Three sanders by their published figures
| Model | Pad | Orbit or stroke | Speed | Dust interface | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch ROS20VSC | 5 in, hook-and-loop | Orbit diameter 3/32 in; eccentric offset 3/64 in | 7,500–12,000 OPM, no load | Microfilter canister; adapter for 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 in hose | 3.5 lb |
| DEWALT DWE6423 | 4-7/8 in pad for 5 in discs; 8-hole | Orbit 3/32 in | 8,000–12,000 OPM | Locking bag; port for DEWALT extractors | 46.4 oz |
| Festool ETS EC 125/3 | 5 in (125 mm) | Sanding stroke 3 mm | 6,000–10,000 RPM | 27 mm extraction connection | 3.31 lb |
From Bosch's, DEWALT's and Festool's product pages. Each maker's terms are kept; the orbit and speed columns are not a common scale. What each term means is in the random orbital sander guide.
Equipment notePaid link
Random-orbit sander
DEWALT DWE6423
One of the three sanders in the table above: a 4-7/8 in pad for 5 in discs, a 3/32 in orbit and 8,000–12,000 OPM, by DEWALT's figures.
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What to compare
- Pad and disc. Discs are bought to the pad: its diameter, its attachment (hook-and-loop on all three here) and its hole pattern. DEWALT's is 8-hole; Milwaukee's manual says to line the disc's holes up with the pad's, and a disc whose holes do not match blocks the dust path. See choosing sandpaper.
- Orbit or stroke. Bosch and DEWALT both state a 3/32 in orbit diameter; Festool states a 3 mm sanding stroke, which it says is designed for superfine sanding. Compare orbits only where both makers state the same measurement.
- Speed range. All three are variable. The figures are the makers' — OPM for Bosch and DEWALT, RPM for Festool, no-load for Bosch — and describe each machine's range, not how fast it removes wood.
- Dust interface. A canister, a bag and a hose connection to an extractor are three different systems. If you will connect a shop vacuum or extractor, check that its hose fits the port or the maker's adapter. OSHA's preferred control is exhaust at the source.
- Weight and features. Weights are the makers' figures, in their units. Bosch lists a pad-dampening brake, which it says helps prevent swirl marks.
Before buying
Decide first whether the sander will be corded or battery-powered — battery sanders are compared in cordless random orbital sanders, and 3 in machines in mini random orbital sanders. If the job is not general sanding, the right machine may be another type altogether: see choosing a sander. Technique is in using a random orbital sander.
Before buying a random orbital sander
- Pad diameter, attachment and hole pattern — and discs you can buy for it
- Orbit or stroke, with the maker's definition
- Speed range and how it is controlled
- Bag, canister or hose port, and whether your hose fits
- Weight, in the maker's figure
- The manual's rules on dust and abrasive changes
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own, from its product page, for the model named. Orbit, stroke, OPM and RPM are each maker's terms and are not compared across makers. No sander was tested, none is ranked, and no prices are given.
- 1.
ROS20VSC 5 In. Random Orbit Sander/Polisher. Bosch.
Used for: The ROS20VSC's 5 in hook-and-loop pad, 3/32 in orbit diameter and 3/64 in eccentric offset, 7,500–12,000 OPM no-load, pad-dampening brake, microfilter canister, hose adapter for 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 in hoses, and 3.5 lb weight.
- 2.
DWE6423 5-in Variable-Speed Random Orbit Sander. DEWALT.
Used for: The DWE6423's 4-7/8 in pad for 5 in discs with an 8-hole pattern, 3/32 in orbit, 8,000–12,000 OPM, locking dust bag, port for DEWALT extractors, and 46.4 oz weight.
- 3.
Random Orbital Sander ETS EC 125/3 EQ-Plus. Festool.
Used for: The ETS EC 125/3's 5 in (125 mm) pad, 3 mm sanding stroke, 6,000–10,000 RPM, 27 mm extraction connection and 3.31 lb weight.
- 4.
M18 Random Orbit Sander 2648-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: Hook-and-loop discs fitted with their holes lined up with the pad's.
- 5.
Wood Dust: Possible Solutions. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Used for: Exhaust ventilation at the source as the preferred control for wood dust.
About this buying guide
Written by BenchRoot Editorial. How BenchRoot sources, checks and corrects its pages is set out in the Editorial Policy. If something here is wrong or unclear, the contact page explains how to tell us.