynorbital Spirit brings you the best of both worlds – top-notch quality at a stunning price.

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Dynabrade 21055 Dynorbital Spirit Non-Vacuum Random Orbital Sander, 6-Inch

A bigger variation of the smaller Spirit, this machine expands the sanding pad to a larger 6 inches of diameter while maintaining all the excellent qualities of the more compact version. It weighs a little more due to the bigger pad but at 2.5 pounds it’s still incredibly lightweight and easy to handle. The rotor still runs at a potent 12,000 RPM even with the bigger pad and the results are equally golden on both material removal and fine polishing. With such a tiny price difference from the smaller version, it’s more than worth it to get this one due to how much faster it can take care of sanding tasks.

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Dynabrade 56815 Dynorbital Supreme Non-Vacuum Random Orbital Sander, 5-Inch

The Supreme line is the golden top-tier of the Dynorbital machines – pneumatic random orbital palm sanders don’t get any better than this. Dynabrade is so sure of these machines’ quality that they even include a free of charge lifetime warranty. The machine runs the 5” sanding pad at a potent 12,000 RPM, ensuring that it can take any possible sanding task, easy or tough. The high-quality rotor utilizes five blades to produce more useable power and it’s also stronger and has better lubricating qualities than any other. The 5 inch Supreme weighs 2 pounds and features an extremely sturdy body with a triple-sealed front double row balancer bearing that is guarded from sanding dust to extend the sander’s life. It handles beautifully too due to the excellent non-slip grip and it’s insulated to prevent overheating. It comes as a non-vacuum tool although there are conversion kits available to easily change it to a self-generated vacuum or central vacuum tool. The Supreme line is unmatched in quality and it will bring you exceptional performance and first-class results.

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Dynabrade 56830 6-Inch Central Vacuum Dynorbital Supreme Random Orbital Sander, Black

The 56830 Supreme is the bigger brother of the 56815, offering a larger 6 inch sanding pad while maintaining the same perfect design and qualities – it’s, in my view, the best orbital palm sander ever created. The air rotor is very potent, making the 6” pad run at 12,000 RPM but remember that you need quite a bit of air-power for this beast to reach max-speed. Excellently well-built in both design and materials, this machine will not only last you a lifetime but also be a pleasure to use every time you need it. It features the exclusive triple-sealed front double row balancer bearing which is guarded from dust to provide a longer tool-life and lower maintenance. The way the Supreme feels in your hand is exceptional, it’s easy to control but feels extremely powerful and highly effective due to the weight-mated sanding pad. The Dynabrade 56830 Dynorbital Supreme is without a doubt one the very best palm sander I’ve ever had and it deserves all the praise it gets from the metal and woodworking communities.

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My Recommended Palm Sander

As I mentioned above, the Speed Bloc sadly isn’t available to buy anymore (for now at least). I’ve found a suitable replacement – the great Makita BO4556K 2.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Finishing Sander with Case. You can read the review above if you haven’t yet, it’s a worthy successor of my recommendation.

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Conclusion

These palm sanders are sure to not only surprise you in how well they perform but to also deliver good results and with an incredible price. I’ve even seen some people using two of these, one in each hand, to complete their sanding tasks in a quicker way (although I’ve never done it myself). I hope you enjoyed the best palm sander reviews and that they gave you some proper insight at this type of sander and made it easier for you to pick the right one.

It was a pleasure to help as always and feel free to leave a comment or question down below.

24 Comments

  1. Nice article, thank you for the recommendations!

  2. Hey, I’ve been using the Makita BO4556K for a few weeks since I got it and I love it. For the price, it’s the best machine I’ve ever gotten. Great recommendation James.

  3. I just got the Makita and it’s beyond great. You can FEEL the quality when you hold it and it sure packs a punch!

  4. Hello James, just wanted to congratulate you on the article because I can feel the work and dedication you’ve put into it and trust me, it was well worth it! I searched around for days for some solid advice but yours was by far the best, the Dewalt kit is fantastic and I’m glad to own it. Thank you!

    • Hey Julia, thank you for the kind words – I appreciate it. Always makes me smile to know I’ve helped, enjoy your new machine!

  5. Great informative article, Thanks for your review

  6. I gotta love that Makita. I’ve always used pneumatics (already have a Dynorbital), but that Makita surprised me a lot for an electrical machine. Very nice choices all around James!

    • Thanks Ron, I’m glad you liked it. It sure is a great machine, especially for such a low price. Enjoy!

  7. These things are awesome! I’ve re-done a bunch of furniture with ease, they’re so light and easy to use!

  8. Thanks a lot for the guide man, it’s refreshing to see someone in the community that has both the needed expertise and fantastic writing skills, made it super easy for me. I’m going with 2 Dynorbitals!

  9. I’ve been using the PC 330 for years and loved it but it’s no longer available for some reason.

    • Hey Joel, it’s still my favorite to this day as well. While I don’t know why they don’t sell it anymore, I truly hope it makes a comeback!

  10. The Dynorbital spirit is a BOMB! Thanks James, my sanding routine just got a whole lot easier.

  11. Why doesn’t porter cable install a vacuum on the. 330? It keeps from buying another? Thanx

    • Hey Pete, how are you doing? I’d absolutely love a vacuum option on the 330, it would make a great machine even better. The reason is that the current design is so compact and minimalist that it doesn’t have enough space to install a vacuum solution on the sander. Maybe in the future they’ll come up with a model that does, we can only hope!

  12. Hi James! I would like a sander that thinks it’s a paint stripper!? I have a vintage bedroom outfit I’d like to sand, and I would also like to do our stairway which is also painted!
    I hate the clips on sheet sanders! I was looking at the orbitals? What is your opinion for the best for these two projects?
    Thx for your time and consideration in giving me advice?
    It is greatly appreciated!?
    Sincerely,
    Rose

    • Hey Rose, hope you’re having a wonderful day!
      You were looking in the right direction, a random orbital sander is an excellent choice to deal with paint and although they have a circular shape, they can still deal with stairs nicely due to their size and nearly foolproof finish. Plus, no more clips! They’re also super versatile so if in the future you need something else to be sanded, you’ll have a trusty machine at your disposal.
      Hope I’ve helped and good luck with the renovations Rose, I bet the final result will be stunning.

  13. Voted this article 5 stars, you really deserve it! You managed to clear my doubts and make it easy to pick my new machine – the speed bloc. Can’t wait to try it out, great work.

    • I enjoy using my porter cable 330 and would like another. Why does p/c not install a vacuum. That feature keeps me from purchasing another. Thanx for your recommendations. Pete

  14. Great picks overall James, I’m going for the DeWalt kit. Loved the brand since forever and the price is awesome for what you get. Keep it up!

  15. Nancy Mansfield

    Thanks for this Mr. Draper! I was looking for an easy to use and effective machine for regular home use, the Porter Cable speed bloc caught my eye (also because it’s beautiful haha) and your words of praise on it sealed the deal. Kisses from Arkansas!

  16. Came here from a recommendation in a woodworking forum when I asked about good palm sanders for car paint. They were darn right about it, you’re a master. Thanks for the clarifying words on these machines, I got myself a Dynorbital Supreme and can’t wait to use it!

    • Thank you for the very kind words Walter, I do my best! I have no doubt that you’ll be happy with the Dynorbital Supreme, it’s a fantastic machine.

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