7 Best Benchtop Sanders reviewed | Buyer’s Guide

Are you tired of using your muscles to smooth out the surfaces of your project? Do you want to get sanding tasks done within a matter of minutes? Are you looking for something that makes smoothing out the edges look like a piece of cake? Want an alternative to traditional sanding papers?

If the answers are a yes for you, then what you are looking for is most probably a benchtop sander. It will not only make sanding tasks easy but also save your valuable time.

Now, you might want to know about the best benchtop sander that your money can buy right now. In that case, we’re here for you. We’ll guide you through, and hopefully, by the end, you will get what you were looking for all this time.

7 Best Benchtop Sander Reviewed

The market is overflowing with different types of sanders from different manufactures. They’re promoting their units by promising more features than their competitors. But, not all of them are keeping their words. For that reason, we went through every one of them to present to you the ones that did.

WEN 6502T 4.3-Amp 4 x 36 in. Belt and 6 in. Disc Sander with Cast Iron Base

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Disc sanders are one of the popular choices in case of benchtop options. And, if you were in the search for the best benchtop disc sander in the market, then you definitely should take a look into this unit from WEN.

The unique feature that separates this power tool from the rest is the versatility that it offers. It comes packed with both a disc and a belt for all types of sanding tasks. With this, you will easily be able to smooth, sand, and remove all the imperfections out of your wood projects.

Also, the belt that comes along is adjustable. You will be able to tilt it to any position you like. Whether you want it horizontal or vertical, you can make it happen.

Other than that, it comes with a large work table. There is ample space to accommodate the most large-sized wood pieces. But if our words are not enough for you, the measurements are 8¾ X 6¼ inches.

The table comes featured with a miter gauge. It is removable, and with the beveling table, you will be able to adjust it from 0 to 45 degrees and work the way you prefer.

You will not even have to worry about the unit moving while you are working with your large projects. It comes featured with a heavy-duty base. The cast iron construction will ensure that the tool remains in one place and does not even move an inch.

Lastly, the dust port will minimize the hassle of cleaning sawdusts out your worktable.

Pros

• Extremely versatile
• Large worktable
• Adjustable belt and work table
• Cast iron base
• Comes with a dust port

Cons

• Prone to overheating
• The rubber belt is a bit flimsy

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Grizzly Industrial G1276-6″ x 48″ Belt/12″ Disc Combo

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Having to deal with all the wooden debris and sawdust that gets scattered in your workbench after a sanding task is a big hassle. But, you will not have to go through that anymore if you pick up this unit from Grizzly Industrial. The manufacturer implemented a unique solution for that problem in this model.

To start with, it comes with not only one dust port in the back but also one in the side. That means you will not have to worry about cleaning your workspace thoroughly after each of your sanding sessions.

Other than that, the unit comes featured with a 1/3 horsepower motor that is capable of spinning at 3450 RPM. With such power, you will be able to do all your sanding and smoothing tasks in no time at all.

It offers two different processes, which are ideal for sanding, smoothing, contouring, and dry sharpening.

You will be able to get your project finished either by using the five inches disc or the one inch wide 30 inches long belt. Both of them are capable of tilting 45 degrees to let you conveniently work on your masterpieces.

The platen that comes along with the unit is also adjustable. It is 1 x 3 inches, which is pretty broad. Both the belt sander and the disk sander have their working aluminum table. Also, there are tracking adjustments.

Lastly, the unit has a safety mechanism integrated into it. It comes with a toggle rocker-type switch with a removable key.

Pros

• Versatile
• Both the disk and the belt tilts
• Powerful motor
• Dual dust ports
• Sturdy aluminum work tables

Cons

• Might ship with missing parts
• The power switch is not properly insulated

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Rockwell Belt/Disc Combo Sander

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Are you in the search for the best benchtop belt sander? Want a unit that comes with not only a versatile belt sander but also a decent disc sander? Then you might want to pause your search here because this unit from Rockwell might be what you were looking for all this time.

Let us first talk about the performance that the tool can offer you. It comes packed with a 4.3 amp induction motor. This heavy-duty motor will be able to give you enough power to get your sanding tasks done within just a matter of minutes.

Just like we mentioned above, the belt sander that the unit comes with is extremely versatile. You will be able to adjust the platform from 0 to 90 degrees.

With this, you will easily be able to get your horizontal and vertical smoothing, contouring tasks done. If you want, you can change the belt using the quick-release tension lever.

Other than that, the sanding table is also adjustable. According to your workflow, you will be able to set it anywhere between 0 to 45 degrees. It will make sanding those beveled edges look like a walk in the park.

Besides that, the six inches disc sander is also very capable. Alongside all the units for the tool itself, you will receive an Allen key and a 45-degree miter gauge in the package. Overall, this is an excellent pick if you are looking for a great belt sander with an adequate disc sander.

Pros

• Comes with a powerful motor
• Adjustable belt platform
• Tiltable table
• The belt can be changed easily
• Exceptionally versatile

Cons

• The central screw of the belt keeps falling out
• Some packages ships with damaged parts

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RIKON Power Tools 50-151 Belt with 5″ Disc Sander, 1″ x 30″, Blue

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Even with a plethora of options in the market, it gets a little challenging to find a power tool that offers a good value proposition.

Every manufacturer ups their asking price with unnecessary promotions that lower the overall cost-to-performance ratio. But, that is not the case here with this unit. You probably did not even hear about this manufacturer, and you can guess why.

All things aside, let us talk about the tool first. It is capable of giving you decent performance. The unit comes packed with a 1/3 horsepower 120 volts motor. With such power, it will be able to tackle down all types of sanding, contouring, smoothing, and sharpening tasks without any hassles at all.

Just like all the other sanders, it comes featured with both a belt and a disc. In the case of the belt, it comes with ABS carbon wheels for optimal performance. The table is tiltable, and you can adjust it from anywhere from 0 to 45 degrees. There is a tracking knob as well.

Other than that, the disc sander comes with its own table as well. There is a miter gauge installed on the table to let you get precise angles on your workpiece. Besides that, the tool also includes a safety switch for security measures.

Lastly, there is a two-inch dust port on the body that will steer all the wood dust and debris away from your workspace. The overall weight of the unit is 18 pounds.

Pros

• Good value proposition
• Comes with a powerful motor
• Adjustable belt sander
• Wide dust port
• Safety switch

Cons

• The unit is prone to wobbling
• Operational noise is a bit loud

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POWERTEC BD4600 Belt Disc Sander For Woodworking | 4 In. x 36 in. Belt Sander with 6 In. Sanding Disc

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Are you in search of a premium sanding tool? Were you looking for something that will enhance your overall workflow? Want something multi-functional and ideal for most of the wood projects? Then you should have a look at this unit from Powertec.

The unit comes packed with a powerful but quiet half HP 4.3 amps induction motor. It can deliver 3600 RPM for the disc and 1900 FPM of speed for the belt.

Keeping the tabs up with most of the sanding units in the market, it also comes with two different sanders. You will find a heavy-duty 36 inches belt on the top and a 6 inches disc on the side. With those, you will be able to get most of your wood projects done at ease.

The unit is extremely versatile as well. You can tilt the belt to whole 90 degrees to work with those awkward angles. Also, the disc work table has a 0 to 45 degrees tilt. The table comes with a miter gauge to increase the overall precision.

In the case of the worktable, it is pretty extensive. The measurements are 6-1/2 x 8-3/4 inches, and the table is of die-cast aluminum. Other than that, there is a safety key switch and a quick unlock switch for the belt. The substantial cast iron base will eliminate most of the wobbling and movements.

Lastly, the dust port will eliminate the hassle of cleaning your workbench after each session.

Pros

• Comes packed with a powerful motor
• Adjustable belt
• Tiltable worktable
• Sturdy base
• Efficient dust port

Cons

• The belt feels a little cheap in quality
• Has a lot of flimsy plastic parts

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Kalamazoo 1SM 1″ Belt Sander, 32 lbs, 1725 RPM, 1/3 HP Motor, 1″ x 42″ Belt, 4″ Contact Wheel

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In most cases, many carpenters do not even require a disc sander because most of the smoothening and contouring tasks can be easily done with a belt.

The machines that have only the belt sander are straightforward and easy to maneuver too. If you were looking for something like that, then you should put this into your consideration.

To begin with, it comes with a 1/3 Hp induction motor that operates at 110 volts. As the engine is only connected to the belt, you can expect this to outperform most of the belt sanders in the market. The performance that it offers will make deburring, sizing, smoothing, sharpening, and other tasks look like a child’s play.

Other than that, it offers a smooth and quiet performance as well. With the belt that comes included, you will be able to get most of the tasks done quickly. You can easily change the belt if you want to because most of the straps are supported.

Besides that, you can adjust the tracking relatively easily too. All you have to do is just make the screw loose on the column and turn the unit on, and it will center itself automatically.

There is an amply sized worktable beside the belt that will let you rest your workpiece while working on it. In the base, there is a four-inch contact wheel, and as the unit weighs 32 pounds, it will be able to hold itself down on your workpiece without any troubles at all.

Pros

• Comes with a powerful motor
• Efficient sanding performance
• The belts are easy to replace
• Tracking adjustments
• Ample size worktable

Cons

• Nonadjustable worktable
• Some units ship without the belt

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Jet Tools – J-4002 1 x 42 Bench Belt and Disc Sander (577003)

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We are going to finish our recommendation list off with the best benchtop drum sander that we could scour out of the market. And, if you are in the search for one of such units all this time, then we recommend you to at least have a look into this one from Jet Tools.

The tool comes packed with a high performance 1 phase 115 volts motor that has a rating of 1/3 HP.  You can expect a reliable sanding performance out of it. With this, you will be able to do most of the tasks within just minutes.

It comes with an abrasive belt that will replace the need for jig-saw, hand file, or coping saw. The strap is 1 inch wide and 42 inches in length. Other than that, it also has a disc sander too. It rotates at 1725 RPM at no load.

Both the sanders come with its table. The tables are wide enough to let you work with large wood pieces easily. In the case of the measurements, the disc table is 4 x 10 inches.

The disc work table comes featured with a miter gauge. You can turn and lock it into most of the angles and tilt it 45 degrees right or left. The platen is also removable and will allow you to do grinding and finish exterior curves of awkwardly shaped projects on the belt.

Overall, this is a great pick to get sanding, smoothing, contouring, and other tasks done on your latest masterpiece.

Pros

• Large-sized work tables
• Comes with a powerful 1/3 HP motor
• Tiltable disc table
• The miter gauge can be locked in place
• Removable platen

Cons

• The base is not that stable
• Prone to overheating

Check prices here

What To Look For In A Benchtop Sander

Power tools such as a benchtop sander are not something that you should lack knowledge of before buying. Just like have mentioned before that we are going to guide you through, we will. So, here are some points that you should keep in mind before heading out in the market:

Power

Going for a sander instead of using traditional sanding paper was for power in the first case. The more powerful the motor is, the faster you can finish your projects. In that case, you have to consider the horsepower of the engine.

The powerful ones that you can find in the market are the half horsepower ones. With those, you will not only be able to get the sanding done faster but also be able to do smooth contouring easily. Besides that, 1/3 HP motors can also do the job just fine but do not go for anything lower than that.

Build Quality

You should factor in the overall build quality and the durability of the tool before making a purchase. As you are likely to use the power tool frequently, you would want it to last for a while. That is why you should go with the ones that sport a durable construction.

The Types

Usually, the typical type of sanding tools that are out in the market is the combo ones. Those have both the belt and the disc. But, if you want something straightforward, you might not require both of them. That is why you should know your requirement before you start looking for a tool.

Size and the Length of Disc and Belt

You have to factor in the RPM of the disc as well. The larger and the faster it is, the easier it will be for you to get your sanding tasks done. And, the same goes for the belt as well.

Adjustments

Besides the size and the length of the sanders, the one point that you have to keep in mind is the adjustability. The ones that let you tilt the belt vertically or horizontally will allow you to contour and smooth out your workpieces in a plethora of angles.

Other than that, many have tiltable worktables. Those will let you use the disc sander efficiently. Also, the tables that come with a miter gauge will enhance the overall precision of your sanding. So, we would recommend you to go with a unit that has loads of adjustability.

Base

The base is one of the crucial parts of any power tool. It is the part that ensures the overall stability of the unit. In that case, we would recommend you to go with the hefty ones.

Those are the ones that are going to stay in their place and will not wobble. With them, you will be able to work on your project without any interruptions.

Dust Collector

Even though most of the units are now implementing one or even two dust ports in the body, some might have none. But they are an essential element in the case of benchtop sanders.

The dust that scatters around from the wooden workpieces might interrupt your workflow. Other than that, cleaning them up after you are done with your project is a tedious work too. That is where a dust collector port comes into play. It will steer all the debris and sawdust away from your workspace and let you get your work done efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q; Can I change the disc sander of my tool?

Ans: Yes, you can. For most of the units, changing the sanders should be an easy task because they will ship with some kind of undocking lever. But, if they do not, then you might have to disassemble your unit a bit.

Q: Will I need both the belt and the disc sander for my works?

Ans: It actually depends on your overall workflow. You might not need both of the disc and belt at the same time, but having both will make your tool more versatile and ready for every type of contouring and smoothing tasks.

Q: Can I replace the belt with an aftermarket replacement?

Ans: Yes, you can. But, in that case, you have to factor in whether the one that you are going for will fit your unit or not.

Q: How often do I need to change the disc and the belt of my unit?

Ans: Not all the disc and belts are of the same quality. Some might last for a long time while some might not. Replace them when you are not getting adequate performance out of them.

Q: Is there any way to reduce the wobble of my unit?

Ans: You can try installing rubber feet under the base of your unit and keep it on an even surface.

Final Words

After going through the entire article, we hope that you got the best benchtop sander that you were looking for all this time. We would like to end it here by wishing you good luck and hoping that all your projects turn out the way you want them to.

I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.