4 Best Finishing Sanders in the Business

Finishing sanders are used to produce the smoothest, finest
finishes to your craft and carpentry projects. Helping
craftsmen achieve the most seamless, professional results,
finish sanders do a seriously good deed to the tool and
woodworking community. To get the most unwaveringly,
brilliantly smooth results, however, there are four finish
sanders from Festool and Porter-Cable that truly cast
shadows over the competition.

Festool brings craftsmen the Rotex RO 150 and the RTS 400
EQ finishing sanders - both of which are tools that are
truly difficult to put down. The Rotex RO 150 is a
heavy-duty, high-performance sander with the power to
tackle any application and the refinement to do it with
delicacy and style. It features a simple dual-sanding
system which allows operators to sand in a random orbital
mode for uncommonly fine sanding or switch into a
gear-driven, aggressive mode for rapid stock removal. A
(detachable) auxiliary handle provides you with greater
control during these more aggressive sanding jobs. With
variable speed control, constant speed under load, and
thermal and over-load protection the sander can
aggressively or delicately match each application. Despite
this big power, however, the tool weighs only 5 lbs, boasts
very low vibration, and has a superior ergonomic design to
bring craftsmen a tough package that's also simple and
surprisingly pleasant to work with. The sander's gearbox is
completely enclosed to protect the bearing unit from dust
and debris; this vastly extends the life of the tool and
its components. Additionally, a jet-stream dust extraction
system ensures your work environment is a clean and safe
space.

Festool continues innovating the finish sander with the RTS
400 EQ flat surface finish sander. With strength, balance,
and truly intelligent design the tool is, essentially, in a
league of its own. Weighing only 2.4 lbs the sander is
compact and lightweight, and with an ergonomic design it is
comfortable to operate despite continuous or awkward use.
The sander's balanced design (with vibration stop
technology) and simple to operate speed control system
render the tool uncommonly smooth and give craftsmen the
ability to appropriately ascribe different speeds to each
different application. The tool's orbital sanding motion
produces full pad contact with the sanding surface, thus,
minimizing any swirl effect and yielding strikingly smooth
finishes. With a narrow profile rectangular pad design,
craftsmen have superior access to tight spaces, the design
additionally allows for close sanding on edges and frame
members for the most professional finishes from edge to
edge. Abrasive removal is quick and simple with the tool's
resilient pad hooks and hard-wearing fabric backing - this
also, pleasantly, contributes to a longer abrasive and pad
life.

Additionally, Porter-Cable builds some of the finest, most
trusted finishing sanders in the industry offering
craftsmen designs and durability to withstand heavy-use and
rough jobsite environments. Delivering the entire spectrum
of "really great finishing sander" perks, Porter-Cable's
330 and 344 offer the most commendable features in a
seriously high-quality sander. The 330 is small (at only 4
lbs) and ultra simple and comfortable to use. Despite being
a smaller tool, the sander is still incredibly sturdy and
incorporates rubber posts to isolate your hand from
vibration; essentially the tool delivers aggressive sanding
action without the stress and fatigue of heavy vibration.
The tool orbits at 14,000 OPM to ensure the smoothest, most
superfine finishes. Altogether, the 330 is compact,
lightweight, comfortable, buttery smooth, and delivers an
incredibly fine finish.

The 344 (5") random orbit sander is another treasure from
Porter-Cable that exceeds all expectations. Using its
powerful and yet oh so delicate style, the tool provides
craftsmen with ridiculously smooth surfaces. It's optimized
ergonomics are designed to enhance the comfort and
usability of the tool, and weighing only 4.05 lbs, the tool
is a feather weight with a furious appetite to finish your
surfaces with a super-finer quality unlike any other. With
a 3 amp motor and super fast 12,000 OPM this sander offers
superior consistency, blending, and durability.
Additionally, the tool is simple to use, comfortable to
operate, ultra smooth, and easy to maintain rendering it,
basically, a quality sanding essential.

Each of these sanders is sure to offer you striking results
and professionally fine finishes that will leave you
smiling after every use.

24th Feb 10