# REVIEW: Eight Random Orbital Sanders **URL:** \ **Category:** Builder's Forum\ **Created:** [October 19, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798 "2010-10-19T12:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_C\_Harris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.clcboats.com/john_c_harris/32/760_2.png) [@John\_C\_Harris](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/John_C_Harris)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/1 "2010-10-19T12:59:01Z")
  A review of eight random orbital sanders that we've been using in the shop and classroom for the last ten years. [Click Here](http://www.clcboats.com/life-of-boats-blog/boat-builder-random-orbital-sander-roundup.html) ![](http://www.clcboats.com/images/blog/sanding/Fein-MSF-636-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Thaler](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.clcboats.com/daniel_thaler/32/313_2.png) [@Daniel\_Thaler](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Daniel_Thaler)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/2 "2010-10-19T13:15:16Z")
I have the larger Dewalt hooked to the Festool vac. Works great! No dust! Dan ---
**Author:** ![Patrick\_Mcfadden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Patrick\_Mcfadden](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Patrick_Mcfadden)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/3 "2010-10-19T20:45:25Z")
I use the same combo as Dan. I have the variable speed DeWalt sander, and it’s been going strong for 4 years in my professional woodshop. I’ve tried most of 'em, but the DeWalt is reliable,  controllable, and the dust collection is near 100% with the Festool vac. Plus, I can buy sandpaper and replacement pads at Home Depot. I have (and like) the big Festool RO 150, but it’s too big and aggressive for kayak work. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Camp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Mark\_Camp](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mark_Camp)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/4 "2010-10-20T07:52:43Z")
Outstanding review, John, a real service to us CLC customers.  Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_Short](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@Joseph\_Short](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Joseph_Short)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/5 "2010-10-21T14:37:16Z")
Great review!  I’ve had good luck with the Porter Cable sanders, the hook and loop disks are very inexpensive by the box so I don’t worry about swapping them out as soon as they get dull.  The BEST thing I ever did was add a Dust Deputy (NFI) to my setup, it’s a cyclonic dust separator the sits between your sander and shop vac.  It captures nearly 100% of the fine epoxy dust before it gets to the shop vac, haven’t had to clean my shop vac filter in hours of sanding.  ---
**Author:** ![Rod\_Jenkins1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Rod\_Jenkins1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Rod_Jenkins1)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/6 "2010-11-02T09:08:51Z")
I am about to purchase a sander and think I will pick up the DeWalt 26451 at Lowes for $59.97.  Is there an advantage to the Variable speed vs the one speed model? Thanks Rod Jenkins ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Harms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mark\_Harms](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mark_Harms)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/review-eight-random-orbital-sanders/37798/7 "2010-11-02T23:22:42Z")
In my shop I have all rendom orbit sanders. Porter cable, Makita, Bosh, old rockwell, and Rigid. I budget one sander a year in my shop I like to test drive them to death. I have test driven almost all the sanders and keep only the ones that work well for a left hander and hook up easy  to a vacume. They are all 5 inch with hook and loop. The fien and festool are far to expensive !! My favorit of all time is the 5 inch Rigid ! Dewalt didn't make the grade in my shop to much vibration and not comfortable for a left hander. Have had to replace bearings in the bosh and makitas. Bosh is agressive but uncomfortable for a lefty.