Fixed orbit, not random orbit
The pad of a sheet or detail sander moves in a small orbit but does not spin, so the abrasive follows a fixed pattern. Makita calls its machines finishing sanders and gives their speed in orbits per minute — 14,000 for the quarter-sheet BO4556. A random orbit sander adds a free spin to the orbit and uses a round pad; see random orbital sanders. Names cross over: Milwaukee sells a 3 in random orbital machine as a 'random orbital detail sander', so read the pad and motion, not the name.
Pads, paper and reach
| Model | Pad | Paper | Speed | Attachment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita BO4556 | 4-3/8 × 4 in (quarter sheet) | Cut sheet | 14,000 orbits/min | Clamped sheet |
| Makita BO3710 | 3-5/8 × 7-1/4 in (third sheet) | 3-5/8 × 9 in | 11,000 orbits/min (BO3711: 4,000–11,000) | Clamped sheet |
| DEWALT DWE6411 | Quarter sheet | Quarter sheet | 14,000 OPM | Paper clamp; punch included |
| BLACK+DECKER MOUSE BDEMS600 | Delta detail pad | Shaped hook-and-loop paper | 14,000 orbits/min | Hook-and-loop; detail finger attachment |
From Makita's manuals, DEWALT's page and BLACK+DECKER's page. DEWALT's DCW200 manual gives quarter sheets as 4-1/2 × 5-1/2 in.
- Sheet sanders take paper cut from standard sheets and clamp it; their square corners and straight sides sand right up to an inside edge where a round pad cannot. A third-sheet pad, like Makita's BO3710, covers a longer strip of a flat surface than a quarter-sheet.
- Detail sanders use a triangular pad. BLACK+DECKER describes the MOUSE's pad as for odd and awkward angles, with a finger attachment for hard-to-reach spots; it is a small-area tool, not one for whole panels.
- Paper and dust holes. Cut-sheet paper has no holes. DEWALT supplies a paper punch with its quarter-sheet sanders to perforate regular paper so that dust can be collected through the pad; use a punch only where the maker supplies or specifies one.
Equipment notePaid link
20V 1/4-sheet sander, tool only
DEWALT DCW200B
The quarter-sheet sander this section describes, sold as DEWALT's bare DCW200B: 4-1/2 × 5-1/2 in sheets and a punch to perforate regular paper.
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Where they fit
Sheet sanders suit flat surfaces, edges and inside corners of panels and frames; detail sanders the corners and small recesses nothing else reaches. Neither replaces a random orbital sander for general sanding of large surfaces, or a belt sander for removing stock. The grit sequence is the same for all of them — see how to sand wood and the grit chart. Battery models are compared in cordless palm and detail sanders.
Choosing a sheet or detail sander
- The surface: flat panel, inside edge or corner
- Pad size and shape, and the paper it takes
- Clamped sheets or hook-and-loop
- A punch, if the maker supplies one, for dust holes
- The dust bag or port
- Speed in the maker's own terms
Sources
Pad and paper sizes, speeds and attachments are each maker's for the model named. Retail listings for the MOUSE give 16,000 orbits per minute; BLACK+DECKER's own page gives 14,000, and the maker's figure is used. The delta pad's size is not published.
- 1.
Finishing Sander BO4555 / BO4556, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The BO4556 finishing sander's 112 × 102 mm (4-3/8 × 4 in) pad and 14,000 orbits per minute.
- 2.
Finishing Sander BO3710 / BO3711, Instruction Manual. Makita.
Used for: The BO3710/BO3711 finishing sanders' 93 × 185 mm (3-5/8 × 7-1/4 in) pad, 93 × 228 mm (3-5/8 × 9 in) paper, and 11,000 or 4,000–11,000 orbits per minute.
- 3.
DWE6411 1/4 Sheet Palm Grip Sander. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWE6411 1/4 sheet palm grip sander at 14,000 OPM, with a paper clamp, a dust bag and a paper punch included.
- 4.
DCW200 20V Max Brushless Quarter Sheet Sander, Instruction Manual. DEWALT.
Used for: The DCW200 quarter-sheet sander's 4-1/2 × 5-1/2 in sheets and the paper punch provided to perforate regular abrasive paper so that dust collection is possible.
- 5.
MOUSE Detail Sander, 1.2 Amp, Corded (BDEMS600). BLACK+DECKER.
Used for: The MOUSE detail sander's 14,000 orbits per minute, its detail pad for odd and awkward angles, a detail finger attachment, hook-and-loop paper and a dust canister.
- 6.
M12 FUEL 3" Random Orbital Detail Sander 2535-20. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: A 3 in random orbital machine sold by Milwaukee as a 'random orbital detail sander', as an example of overlapping names.
About this guide
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