Best Sander to Remove Paint

Removing old paint is not an easy nor pleasant task, as is sanding in general. It takes a good chunk of time and patience to achieve the results you want. So how to remove paint from wood in the most efficient way, you may ask?

You can try different stripping methods, but in the end, when you have several layers of gloss paint on top of some lacquer finish, the only way to get rid of it is a powerful sander.

The best sander to remove paint will have to be a powerful one with quite a few features to make this job easier and faster. If you want to know more about other paint removal methods, check my post on removing paint from wood.

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Now you have two choices. First, go for a belt sander, or second, get the random orbital sander.

The first one will do the job for sure, and if you have a lot of old/reclaimed wood-like pallets, I’d recommend getting one anyway. But if you only have a budget for one sander that is supposed to be versatile and used for other tasks, get the random orbital sander(RO).

Removing paint with a random orbital sander may not be as efficient as a belt sander, but you’re less likely to damage the wood surface with it.

Best random orbital sander to remove paint

This sander is a beast. With its 7.5 Amp of power, it will get your job faster and easier. You have to keep in mind that this sander could be a bit more difficult to control, especially if you don’t have much experience with random orbital sanders. The auxiliary handle that mounts on either side can help you with that, though.

Another thing great about this sander is the dual mode. You flip a switch, and turbo mode turns it into a very efficient, aggressive stock removal machine.

Pretty handy when you need to get rid of gazillion layers of paint, isn’t it? Flip it back, and you can easily finish off your piece with the finishing mode.

It has a variable speed for even more control with a Constant Response circuit that keeps the speed maintained under heavy loads and a vacuum port for dust collection and mess-free work. The body is built of solid materials, and all bearings and gears, as well as the switch, are sealed against dust for long durability.

This random orbital sander is a very impressive tool that will not disappoint you. One of the best sanders on the market, and it has many positive reviews on Amazon.

• 6 in sanding pad
• 7.5 Amp of power
• Great quality

If you’re looking for an excellent dust collection in your sander, this Festool sander will be perfect for you. Festool is a leader among power tools manufacturers, and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. But quality comes with a price tag, so be prepared to spend some bucks.

This Rotex random orbital sander has a 6-inch pad with 49(!) holes with the fastfix pad, which means tool-less and fast pad changes. No need to have many sanders with different grits on them. Just change the pad to one with different grit sandpaper, and you’re ready to go.

The powerful Multi-Jetstream dust collection will help you contain all the sanded paint, which is very important, especially when sanding old paint that might contain dangerous lead.

Minimal vibrations with electronic vibration control-great if you are working for long periods of time. An automatic dust extractor shut on/off, as well as consistent speed under pressure with MMC electronic controls, are some of the other great features that users love in this model.

This random orbit sander has a great balance and awesome control. As in the Bosch GET75-6N, bearings and gears are enclosed, so better protection against dust means longer tool life.

That’s not the only similarity to Bosch sander. It also and similar OPM, power, and a dual mode for aggressive stock removal or polishing and a random orbital mode for fine sanding. Overall great electric sander but a bit pricey.

• 6-in exchangeable pad
• 6 Amp of power
• Quality built

The vibration control suspension system in this random orbit sander is truly fantastic, and your hands will thank you for it. When it comes to dust collection, it has two dust collection systems.

The first is a micro-filter dust canister with an integrated paper filter and screw-off cap, and the second – is a vacuum hose connection with airflow control. Both of them fasten easily to the port.

For removing paint, I’d recommend using a shop vac with an appropriate HEPA filter every time.

Bosch ROS65VC-6 supports two pad sizes, 5-in(with 6 holes) and 6-in (with 8 holes) one, so you get a very versatile tool. Both pads are included so you can hit the ground running straight away.

This electric sander is fast and feels great. Variable speed and multiple grips on the body(including the removable handle at the front) make it a very efficient tool for multiple applications. Although it only has 3.3 Amps of power, I think, in this case, it is enough to tackle any paint removal job you throw at it.

It’s a great tool, but if you’re willing to spend that kind of money, I’d throw in a few more bucks and get the Bosch GET75-6N. Mostly because of the dual mode, which makes removing paint and other sanding tasks a lot faster and easier.

• 5 and 6-inch pads
• Amazing vibration control
• 2 dust collection systems

Best Belt Sander For removing paint

Even though it isn’t cheap, you may wonder whether the price is fair. However, this sander is one of the best in its category and will help you quickly accomplish many sanding tasks, including paint removal.

The 11 Amp motor, wide 4 inches belt, and 1640 ft/min speed allow for faster stock removal and greater speed maintenance under load, which is excellent news when it comes to sanding off old paint.

Great power combined with a wide belt and speed means better and faster performance saving you precious time.

You can use this sander on hard and softwoods, as well as other materials. The unique labyrinth construction protects the motor and bearings from debris contamination so that it will last you a long time.

Despite being a powerful tool, this sander is one of the quietest on the market at only 84 dB and will even allow you to work without ear protection, not that I recommend that, anyway.

Because of the lack of variable speed, this sander’s capacity for versatility is somewhat limited. But use it with a grit lower than 80 with a speed of 1640 ft /min. You’ll get excellent stock removal properties. Put on 100 grit, and you’ll end up with a beautifully polished surface. Don’t expect random orbit sanders or finishing sanders, though. It’s still a belt sander.

This sander has a dust bag and a strong blower that will keep the sanding dust away from the sanded surface, as well as a 360-degree swivel that lets you angle it out of the way to get a better view.

For little jobs, this bag should be sufficient. However, if you want to do bigger things like sanding a decking or removing paint, you’ll need to connect it to a dust collection system such as a shop vac or even just a hose with the bucket.

The Jelas BS02 is a great deal for a sander with so much to offer. It offers many features that more expensive belt sanders have at a lower price, including a 7 Amp power motor and variable speed.

Let’s have a closer look.

Variable speed is controlled by a 6-speed dial located on the handle. You may select speeds ranging from 120 to 400 rpm, allowing you to adjust it for the task you want to perform. The speed lock allows you to set it at the desired level without requiring you to constantly hold the trigger.

It will make holding the sander more comfortable and will give you more control over the tool itself.

The belt is 3×21 inches, which makes it smaller than Makita 9403 but adequate for most sanding applications. Even the rough pallet’s plank surfaces or removing layers of old paint will be easily sanded with the 7 Amp motor.

The sanding belt’s quick release makes changing them simpler and quicker. Extra belts (2 pcs of P40, P60, P80, P120, and P180grit aluminum oxide) are included with the sander, saving you money and allowing you to hit the ground running as soon as it arrives.

Another useful feature to consider is the ability to fix it to a table and use it as a tabletop sanding platform. You use the screw clamps provided. This is ideal for sanding disassembled pallet planks and gives you more flexibility.

This sander is lighter than the Makita, weighing only 9.5 pounds. There are two benefits to this. The first is that it makes the tool more portable and convenient to use. Second, it allows users to work on vertical surfaces without strain or fatigue.

The disadvantage is that, in most cases, the weight of a belt sander aids in the removal of stock.

It has a built-in dust collector box for removing dust, which works well enough, but if you want to take it to the next level, connect it to a shop vac. This is especially handy for paint removal. You shouldn’t have any issues with this since it comes with a 2-in-1 (35mm and 32mm) vacuum dust adaptor.

What to look for in the best sander to remove paint

#1. Power

Removing paint, especially old multiple layers of it, requires great power, so when looking for a sander for this kind of work, make sure it’s got enough Amps to do the job. Most of the 5in sanders will have something around 3 Amp, but if you can, go for 6-in ones with at least 6 Amp of power. They will be great for heavy usage and will last longer.

#2. Variable speed

When choosing a sander for removing paint, variable speed will give you more control, especially when sanding a painted surface that is not even/flat.

#3.  Speed lock

This feature is great, full stop. It allows you to hold on to your sander more freely and focus on the task at hand. When choosing the sander, look for a speed lock that will lock at any speed, not only the highest.

#4. Good vacuum collection system for collecting old sanded paint

I think this is one of the most important features when it comes to sanding painted surfaces. Ensure the vacuum attachment stays attached and the dust bag/canister collects most of the dust.

Another thing to pay attention to is the option to attach the shop vac. Even better, make sure you’re using a HEPA filter with your shop vac as well.

#5. Low vibrations

I don’t think I have to explain this one. Working long hours with a sander shouldn’t leave your hands numb, so look for one with vibration control for more comfortable sanding and more control.

Conclusion

When choosing the best sander to remove paint, you want something that will do the job fast and hustle-free. All of these sanders are great tools and will do the job in question without a doubt. They all have amazing user reviews and will last ages.

Bosch GET75-6N would be my pick in this case as it has nearly all of Festool’s features at half of the price. And it’s more versatile compared to a belt sander.

However, If you think that you need more choices or have a smaller budget, I’ve written an extensive buying guide on random orbital sanders, and you’re more than welcome to have a look. I hope you’ll find something for yourself there.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API