Best palm sander?

Heck | Posted in Tools for Home Building on March 16, 2007 04:57am

My last rockwell 1/4 sheet palm sander just died, so which one is the one to replace it?

_______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die
embarrassed. – Fezzik the giant

IdahoDon | Mar 16, 2007 05:29am | #1
I like the semi-hard pad on the Makita more than the thick cushy pads that many others use. Trying to sand nice sharp edges seems to be easier without a mushy pad.

Good sanding

Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
frenchy | Mar 16, 2007 05:50am | #2
Heck,

Let me second the Mikita. when it was last tested it was quietest, sanded fastest, vibrated least.. I like the round self sticking pads because I wear them out so quick in what I do that it's a few seconds to rip one off and stick another one on.. but if you have the patience for 1/4 sheet Mikita makes one of those too..

Heck | Mar 16, 2007 05:55am | #4
Idaho and frenchy- I will take a look at the makita, I've had good luck with makita tools in the past._______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

Heck | Mar 16, 2007 06:05am | #6
The porter cable looks like the one I had that just died. I thought it was a rockwell. I'd have to go look now, maybe it was a porter cable? I always liked the grip and feel, but the sander always needed a 'warm-up' period before it got up to speed. It would help if you shook it. Afterward, your arm up to the elbow would be numb.

Maybe I had a couple of bad ones from the get-go?

Anyway, now they're gone, time for something new.

Thanks._______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant
BryanSayer | Mar 16, 2007 04:14pm | #11
I second the Speed Blok. Much less vibration than the other three I have had, and it is well balanced, moves around easily.

Heck | Mar 17, 2007 03:45am | #14
I took a look at my old speed block, it is a Rockwell. Maybe Porter-Cable bought Rockwell?_______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

Heck | Mar 16, 2007 06:08am | #7
Have you tried the bosch model?_______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

IMERC | Mar 16, 2007 07:49am | #8
Milwaukee has it all over the Bosch...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

Heck | Mar 16, 2007 03:57pm | #10
Metabo is good stuff, I'll check it out._______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

Southbay | Mar 16, 2007 08:16pm | #12
I have an inexpensive Chicago sold by Harbor Freight. It's orange and takes the velcro pads with a point, like a small clothes iron. I like the shape and the pointed pad gets into tight spots pretty well. I don't think the pad is too soft or too hard. You can use the edges as well as the point, but if you favor these parts of the pad the sandpaper quickly wears out. Currently refinishing some solid maple bedroom furniture with it. Does a great job.

Haven't tried any of the major brands though. Most of my other hand power tools are Milwaukee.
Jer | Mar 17, 2007 04:38am | #15
Porter Cable bought that model and slapped their name on it. I had the original Rockwell bought back in...'78. a real workhorse, but eventually after 25 or so years gave up the ghost like yours. i hve the Porter Cable speed block and the makita along with 2 RO Porter Cables. Good tools all.

dovetail97128 | Mar 17, 2007 09:36am | #17
Rockwell sold two different versions of the same "Speedbloc" sander.
One had a larger motor then the other and would start immediatly while the smaller motor always took time to "warm up " as you said.
I owned both for awhile , discovered the difference and swapped a dumb drywaller the small one for a good Milwaukee drywall screw gun.
Still own the other one, but have converted to using the random orbits now.

MikeCallahan | Mar 17, 2007 05:09pm | #19
Those sheet sanders are obsolete. Go with a RO disc sander. They don't leave little swirls and are aggressive enough to make most belt sanders obsolete too. The sheet sanders might seem like the economical alternative but ...wrong.

Mike Callahan, Lake Tahoe, Ca.

Heck | Mar 18, 2007 03:49pm | #21
Exactly._______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

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