Conversely, random orbital units start at $30 and go upwards of $329, indicating that for a mid or high-range unit, you'll likely spend more for a random orbital than an orbital sander.

To narrow down the list of potential orbital sanders for this guide, I limited my options to tools with five-inch sanding pads (the most common and, thus, most convenient sandpaper discs to ...

BEST PALM SANDER: Bosch 5″ Random Orbital Sander/Polisher How We Tested the Best Random Orbital Sanders Let’s just say the dust hasn’t settled since our test.

Luckily, Makita offers plentiful options across all sander types, including orbital, disc, and finishing sanders. Random orbit sanders are best used for heavy-duty work.

The good news is that good sanders don't have to cost a lot—this Walmart deal makes a popular orbital sander nearly 50% off. The Jellas 5-Inch Random Orbital Sander is now just $36, down from $70.

Q: In a previous column, you suggested that a homeowner use an orbital hand sander to refinish his floors ("Refinishing a long hall floor is definitely a do-it-yourself project," Sept. 25). Wouldn ...

Start by using a random orbital sander and an 80-grit disc to sand the thread down to bare wood. The sander produces plenty of fine dust, so be sure it has a dust-collection canister or is ...