I've had the opportunity to extensively
test three random-orbit circular
sanders — a Bosch model
3283DVS, a Porter-Cable model
7334, and a Marshco sanding head
on a 4-inch angle grinder. After
using all three sanders in my stairbuilding
business for a period of several
months, I find that each one
can cut the time I spend finishsanding
by at least 30 percent.
Sanding across grain is possible
without leaving sander marks, so
nosing returns are no longer a problem.
And the resulting finish is
noticeably smoother than with a
palm sander. I didn't get swirl marks
on oak with 120-grit or finer paper,
and with 80-grit paper, the marks
were very slight.
Different Strokes
Each of the sanders I reviewed
differs in