Bosch Home and Garden Random Orbit Sander PEX 220 A (220 W, in carton packaging)

Product Information

The weight isn’t enough to factor too much and importantly, the battery doesn’t impede when gripping the sander. The active dust extraction is very good – aided by a skirt around the sanding pad – but you can attach this sander to a vacuum hose, too. Those looking for a no-nonsense, corded random orbital sander without breaking the bank should try the PEX 220 A from Bosch. It’s an excellent-value option that will happily get to work on a range of different sanding tasks from stairs to sculptures. Taking advantage of Makita’s excellent Lithium-ion Extreme Technology (LXT), they’ve put the power of 18V AC into a lightweight and sturdy little frame. This cordless sander is a bit heavier compared to the cordless DeWalt DCW210N-XJ. But it’s still incredibly easy to handle thanks to the clever grip shape and balance that allows for precision control. But don’t press too hard. A great mantra for using any piece of equipment is “let the tool do the work”. Your sanding discs will last longer, and you won’t get nearly as tired.

Manchester-based homewares and DIY champions VonHaus have made it their business to come up with one of the best budget random orbital sanders you can get your hands on. And with a large, adjustable front grip, you can definitely get both hands involved in your next big job. An orbital sander (or random orbit sander) performs the hard work of sanding for you; it’ll extract the dust and help to reduce scratches, all in a compact and comfortable palm grip tool. Why the Random Orbit Makes a DifferenceRandom orbital sanders are reasonably light in weight but for cordless tools don’t forget to factor in the battery weight – larger capacity batteries weigh more. VH1622A and VH1635A (by means of anti-static adapter included with those hoses), VAC008, and most other 35 mm and 22 mm anti-static hoses The best orbital sanders you can buy in 2023 1. Makita DBO180Z: Best cordless random orbital sander

Another big name in Japanese tools, Ryobi is aimed squarely at the DIY market. Their ONE+ system of battery sharing means everything from your lawnmower to your air compressor runs on just one battery type. In steps the orbital sander. As it sounds, instead of moving in a predictable way that can lead to scratch marks, the path of the sanding pad is randomised with an offset cam that creates ellipses as well as standard rotations. Sounds complicated, but it’s basically a wobbly head that means you don’t get those irritating tiny looping scratches common to detail sanders. Get a Grip You might also want to consider whether you already have a battery that might fit a cordless sander. Many brands have interchangeable systems so a battery from your drill might work in a sander if they’re part of the same ecosystem. This is partly why sanders are available to buy without batteries (in other words, body only). How much do I need to spend? Of course, one major consideration is whether the sander is wired and plugs into mains power or is cordless and runs from a battery. Neither option is simply better than the other, so it comes down to how and where you’ll be using the sander.The 280 Watt variable speed motor spins up the 125 mm sanding pad to 8,000-12,000 orbits per minute (opm). This powerful orbital sander makes short work of sanding jobs and preparing surfaces for painting. Weighing in at less than 1.3 kg, it’s easy to handle but still feels good and solid.

It’s very lightweight and easy to use, with different ways to grip it. It’s not massively powerful and only has one speed but these are normal attributes and it does what it’s supposed to do very well. VH1022, VH1035 and VH1635 (by means of VX120 adapter included with those hoses), VAC005 and VAC006 hoses, and most other 22 mm and 35 mm hoses The 220 Watt motor isn’t quite as meaty as the Makita, but it still spins the 125 mm sanding pad up to 24,000 opm. Not bad for an orbital sander that’s less than half the price. It is a single-speed power sander though, which might put some off, but it’s a good all-round speed for sanding. At 1.2 kg, it competes with the best random orbit sanders on the list and takes the standard hook-and-loop sanding pads you can find just about anywhere. The best thing about this orbital sander is the grip. The rubber overmoulding has been cleverly designed to fit your hand and reduce vibration as much as possible. This is a vital feature that turns an ordinary orbital sander into one of the best I’ve had a chance to test out.The all-important part of an orbital sander is the grip, and you can tell Bosch have thought hard about ergonomics here. This Bosch sander is nice to hold, and the rubberised overmoulding is in all the right places for grip and vibration dampening. The Makita BO5031 is one of the best random orbit sanders from one of the world’s favourite Japanese tool brands. As with any power tool, practice makes perfect, but there are a few techniques I use to get the most out of my random orbital sander: Even better than a built-in dust compartment (if you have a power supply nearby) is the ability to attach the sander to a vacuum cleaner hose. That active suction will reduce the amount of dust a lot in comparison.