Be it for prepping the walls for re-painting or patching up a hole in the wall, drywall sanders can complete the job with minimal clean up and effort. These devices are specially designed to provide a clean, smooth, and even finish. They are available in different options from heavy-duty to small handheld options. Choosing among the wide range of options can be a mammoth task. To simplify the process and make the right choice, we recommend considering the below options.
Motor Power –A drywall sander is powered by an electric motor for its efficient working, in which the power rating of an electric motor is measured in amps. The higher the amps, the easier the sanding work it does. Some sanders have a motor of 5 amps, while others have a motor power rating of 7-amps. Among them, the 7-amp motor power will offer better performance and easy sanding, yet consumes a bit more power.
Motor Speed –The motor speed of a drywall sander is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). It tells you the number of times the motor is spinning in a minute. The more the RPM, the faster it lets you do the work. So, choose a model with higher motor speed for better performance. If you want to adjust the motor speed as required, then use a variable speed trigger.
Hose Length –These drywall sanders can be connected to a vacuum cleaner to collect all those sanding dust into a dust collection bag for ease of use. If you want to move it around when connected to a vacuum pump, then you need a long hose. They let you sand large walls easily without moving the vacuum unit again and again.
To break down your confusion, we reviewed several products and came up with a list of some most popular and top-selling drywall sanders. For more information on how to choose your best drywall sander, we recommend reading our “Buying Guide”.
Best Drywall Sanders List
7 Best Drywall Sanders Reviews
1. Wen Drywall Sander
Best random orbital sanders Best belt sanders Best plam sanders Best spindle sanders Types of Sanders
WEN is a brand of power tools that is known for making affordable and value for money options, just like its drywall sander. WEN’s 6369 drywall sander is present in the 1st position in this article as it is one of the cheapest options available out there. Irrespective of its highly affordable price tag, you get various handy features in this drywall sander that result in a high value for money. Even though it has an average build quality, you get a 2-year long warranty for peace of mind. Since this is an electric drywall sander, it is powered by an electric motor that has a power rating of 5 amps that offers a great balance between performance and power consumption. You get a high motor speed of up to 1500 RPM that is quite high in its class. You also get various sanding discs included with this drywall sander that are always great to have. Best Features:
Electric motor power rating of 5 amps Vacuum hose length of 15 feet Motor speed rating of up to 1500 rounds per minute 2-year long warranty Longest hose length at 15 feet
Pros:
Quite a long hose for ease of use Decent performance for the given price Affordable price tag for a high value for money
Cons:
Average build quality
2. YATTICH Drywall Sander
YATTICH is a premium home appliance brand that uses the best materials to build its products to improve the quality of life of its customers. This drywall sander comes with an aluminium extension rod that can be adjusted from 3.9 to 5.5 feet. With such adjustable height, this sander can easily reach the roof for effective sanding. The sander is highly efficient as it runs on an efficient motor with a maximum of 1750 RPM. So, you can adjust the speed of this device in 7 levels. So, you can adjust the speed to ensure the dust doesn’t fly all over your house while sanding your walls. Best Features:
Comes with a 6.5 feet dust hose and a bag which collects all the dust. So, you won’t inhale any dust even when you are working in a construction site. Surrounded with LED strip lights, so you can use it even in dark areas. You get 12 sandpapers and discs to sand various areas like floors, exterior walls and ceilings. There is a suction power dial on the device that allows you to adjust the suction power.
Pros:
Easy to use. Lightweight. High power motor. Easy height adjustment.
Cons:
Nothing specific.
3. Makita Drywall Sander
Makita is one of the leading brands that has been providing top-selling power tools across the world for the past few years. This drywall sander can deliver up to 25 minutes of run time which is enough for handling most of the tasks. It is equipped with brushless motor which eliminate the then need for carbon brushes. This in turn enables the motor to run cooler even if used for longer durations. And moreover, this ensures longer life span and reliable investment. This cordless drywall sander comes with 120 grit abrasive discs which are suitable for providing smooth finish. Best Features:
Adjustable extension pipe for reaching confined spaces Removable dust brush for easy glide roller Direct drive BL motor for increased efficiency Overload sensor Two position rubberized soft grip Flexible head swivel for increased manageability
Pros:
Durable and reliable Wireless auto-start Dust extractor Runs cooler Lasts longer
Cons:
Some of the people experienced dust clogs
4. F2C Drywall Sander
F2C has come up with a drywall sander that runs on a powerful 800W motor that specifically suits walls and ceilings. With such efficiency, you can use the sander at 6 variable speeds from 1000 to 2000 RPM. The 9-inch sander head rotates 360 degrees to easily fit any corner, edge or wall thereby ensuring that the entire wall is smoothened out evenly. Moreover, its handle is expandable up to 5 feet to easily reach the ceilings. Also, this handle is detachable for easy and convenient storage. Best Features:
Has a floating head to suit uneven walls and corners. Expandable 5 feet handle to reach all heights. A lock button to set the sander to a particular speed and use. 13 feel vacuum hose to efficiently collect the dust.
Pros:
Lightweight. Takes less space to store. Powerful suction. Strong and efficient motor. Flexible sander head.
Cons:
Nothing specific.
5. Ginour Drywall Sander
Ginour is a relatively small brand. But nevertheless, the brand has earned a reputation for developing reliable power tools with advanced features that offer you value for money. Ginour’s drywall sander uses a large 9-inch head that can rotate in 360 degrees to grind the corners, edges, and perpendicular surfaces of your wall. Besides this, you can also float the head which allows you to swing up and down or from side to side while polishing the walls. The head adjusts itself while you are polishing uneven surfaces with a fluctuation range of 1 to 10mm. The powerful 6-amp motor delivers a maximum of 1800 RPM with 7 variable speed positions starting from 1,000 RPM. This drywall sander comes with an extendable handle made of aluminum alloy. You can extend the handle up to 5.5 feet. When not in use, you can remove the handle and store in tight spaces. The sander has built-in LED lights that create a better lighting system when working in dark environments. You also get an automatic dust removal system that is capable of removing 98% of dust to keep your workplace clean. If you want to remove the dust from tight corners, you can use a 13 feet flexible dust hose and the dust collection bag. Ginour offers a lifetime warranty for this drywall sander. Best Features
Electric motor power rating of 6 amps Vacuum hose length of 13 feet Motor speed rating of up to 1,800 rounds per minute 360 degrees rotating head Lifetime warranty Automatic dust removal system
Pros
7 variable speed positions Absorbs 98% dust Head adjusts automatically when polishing uneven surfaces Lifetime warranty
Cons
Heavy and difficult to use for long hours Dust collection bag strap is not durable
6. CUBEWAY Drywall Sander
When it comes to power tools like drywall sanders, CUBEWAY is one of the most reliable brands. Their CWB225 is suitable for handling several tasks that include plaster walls, paint coatings, grinding drywalls, loose plasters, interior walls and several others. This drywall sander is equipped with 6.5A motor and variable speed of 900 to 1800 rpm which ensures rapid movement and smooth finish. The dust created during the process will be collected in the vacuum attachment which lets you keep the working area clean. It comes with 4 pieces of mesh sanding discs and a safety kit as well. A in-built eye protection LED light will also be provided to prevent any eye injuries caused while working with drywall sander. Best Features
Unique fixture for sanding ceilings 360 degrees rotatory dust shroud Eye protection LED light Extensible and foldable design Floating structure for sanding uneven surfaces Detachable brush segment
Pros
Ergonomic design Automatic dust collection Copper motor Reduced fatigue Easy to operate
Cons:
Battery time could have been better
7. Handife Drywall Sander
Handife is another small brand that sells high performing drywall sanders with easy to use features. Handife’s drywall sander is powered by a 7-amp 800W motor that provides superior performance during sanding works. This power makes the drywall sander perfect for grinding plasterboards, ceilings, walls, and corridors. There is a detachable sanding disk that you can move easily to get access to tight corners and perpendicular walls. On top of this, you can extend the handle which allows you to reach tall places without using a ladder. The drywall sander features LED lights that light up your environment when you are working in dark places. The speed of the motor can be adjusted from 800 to 1,800 RPM for optimal grinding efficiency. The unit comes with the standard automatic dust removal system that removes 90% dust. This saves your time and effort of cleaning the dust manually. Furthermore, you can also add the hose and dust bag for a more effective cleaning experience. Best Features
Electric motor power rating of 7 amps Motor speed rating of up to 1,800 rounds per minute Integrated LED lights 5 level variable speed Removable chassis edge Automatic dust removal system Extendable handle
Pros
Powerful motor Easy to use Removes 90% dust Can reach tall places easily
Cons
Warranty is not specified More variable speed options would have been nice
How to Choose the Best Drywall Sander?
It would be a daunting task to pick the right option from various drywall sander models in the market. One has to know what to consider, how to analyse, and finally which one to buy, as per their requirements. To guide you in all these aspects, we are providing detailed information on the drywall sanders. Let’s get into the details of what factors to consider while shopping for a drywall sander.
1. Purpose:
The first and foremost thing to consider is its purpose (for what you are using this drywall sander) before making its purpose. Mostly, they are used to sand sheetrock, plasterboard or drywall, yet there are other things it can perform well. Here are some of the common reasons to use this.
For DIY occasional light tasks (or) professional heavy duty works. For a single-time usage (or) for multiple tasks and long-term usage in the future. For home usage (or) can be taken to other places. Looking to use only on drywall (or) sand on the ceiling and walls.
When once you came to know the purpose of what you want to do with this sander, then you can easily figure out its required specification, and thereby find out the best sander for your requirement.
2. Motor Power:
All drywall sanders (electric or dustless models) are powered by an electric motor, which means you have to consider the motor power rating before buying a product. However, the power rating of this electric motor gives you a clear idea of the performance offered by a given drywall sander. Some of them are rated at 5 amps, while others might have a power rating of 7 amps or so. Out of these two options, a drywall sander with a 7-amp electric motor will offer much better performance for easy sanding. Also, you can expect slightly higher power consumption from these drywall sanders.
3. Speed:
The motor speed of a given drywall sander will determine its performance by giving a clear idea of the number of times the motor is spinning or rotates in a minute. Thus, it is measured in terms of revolutions per minute (RPM). The more the RPM value, the faster the work is done. Usually, drywall sanders have a motor speed rating of 1000 – 2000 RPM (a few high-end models have 3000 RPM), in which a sander with higher motor speed will offer better performance. However, a machine with high RPM will generate more pressure to the hand and make it feel heavier while increasing the RPM rate. So, it is essential to adjust the RPM as per your requirement to make it use efficiently for a longer time. This can be done by using the variable speed trigger option. Prefer to buy a drywall sander with a higher RPM that offers a wide range of adjustability.
4. Diameter of Sanding Discs:
One should not overlook the diameter of the sanding disc, why because the usage of uncommon sized sanding discs will cause problems in the long run. Some sanders feature a variety of sanding discs that are perfect for doing professional work. So, it is better to choose a drywall sander with easy to fix sanding discs and easy to find disc’s replacement as well.
5. Sandpaper Types:
The sandpaper types of drywall sanders are available in a variety of grit options, in which we use different types of sandpapers on different tasks and walls for efficient sanding. Most sanders use 120 – 150 grit sandpapers, which make them work well. Yet, avoid using heavy sandpapers in this esteem. Some drywall sanders come with a lot of options in sandpaper grit, in which you can use the appropriate to get your work done perfectly.
6. Ease of Use:
It is quite common we notice a word called easy to use while going through various product reviews. However, there are some factors that let you know how they are easy to use.
Weight –
The weight of the sanders varies greatly, in which the general range will be 8 – 19 pounds. The heavier the sander, the more difficulty you feel to use it for a long time. Avoid choosing a heavy sander that won’t let you do your job and leaves you in an uncomfortable position. So, one should look for a sander that weighs about 8 – 12 pounds based on your muscle power and capability to hold it for a long time. The heavier, sturdy and durable tools are used for doing professional jobs, where they need to use the tool continuously, and performance or quality is crucial than weight. Also, it is essential to consider the place where you want to use it to sand i.e., either on ceilings and walls or higher walls in larger buildings. However, the higher the wall you has to sand, the more you need to lift the sander above the head, then consider drywall stilts or drywall lift.
Portability –
If looking for a sander either for professional use or DIY home renovation use, you have to check its portability. As it is easy to carry around from one place to another for easy and effortless working.
Flexible Head –
A drywall sander with a flexible head will let you polish the wall easily by getting into hard to reach small spaces or corners. However, it won’t eliminate the need to touch up sanding by hand in tight spots, yet the more area you cover, the better it sands quickly. Some premium sander heads will be adjusted automatically to the wall for fast and efficient sanding. While some other models feature a button on the handle to control it as per your sanding requirements.
Dust Management –
Dust is commonly generated while sanding and coming to its dust management, drywall sanders can be differentiated into two types – with dust collector and without dust collector. Some models are equipped with a dust collector for removing dust efficiently. While some cheap sanders won’t have this dust collector, where you have to collect dust with a hose and shop vacs. Remember that you do not need to clean up the filter quite often while using a sander with a dust collector, while a sander without a collector needs the filter to clean up manually.
Handle Length –
The maximum length you can reach with a sander is essential to consider. If you pick a sander with a short handle, then you have to find a spot and use a ladder or drywall stilts to move the sander. However, it is a bit tougher to do this work while holding a machine. Standard sanders are available with a minimum of 5 feet long handle. A sander with extendable handles is efficient while working with a taller wall or ceilings.
Sanding Ability to Corners and Edges –
The detail sander is a type of sander used to polish the corners and edges of the wall. Yet a secondary machine is not required to carry while the first one is doing the job. So, it is a must to look for efficient corner polishing features while buying a drywall sander. Or else, you need to buy a detail sander or use sandpaper to do the task.
7. Power Consumption:
A machine consuming less power will save your money (on power bill) and work effectively. For this, you have to check the wattage to know how much power it consumes. The more watts it has, the more you need to pay. Besides wattage, you have to check the voltage as well. Standard volts differ for different nations like 120V or 220V.
8. Storage:
There is no need to use this drywall sander frequently (unless using it for a professional job) for your DIY home improvement work. So, you have to pick a sander model that offers a good storage facility. Some models will let you disassemble them easily and store them in a small place, while others won’t. It is a must to check this compact storage feature when making a decision.
9. Maintenance:
Just like other power tools and heavy machines, these drywall sanders do require maintenance for their proper functioning and longevity. You have to purchase a drywall sander that needs less maintenance, which reduces your time consumption, and increases the ability to work effectively.
10. Comfort and Extendibility:
It would be dull and boring to work with a machine, and it will be painful to work with an uncomfortable machine. A reliable drywall sander having a comfortable grip and extendable handle will let you reach the ceiling easily. It is essential to choose a model of about 5 – 10 feet extendable handle, which is sufficient to do regular sanding works.
11. Replacement Parts:
A drywall sander with easy to replaceable parts is quite useful in the longer run. Few manufacturers design uncommon and not to get easily replaceable parts and sells spare parts. This type of dysfunction when the company discontinue the product. So, prefer a trusted product that offers easy to get replacement parts rather than a model having difficulty finding replaceable parts.
12. Accessories:
Most drywall sanders feature helpful accessories that include connecting hose, sanding paper, carrying bag, dust collecting bag, and much more. All these accessories are quite handy for improving the overall experience. So, prefer a drywall sander having most of these accessories to offer a great value for money. Thus, it let you start using a drywall sander without any need to purchase extra third-party accessories.
13. Hose Length:
Almost all the drywall sanders out there offer the option of connecting to a vacuum hose. This hose will let you connect all of the sanding dust into a dust bag for ease of use. If you want to move around when connected to a vacuum pump, then you need a long hose. A drywall sander coming with a high hose length of 15 feet is more practical than a sander model with less hose length of 7 feet. This is due to the reason that you can easily sand large walls by using a large hose without the need to move the vacuum unit here and there.
14. Price:
It is essential to calculate the money you spend on the product and the value a product provides to you. Some premium models are pricey with high-end features, while others come with plenty of normal features. The price range of these drywall sanders will be $100 – $500. Check them and purchase the one that comes within your budget with essential features.
15. Build Quality and Warranty:
A drywall sander gets used for sanding different kinds of surfaces while working in construction. Since you have to deal with things like wallpaper, plaster, paint, and other things, your drywall sander has to experience a lot of wear and tear. Due to this, you have to look out for drywall sanders that are well-built, and offer a great build quality to its user. Apart from the build quality, one has to check the warranty period before investing in a drywall sander. Most sanders out there come with a 1-year or 2-year warranty, so it’s better to stay away from the drywall sanders that won’t offer any warranty period.
Types of Drywall Sanders:
Drywall sanders come in three different variants – manual, pole & electric. Let’s know about them in detail.
Manual Sanding Block –
It is a small block made of either wood or plastic with a layer of sandpaper wrapping around the block. They are ideal for small tasks like repairing cracks in walls, yet not for bigger jobs, as it can be hard work manually. These sanding blocks are available in various sizes and shapes, in which some are equipped with handles to make them easier to grip.
Pole Sander –
It is a manual type of sander having a wider head that let it cover the maximum possible area. They are mounted onto a pole to sand walls or ceilings. Since it involves manual operation, they are hard on the arms and causes a bit of pain when done for a longer time. Yet it is an affordable way to do the job.
Electric Drywall Sander –
It is the easiest and quickest way to sand drywall, as they are lightweight and comes with an easy to hold with handles to grip. Almost all the electric drywall sanders are dustless and attach to a shop vacuum for effective dust removal before it goes into the air. These sanders are much more expensive than the previous two options, yet it is worthwhile to pay extra money.
Drywall Sanding Tips:
It is quite essential to invest in the right tools while performing a drywall sanding remodelling task. Some of these tips will provide the best results.
Ensure to choose fine sandpaper of about 80-grit paper to remove undesirable marks on the wall. We suggest using 120-grit or 150-grit paper to grab the best results. You can purchase pre-cut sheets that fit on every sanding apparatus. Avoid sanding on ridges and gouges, yet prefer to trowel them with a coat of joint compound. Use a handheld flashing to make sure that every surface is sanded effectively. Also, for an effective result, mark the problematic areas with a pencil where it requires filling or more sanding. Sand them again after you prime the wall to remove paper fuzz and lumps that mar your paint job. One has to pay special attention to corners while using drywall sanders. For this, use a sanding sponge for corners to ensure that you won’t scuff or gouge the corners with a sander. It is always better to do some trial runs before working on a real project and have a light touch with the sander. Thus, you may feel a sort of pressure to apply for doing the job in the best way.
Benefits of Using a Drywall Sanders:
However, the ease of use and the safety features will make these electric drywall sanders popular and the most preferred option these days. Here are some of the key benefits one should know before making its purchase. Safe – Drywall sanders are the safest and cleaner option for their dust collection system than other types of sanders or electric tools. While using manual tools will create dust and make people suffer from eye, throat, nose and lungs infections. They are lightweight and not required to climb the ladder to reach higher walls or ceilings. User Friendly – It is not only safer to use but also user-friendly as well. All you need is to plug and play with this device. Also, it offers full control over the device like extending the handle whenever required, changes the sanding panel or rotates the sanding head. Economical – Polish a room within 30 minutes while working with an automatic drywall sander. If not, you have to work for at least 5 hours to properly polish the room. So, a drywall sander is more economical in the long run compared to hand sanding-based polish. Easy Cleanup – Most of these sanders feature a dust collector to eliminate dust at its source. Thus, it won’t let you do a massive clean-up after sanding. If you connect with a vacuum cleaner or shop vac, then it collects almost 95% of the dust at the source.
How to Limit the Exposure to Drywall Dust?
Though electric drywall sanders clear the dust easily but not be reckless about its exposure, as it may harm your health. Usually, a machine will dissipate 95% of the dust and the remaining 5% will harm the health. So, it is a must to limit your exposure to drywall dust with these simple tips. Use Portable Dust Collector – Almost all the drywall sander has a dust collector hose that you have to connect with a vacuum dust collector for effective usage. If your machine won’t come with a dust collector, then use a shop-vac to collect dust. The procedure is mentioned in the manual. Wear Eye Protective Glass and Face Mask – Before you start using the drywall sanders, it is a must to wear an N95 facemask to prevent small dust particles not to pass through your nostrils and mouth. Also, wear an eye-protective glass to avoid itchy eye and red-eye problems. Effective Cleanup – After finishing your sanding work, you have to clean up the work area immediately in a proper way. Thus, it reduces the time you are exposed to those harmful elements. Limit Room’s Entrance – Before sanding, you have to limit the entrance of your workplace. The reason is that limiting the entrance will reduce the area to clean up after doing your work. In case, if not limit your entrance, then the dust will go everywhere in the house and thereby you have to clean the house instead of a room.
Conclusion
There are various cases where you might have to sand down a drywall for construction needs. But since manual sanding can be quite time consuming, a drywall sander makes a lot of sense for various users out there. Since these are highly handy, we have mentioned some of the best drywall sanders in this article, along with their major details and features. And the detailed buying guide present in this article has even the smallest details related to drywall sanders that you should know. Although, if you do not want to go through all of these, you can also consider our following recommendations:
If you are on a budget, the Wen Drywall Sander makes a lot of sense for a lot of users out there. Even though it is the cheapest option, it offers the longest hose that has a length of 15 feet and gets powered by a decent 5 amp electric motor. You should consider the Ginour Drywall Sander if you want a powerful option since it comes with a highly powerful 6 amp electric motor. While the hose length is not the highest at 13 feet, its included accessories result in a great experience. Talking about accessories, the Handife Drywall Sander offers the highest number of accessories. It is powered by a powerful 7 amps motor and this power makes the drywall sander perfect for grinding plasterboards, ceilings, walls, and corridors.
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