Building your own furniture is a great feeling, but being able to give it smooth corners and round pieces is an extra level of craftsman most of us dream of. Bench sanders allow us to do just that. Not only do you get the ability to make your work smooth but you can also finely reshape material in a matter of seconds without ever turning on a saw.
Bench sanders come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. For instance, belt sanders are best for general removal of material and to make convex surfaces. Disc sanders are more for fine tuning a rounded corner, and oscillating sanders are primarily used for concave sanding.
In a rush? Here are our top picks!
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If you’ve ever tried browsing for workshop tools, you may have been struck by analysis paralysis. What features do I need? Is this one worth the extra $27? But my neighbor swears by this other brand!
Studies show that having more options to pick from isn’t always better. In fact, increased choices decrease our happiness as buyers. (source)
Picking the best tools can be exhausting, so we’re here to help. Here are the bench sanders on the market today.
Rockwell Belt/Disc Combo Sander
The Rockwell Belt/Disc Combo Sander is about as simple and as budget friendly as it gets for this incredibly versatile tool. The belt sander part of this tool is optimally placed horizontally so you can evenly sand your projects without needing to push into the belt, just let gravity do the work.
The small 6 inch disc sander is just right for fine detail sanding. Whether you are squaring a pen blank or rounding the corner of a table leg, this disc sander can get the job done. However, be aware, the small working table may not provide the level of support for larger projects. You can always screw the sander down onto your work bench and support your work with a roller stand.
There are some quality issues with this product, but that is to be expected for such a low price point. If you are on a strict budget or if your sanding needs are limited, this bench sander will do, but for larger projects and a longer lasting bench sander it would be best to purchase a higher quality sander.
There are still plenty of satisfied customers who purchased this sander and have had no issues. Check out this customer’s review who seems to run a small production wood shop, “I’m loving this bench top sander setup. We make a lot of small wood craft items for home decor in our shop and frequently have small pieces that need a quick sanding and this is helping speed things through our production much quicker. It’s quiet, reasonably powerful and paper changes aren’t too complicated. Real happy with our purchase!” Read the full review here.
- [HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL SANDING] The spacious 4” x 36” belt platform raises and lowers from 0-90° to accommodate almost any project
- [BEVEL EDGES] The sanding table adjusts from 0-45° for smoothing out beveled edges—you’ll have the nicest picture frames in the business
- [HEAVY INDUCTION MOTOR] Powerful 4.3-amp motor provides plenty of power to sand down all your woodworking projects
- [EASY BELT CHANGES] Quick-release tension lever lets you easily change out sandpaper grits for different projects
- [SAFETY SWITCH] Prevents accidental starts so you can confidently leave your shop when you’re done for the day and not have to worry
Porter-Cable PCB420SA Belt with 8″ Disc Bench Sander, 4″ x 36″
This Porter-Cable Bench Sander is a great choice as a reliable bench sander in your workshop. This equipment needs to be over engineered to withstand the forces of the high speed moving parts. Porter-Cable designed this sander to perform without fail which is evident by sturdy construction of every piece on this sander especially the cast iron base.
This sander is ready for any project. The support tables may seem a little small but most projects fit well enough on the space provided. Both of the tables are fully adjustable and easily removable to replace any of the sanding surfaces. The belt sander can also be laid down horizontally to allow you so round out material.
Dust collection is something some of us only think about after we’ve made a big mess but Porter-Cable makes it easy with an adjustable dust collection port and an included bag. Trust me, it makes a difference especially if you work in any sort of enclosed area.
The price may seem a little steep for a simple bench sander but as this gentleman says, “I am pretty sure it will last longer than I will.” Check out his full review here.
- Powerful ball bearing 3/4 HP induction motor provides power for small and large sanding operations on various materials
- Separate aluminum tables for sanding disc and belt with miter gauge
- Cast Iron base reduces vibration and helps keep the sander stable during use
- Sanding belt tilts up to 90 degrees vertical, unsupported underside allows for sanding of curved work pieces
- Dust collection system with included dust bag and adjustable port, keeps work are cleaner
JET J-41002 2″x42″ Bench Belt and Disc Sander (577004)
The JET Bench Sander is a very shop friendly tool. As you can easily tell from the design of this sander, it is meant for smaller projects and for those with unique geometries. The belt sander portion is thinner than most are used to but it works well. The extra space behind and around the belt sander is for those projects which need a bit more room to work on.
The one downfall is that the table needs to be removed to replace the sanding belt. This can be a nuisance, but you can also modify the table like this reviewer has done here.
If you feel the price point is a bit much for something like this, then just read the testimonials of customers like this who vouches for quality over cheap bargains. Check out what he has to say, “This belt sander has POWER, does not bog down no matter what. I am so so happy with it. I have owned machines 2 and 3 times it’s price and this one in my opinion is as good if not better.” Read the full review here.
- Durability: Cast construction and heavy-duty steel base
- Ease of Use: Deluxe miter gauge turns and locks for common angles, 45° both left and right
- Handles Odd Shapes: Abrasive belt removes material and finishes at the same time, allowing the operator to get into small openings
- Removable Platen: Allows for sanding, grinding or finishing of outside curves or odd shaped work pieces on the belt
- JET Red Assurance Guarantee: Backed by JET's industry-leading two-year warranty against manufacturing defects
RIKON Professional Power Tools 6” x 48” Belt with 10” Disc Sander, 50-122
The RIKON Professional Bench Sander is a perfect addition to your work shop. The size of this sander is just right for a small business or a personal workshop. Though it does weigh a bit more than some of the other sanders, 87 pounds, it is still super easy to use especially because you can use a simple 110V outlet to power it. That’s right, other heavy duty sanders can require a 220V outlet which requires a special outlet.
The design of this sander is great for a small shop. It is equipped with its own stand which allows you to free up some space on your bench. The disc sander table is also large enough for medium sized projects. The belt sander is also easy to use to round your pieces since you can lay it horizontally.
Make sure to check out this review here, this customer has some excellent guidance on prolonging the life of your sander. He also says, “I also put two wheels on the front end, and handles on the back end so I can wheel it around. The height is perfect for me, so I didn’t want to put it on casters. It is relatively quiet, smooth, and all is running true and I am satisfied.” The bench sander requires some modifications but not much to make it a super great tool.
- HIGH POWER - This large 1HP motor delivers superior power for driving the sanding belt and disc without stalling.
- BELT AND DISC SANDER - With a 6” x 48” belt and 10” disc this sander from Rikon Tools has the strength and capacity to complete all of the sanding you may need.
- TILTING - The disc table for this sander tilts 0-90 degrees allowing precise sanding of even the sharpest angles.
- ADJUSTABLE - The belt can be adjusted from the horizontal to vertical position for whatever your work needs may be.
- SPEED - This high speed sanding disc can reach the speed of 2510 RPM, and the belt speed maximum is 1836 FPM.
WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
The WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander is a very unique bench sander. Most bench sanders are belt and disc sanders. The Wen bench sander is a belt and spindle sander. This tool allows you to sand both concave and convex curves with the same tool.
It is a highly compact piece of equipment, you can store all of the sanding drums right onto the frame of the sander and never misplace a single item. Changing out the drums between spindle sizes and belt sander is super easy and quick. This tool builds efficiency into your workshop by being highly user friendly.
This customer is right on the money for this type of equipment, “I’m certain the big heavy machines would be right for a production environment but a believe this machine will last me perhaps a lifetime with my predicted use.” Read the full review here. This equipment is not for production lines but will certainly suffice for a small shop or home workshop. Give it a chance and maybe your thoughts will be different.
- Features 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch and 2 inch sanding drum sizes and one 4 x 24 inch belt
- Operate with belt speeds up to 1575 FPM and spindle speeds up to 2000 RPM
- The 3.5-amp motor oscillates the belt and spindle 58 times per minute with a 5/8-inch stroke
- Onboard storage maintains organization of all accessories and sandpapers
- Includes a beveling work table, five throat plates, four rubber sanding drums, one belt sanding attachment and six pieces of 80-grit sandpaper (one for each size spindle/belt)
Buyer’s Guide
What to Consider
Weight
Most bench sanders are at least 30 pounds, anything lighter is too flimsy to handle the forces you’ll be using to sand your work. The weight is actually a good trait for bench sanders, it helps keep the machine steady as you move your work on the table to sand it down. These tools are not meant to be portable, where you place them should be their permanent home till your retire the equipment.
Power
Bench sanders can be placed under quite a bit of stress especially if you are using high density materials like metal or exotic hardwoods. For this reason, you need to make sure your equipment is fitted with a sufficiently powerful motor to take the load. It is no good if you are able to stop the belt from spinning by some routing sanding. The best way to avoid this is to ensure the sander you choose has a rated power of at least 1/4 horsepower.
Versatility
Bench sanders come in many different shapes and sizes but the most common are belt, disc, and spindle sanders. These all serve different purposes and allow you to achieve different sanding techniques. The most versatile tool we found was the WEN Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander. This is rated as the most versatile because not many other brands have this sort of hybrid lineup which allows you to do both convex and concave sanding.
The other most versatile use feature is a belt sander which can be laid down or stood up. The two orientations provide very different functions. A vertical belt sander is great for large material removal and can even be used for fine detailed sanding. A horizontal belt sander is used for rounding material such as a wooden drawer handles. A belt sander which changes orientation is another great feature to look for.
Ease of Use
What you need to keep in mind is that you’ll need to replace the sand paper at some point. We once had a disc sander where removing the sandpaper was a two day operation. Because of the way the equipment was assembled, we had to remove the table, use a heat gun to remove the adhesive and then use goo-gone and denatured alcohol to remove the adhesive from the spinning disc. Yep, quite a long process. So keep in mind that bigger is not always better. Think about how you are going to service the machine and what you are prepared to do.
Dust Collector
A dust collector is an essential piece to this puzzle. If you’ve never used a disc or belt sander before then you are in for a surprise. Not only do these sander produce lots of dust, they also expel it at a high velocity so it has a tendency to get all over your workshop or garage. A dust collecting port with a simple bag attached catches most of the dust and keeps it from becoming a giant mess. An upgrade I’ve seen a few times is connecting a shop vac, like this, to the dust collection port for easy removal and containment of the dust.
Final Thoughts
The choice is yours on which bench sander you choose for your workshop. Only you know what your needs are and what will suit your work. Don’t let the fancy brands get in the way of your decision. First fulfill the needs which you have then branch out to the extra features. One thing is certain, bench sanders are an essential tool for any workshop.
I hope you now feel confident in selecting your next bench sander. Good luck.
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