Sanders

When it comes to angle grinders, it’s a good idea to think the purchase through. They’re the basis of most home metalworking and paired with a decent welder; they’re essential. Spending a bit of extra time sorting out which is the best for you will end up helping a lot in the future.

Fortunately for you, we tested 12 different models of angle grinders to bring you the best. Read on, and we’ll show you how we picked them and which ones were up to the tests that we laid out. Not every grinder is perfect, but we’ve found some for every level of craftsman.

If there’s one sander that you need to make sure is in your kit, it’s a random orbital sander. Ranking in power somewhere between the heavy-duty belt sander and the smaller finishing sander, they’re a versatile tool that can do most sanding tasks around the home and in the workshop.

The question, then, is how to find the best random orbital sander around. Fortunately for you, we tested out nine models of random orbital sanders to bring you the five best currently on the market. Check out our favorite then read on to see what qualities we used to make our final picks.

Benchtop sanders aren’t the first thing on most people’s minds when they’re looking for tools, but they’re a valuable addition to any workshop. A belt-disc combination sander adds a surprising amount of extra capabilities for those who can afford to give up bench space for one. Finding the best belt-disc sander is right in our wheelhouse, so we tested 12 different models over the course of two days to see how they compared and bring you only the best.

Plasterboard. Drywall. Whatever you want to call it, this material makes up the bulk of residential construction these days. It’s also quite easy to work with, especially if you’re just patching things up. There’s a big problem though: sanding down all of that mud once it’s been applied.

Whether you’re going to texture, smooth, or just put in a patch, you’ll find that a drywall sander is often the best way to go. While they’re not used for much else, the relatively low of the tools and their specialization makes them an excellent investment for anyone who’s planning on fixing their own walls.

There’s nothing quite like a belt sander for those who are planning on really stripping down work materials. They’re the workhorse of handheld sanders, but that also means that they’ll take plenty of abuse as time goes on. For those needing one, that means having the best belt sander around is a much better idea than taking a blind leap of faith and hoping the tool will hold up.

After testing fifteen different models of belt sander over the course of two very dusty days, we’ve found five that we think stand out from the competition. Read on, and we’ll show you how to pick the right belt sander in the first place, rather than a tool which will fail on you.

When it comes down to the final stages of intricate projects, there’s no better sander to have on your side than the best detail sander you can find. These lightweight tools allow for fine sanding with their uniquely shaped pads and can get in virtually anywhere once you’ve put the time into learning how to use one.

That said, let’s hop right in, and we’ll help you find out which sander is right for you and your DIY projects.