Makita BO5041 – Random Orbit Sander Review

This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, I might get a small commission for it at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Upcycle This DIY That!

While researching sanders, I recently came across the Makita BO5041 Random Orbital Sander kit. Because it doesn’t look like a typical palm /random orbit sander, I immediately had to check it out to gather some info that turned into this review.

This is another tool from a big and trusted Makita family. In brief, it looks great and has many positive Amazon reviews, but is it different from many other random orbital sanders?

Let’s dig a bit deeper and learn a bit more before parting with your money for a tool that is supposed to give you several years of great performance.

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

Wood Sanding Tips for Upcycling and Pallet Projects
Best Finishing/Sheet Sander-Buying Guide and Sanders Reviews
Best Random Orbital Sander – Buying Guide and Sander Reviews

Makita BO5041 Random Orbital Sander
  • Smoother and faster sanding with 3.0 AMP motor
  • Variable speed control dial (4,000-12,000 OPM) enables user to match the sanding speed to the application
  • Ergonomic rubberized palm grip and handle for improved operator comfort and control
  • Adjustable front handle allows for sanding in corners and confined areas
  • Large two-finger trigger switch with conveniently located lock-on button for continuous use and increased operator comfort

Power

If you’re looking for a compact but powerful random orbital sander to tackle the most demanding jobs, you should really consider getting this Makita.

The excellent quality hard plastic body houses a 3 Amp motor that has enough power that, even with some added pressure, will not bog down nor get hot. It will not slow down, and that’s a key factor for an evenly sanded surface.

This model has a variable speed ranging between 4000-12000 OPM. The dial is conveniently placed on top of a long handle and will let you easily adjust the speed accordingly to your needs/material type you working on.

Some say you shouldn’t expect high material removal when working at lower speeds, but that’s not what they’re for. They should be used for polishing, and yes, you can use polishing pads with this tool.

If you need to use it for removing poly or use it on rough wood pieces, then use fairly high speed with a high-quality sanding disc, like Mirka, with coarser grit for faster material removal.

At the highest speed is so easy to control you can do it with one finger! Not joking 🙂 It does run really smoothly.

Body

As I mentioned above, this sander, like all Makita tools, is made of high-quality materials. It has a hard plastic body for durability and rubberized handles(it’s got 3!) for easy control. These handles are what make it a little bit different from the rest of the palm sanders.

You can hold it in 3 different ways when working with one hand. You can hold it by the long handle or from the top like a regular palm sander, or you can wrap your hand around the body.

It also comes with an extra removable handle that can be moved around the body and can be secured in any position around its circumference. This knob is great for applying even pressure, and it comes in handy while sanding in the “corners” and tight spaces like cabinets.

Pad

Like in most compact random orbital sanders, this one has a 5 inches pad with a hook and loop system for quick disc change. This system is very strong and will last you ages you as long as you won’t abuse it. What do I mean by that?

Using dull discs which can get hot and melt the hooks or putting too much pressure on the tool, or both. Look after your tool, and will last you for years.

A 1/8″ random orbital radius gives you smoother results and fewer swirl marks, as well as decreases the possibility of over-sanding and burning the wood. At least, you have less chance than using a belt sander.

Dust collection

As with almost all sanders, the dust bag is more of a gimmick than a useful, working feature. It collects the dust relatively well when clean and empty and only when running the sander at high speed for a few minutes.

When at lower speeds, it doesn’t seem to be working at all. I mean, it’s still better than working with a bare tool, but you won’t get a dustless environment.

Does it change when you hook it up to a shop vac? Dramatically. The dust level collection is near perfect even when operating at lower speeds.  The only drawback is that the kit doesn’t come with a shop vac hose or adapter.

Tip: It connects to the 2 1/2″ diameter hoses. Instead of pulling the whole dust canister off, just remove the bag itself. The vacuum hose fits right inside it. It is a little clumsy, and if you have a stiff vacuum hose, you might need to rig up something to keep the hose from falling off.

Vibrations

As you would expect from Makita, the vibration levels are extremely low from the lowest to highest speed settings. Working with this tool for hours won’t cause you any stress, and even with arthritis or carpal tunnel, you shouldn’t have any problems using it.

Other features

Makita BO5041k, as one of the few random orbit sanders, has a trigger switch. It is important when your work involves a lot of starting and stopping. To complement the trigger, there is a safety lock conveniently located nearby.

What it does it allows you to lock the trigger in the ON position for even better control and easier operation whenever you don’t want to use the long handle.

The pad control system for controlled pad speed during startup and a pad brake system engineered to reduce gouging are other features that make this tool fantastic. 

Oversized sealed-ball bearing construction for longer tool life and double insulation is worth mentioning, as well as a cooling system that is well-engineered for long-life service.

  • 3 Amp motor for more power
  • Variable speed for better control
  •  Low vibrations for user comfort
  • Long handle and extra removable foregrip that can be set in any position around the body
  • Lightweight
  •  Fantastic dust collection with a shop vac attached
  • No shop vac adapter is included in the kit
  • Poor dust collection with the dust bag, especially at lower speeds

Verdict

Makita BO5041 random orbital sander is a fantastic tool, even for commercial/professional use. It has plenty of power for any job. The speed can be easily adjusted to match different tasks.

It’s lightweight and made of quality materials. Comfortable to use and has nice smooth sanding action.

It’s easy to control, and extra foregrip makes it even easier. Heavy duty case makes a nice addition. Overall I recommend Makita BO5041 to anyone who needs a great reliable tool in their collection.

Subscribe To My FREE DIY Newsletter!

Stay in touch and receive things like updates, special offers, new projects, tips, gear reviews, and more. No spam, promise!

By entering your email address, you agree to get an email newsletter from UpcycleThisDIYThat. I’ll respect your privacy, and you can unsubscribe at any time. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Similar Posts

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *