Best Sander for Trim Works 2021 – Reviews & Top Picks

We’ve all been in a situation where the trim on our doorways and window frames needs a little work. Trim paint can wear down over time and need redone. Or maybe you’re redoing an entire room and the trim needs a fresh new color.

Sanding is the best way to prepare the trim for a new coat of paint. Your baseboards, window frames, doorways and more will look brighter and the paint will last longer with the use of a great sander.

We’ve tested out the best sander for trim work so you don’t have to. Take a look at this great list!

Best Sander for Trim Work

Which Sander is Best for Trim Work?

Trim work comes in many shape and sizes and so do sanders. Choosing the best one will depend on a variety of things. This can depend on your price range and desired results. Generally, the best sander for trim works is an orbit sander.

The orbit sander takes old paint off. It will also create a smooth surface by evening out the trim. Orbit sanders rotate as they sand. This delivers power and maximum results. We can help you choose a great sander for trim work.

Comparison of ourTop 3 Favorites in 2021

Advantages of a Top Quality Sander

Getting a high quality product is always ideal for any situation. This is super important when choosing something for your home. You want that trim to look perfect. Here are some of the many advantages.

Finished Project

This is the number one advantaged to getting a top quality sander. The finished project will be noticeably better with a great sander. There should be no cutting corners when choosing the right one for your work. Your ideal project should have a smooth, even surface. The tool should be able to remove any old varnish, paint, or lacquer. A top quality sander can achieve all of this.

Tool Lifespan

Lifespan is vitally important when you are looking for the best one for your work. Who wants to use a sander once and never be able to use it again? Or worse, have it die halfway through your project? With a top quality sander you can be sure it will have a long lifespan for many uses.

Ease of Use

A top quality sander should get the job done quick and easy. If you choose a high quality sander, you will not have to do much of the work. The sander should be doing most of the work for you. A top quality sander will make trim work jobs faster and easier.

5 Best Sander for Trim Work Reviews

1. BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander (BDERO100)

BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander

The Black + Decker random orbit sander is an awesome sander for trim work. Black + Decker is a brand that everyone knows and trusts. This random orbit sander is a high quality piece of equipment. It will be great for any trim work needed in your home. Since this sander has multiple uses, you’ll find yourself using it even after your trim work is finished.

Random orbit means that this sander pad rotates and oscillates in random motion. This achieves high performance. It uses replaceable sand paper disks that attach to the sander disk. It has a hook and loop attachment for the sand paper disks. This keeps the sand paper disks secure. The Black + Decker random orbit sander also has a dust sealed switch to keep dust out of the sander. I highly recommend any tool that can keep the dust out. This will prolong the life.

Another really cool feature of this sander is the dust bag. This traps the dust as you sand. I love this feature because the worst thing when sanding old paint is the dust spewed all over the room. This will definitely help keep that to a minimum. It also has a 6’5” cord, making it suitable for continuous use.

Pros:

  • High quality and sturdy material
  • Convenient dust bag
  • Random orbit action
  • Provides high quality finish

Cons:

  • Doesn’t have a high power level

2. DEWALT Random Orbit Sander (DWE6421K)

DEWALT Random Orbit Sander

Dewalt is another greatly trusted brand. I love all my Dewalt tools, and this random orbit sander is great as expected. This sander delivers high power. It operates with a 3.0 Amp motor. This is able to spin the pad at 12,000 OPM (orbits per minute.) That is an impressive amount of power for a sander.

The Dewalt sander also features a dust protecting seal. This seals off the tool from taking in any harmful dust and prolongs its life. Another thing the Dewalt features to protect form dust is a dust trapping system. This has a dust bag that seals in all the dust so it doesn’t enter your room. It has a unique one-hand locking system on the dust bag as well. Super convenient!

With the power this device can output, that means minimal effort on your part. This sander is doing all the work. That really eliminates tiring motions for the user. It is another random orbit sander, so it utilizes random orbit action. This guarantees a smooth finish.

The sander comes with a dust bag and convenient carrying case. The carrying case makes it super portable and keeps it safe during storage.

Pros:

  • 3.0 Amp Motor
  • Speed of 12,000 OPM
  • Dust-sealed switch to protect inside from debris
  • Includes carrying case and dust bag

Cons:

  • Sanding disk needs replaced often

3. Bosch corded Palm – 2.5 Amp 5 in Sander (ROS20VSC)

Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander

If you’re looking for a great sander for any trim work, Bosch has you covered. This sander is really versatile and can get any job done with ease. What we love about this sander is the random orbit technology. Random orbit keeps your part of the work minimal, and it achieves a super smooth and even finish. Bosch has also incorporated an amazing pad dampening system. This helps get an even smoother finish.

Another great feature about this product is the custom speed levels. Bosch uses a 2.5 Amp motor. This orbital sander can run on any speed from 7,500 OPM to 12,000 OPM. This is an awesome feature because you can now choose this sander for any job.

The sanding pads attach with a hook and loop system. This is superior to the adhesive pads because they don’t fall off as easily. Replacing the pad over and over during a sanding process is irritating. That’s why the hook and loop system is great for orbital sanders.

Bosch palm sander has a microfilter dust canister. This captures the dust as you work and even has a paper filter to lock in fine dust. This keeps your work area clean and free of dust.

Pros:

  • Microfilter dust canister to trap debris
  • Adjustable speed dial – 7,500 to 12,000 OPM
  • Random orbit technology
  • 2.5 Amp motor
  • Hook and loop pad attachment

Cons:

  • Expensive

4. Makita 2.0 Amp 4-½ Inch Finishing Sander (BO4556K)

Makita BO4556K 2.0 Amp 4-12-Inch

The Makita finishing sander is a truly great tool for any project. This sander does not have orbital technology. Instead it uses a powerful 14,000 OPM finishing motion. This sander is great for any job because it has a contoured grip to make control easier. The high OPM makes this tool very fast for finishing jobs.

This sander has a sturdy system to attach the sanding pad. It uses a large clamping lever to attach the sanding pad. This mechanism is quick and easy to change the paper. It also holds the paper on effortlessly. Just to keep your work space dust free, the Makita finishing sander has a dust collecting system as well. The dust collecting system keeps your work area clean by trapping all the dust in the dust bag. To take clean even further, the Makita sander also has a rubber sealed switch to prevent dust from entering the machine.

Makita sanders do not short you on quality materials, either. The Makita is composed of rigid aluminum. This prolongs the life of the sander tremendously. Another great feature of this sander is the carrying bag. At only 2.6 lbs., the sander is highly portable. This bag is a great way to transport the sander.

Pros:

  • High powered, featuring 14,000 OPM
  • Weighs only 2.6 lbs.
  • Dust collecting system to keep clean work area
  • Rigid aluminum for longer lifespan

Cons:

  • Does not use orbital technology

5. CRAFTSMAN Random Orbit Sander (CMEW231)

CRAFTSMAN Random Orbit Sander

The Craftsman random orbit sander is a great investment for trim work or any project. This sander has a high-powered 3.0 Amp motor. With the 3.0 Amp motor, it can perform up to 12,000 OPM. This makes it a perfect sander for any job.

Although it can get a job done quickly, the Craftsman sander does not make a mess. It has a great dust catching technology. The Craftsman will get the job done quickly and keep your space nice and clean. This sander has a dust trapping system. It has a removable dust bag. The Craftsman can also be hooked up to a hose to suck up even more dust. To keep it even cleaner, it has a dust protected seal switch. This seal locks out all debris from the machine.

The name Craftsman is one that everyone is familiar with. You probably already have some Craftsman tools in your home. It’s not surprising that we recommend this product for the great customer service. This sander comes with a 3-year warranty.

Overall, this sander is lightweight at only 3.5 lbs. and it is super easy to use. It is a great product for an affordable price that will last you years.

Pros:

  • 3.0 Amp motor and up to 12,000 OPM
  • Affordable
  • Dust trapping system keeps work space clean
  • 3-year warranty

Cons:

  • Doesn’t connect to all sizes of vacuum hose

Features to Consider When Choosing a Sander for Trim Work

Sanders come in such a large variety of sizes and uses. It is important to narrow down the choices as accurately as possible. There are a few key features in choosing the best sander for trim work. Let’s take a look.

Size

Trim work can have a variety of sizes. You can choose a great sized sander by looking at the surfaces you’ll be using it on. The size here is important because you’ll want to be sure it is small enough for all areas of your trim. Trim work can have some tight spaces. Most handheld, orbital sanders will be a great size for trim.

A lightweight sander is ideal for trim work. We have trim work all over our homes. If you take a quick look around your room right now, I guarantee you’ll see it on ever wall and at many different heights and angles. You’ll be sanding for a while, so be sure to choose a lightweight sander that won’t break your arm.

Power

Depending on the project, power can be an important component. For trim work that needs paint removal – let’s face it most does – you’ll want something with a lot of power. Determining the power on a sander is easy. Check the power of the motor. Motor power is measured in amps. Usually a sander will have around 2 or 3 amps, but some can be more powerful.

A great power for trim work is up to 3 amps. You’ll want to avoid a high powered sander than 3 amps because it could damage your trim work.

Speed

You may think that speed would be in the same category as power. However, this is not the case. The motor power controls the force exerted by the sander. The speed controls how many OPM the sander can make. OPM – orbits per minute – measures the amount of times the sanding pad completes an orbit in one minute.

The speed of the sander is an important factor for trim work. The higher the sanding speed the faster your trim work is finished. This is important because trim work can take a long time. Definitely look for a high speed whenever possible, preferably around 12,000 OPM. Some sanders have an adjustable speed. This is ideal when working with delicate areas that require lower speed.

Dust Prevention

Although it might not seem necessary, dust prevention is so important with trim work. I definitely don’t want to find myself having to clean up tons of dust from my sander before painting when I do trim. Getting a sander that will keep dust at a minimum will decrease cleanup time after sanding. Many sanders come with a dust bag or cup. Some sanders can also be hooked up to a dust vacuum hose.

Keeping the dust off your trim is important. If the dust is kept to a minimum it can also increase the life of your sander. Dust trapped inside any mechanic will cause it to have a shorter lifespan.

How to Use a Sander for Trim Work

How To Use Sander For Trim Work

So, you’ve chosen a great sander and now it’s time for the fun part. Anyone can use a sander. We’ll walk you through it from start to finish.

1.Clean Your Trim

Before you begin sanding, having a clean work surface is important. Fill a bucket with wood safe cleaner and water. Wipe all the trim that you’ll be working on down, removing as much stain and dirt as possible.

2. Use Safety

When you sand anything, you will be exposing yourself to a lot of noise and debris. We recommend wearing safety glasses to keep your eyes clear. A good pair of headphones or earplugs is great for noise.

3. Load the Paper

Sanders use sheets of sand paper to sand. Each sander will have a different mechanism for loading and holding the paper on.

For an adhesive paper, peel the backing off and stick the sand paper to the rotating disk. For hook and loop, it is very similar to velcro. You can attach these by pushing them firmly to the sander.Finally for clamp mechanisms, simple lift up the clamp, place the paper on, and lower the clamp in place.

4. Turn on the Sander

Turn the sander on. Check to be sure everything is running and do a quick patch test on a spare piece of wood. You could also do this on a small inconspicuous area of trim.

5. Start Sanding

After determining that your sander is working properly, you can begin. Use the sander with even pressure the entire time. Keep sanding until all the old paint and rough surfaces are removed. The direction doesn’t matter when using an orbital sander, so do what works best for you.

Conclusion

Choosing the best sander is simple when you know what to look for. The best one is the Bosch ROS20VSC palm sander. This sander is amazing for trim work. It has a 2.5 AMP motor, and it operates up to 12,000 OPM. These are the best measurements for trim work.This sander is great because the speed can be adjusted. This gives you more freedom when determining what surfaces to use it on. The Bosch sander is versatile and dependable.

Leave a Comment