The UK's bestDetail Sanders2022 Review

The Bosch PSM 100 A is probably the best detail sander for furniture restoration because it’s light, comfortable to use and comes in a sturdy Bosch blow moulded case.

First off, this Bosch detail sander comes from Bosch’s “green” line of quality DIY level tools, and the build quality speaks for itself. It’s a sturdy little electric sander that puts out 100 Watts of power. It feels nice in the hand and weighing in at just 900 g, there’s not much there to tire your arm out quickly.

The rubber soft-grip top fits the hand well. The on/off switch is in just the right spot to be operated with one finger and it’s pretty quiet during operation. It’s good that the vibrations have been kept to a minimum as well.

The entire footpad can be replaced as well. The foam upper is attached with the same hook and loop system as the pads, so you can keep this little sander in service for a long time. Bosch throw in three quality pads- 80, 120 and 160 grit sanding sheets to get you started.

Overall, this is a powerful detail sander in a quality and cost-saving package with an effective filtered dust collection box. I like the long extension cable and sturdy case that will keep everything together and out of trouble when it’s not in use. The best little sander I’ve used for a while.

BLACK + DECKER are still one of the biggest names in DIY, and the BEW230 is the original Mouse sander. It’s shaped like a computer mouse because that’s where B+D took their inspiration from. This is the original, and some say the best detail sander on the market.

The design of this sander has been perfected over the years, and you can really tell. The shape fits the hand nicely, and there are several rubberised patches that fit your thumb and fingers to maximise grip and manoeuvrability. And even though it’s small, the sanding pad is an impressive 140 mm².

The on/off switch is placed right where the tip of your index finger rests, which saves you fiddling around when you need to turn it on. It’s lightweight at 950 g, and the 55 Watt motor gives you all the grunt you need to sand down furniture, surfaces, or just about anything else.

It’s hard to fault the original palm sander in my opinion. It’s well put together, you can easily attach your dust extractor hose using the adapter, and it won’t break the bank either.

This clever little sander is the latest version of the tried and tested B+D Mouse sander. The KA2500K Next Generation mouse sander is a more aggressive and harder working sander for when you need a bit more power.

It has more rubberised grip sections on the top, and more pronounced front and rear handles. The on/off switch is further back on the unit, giving you more ways to hold it during use. You can hold on to it with your palm or use your fingers on the barrel grip if you prefer.

Everything about this sander is just a bit more beefed up compared with the BEW230 Mouse sander. It has a 120 Watt motor, puts out 14,00 rpm, and comes with a whopping nine sheets of sandpaper. One thing I really like about this sander is the fine detail tip that is great for getting into tight spots between bannisters, for example.

The sander comes in a handy kit box, and you get a useful dust collection box as well. It has an inbuilt dust canister that will keep most of the mess off your surfaces and uses mesh sanding sheets that should last longer than regular paper ones.

The Bosch PSM 18 LI is probably the best cordless palm sander you can get. It’s a high-performance tool with an incredible extending sanding pad that can get into the tightest spots.

The PSM 18 makes up part of Bosch’s trusted “green” line of DIY level tools. And as the best palm sanders go, this one is a joy to use. The rubberised grip is comfortable and helps to cut down on nasty vibrations. The charge indicator on the front is great for keeping tabs on how much juice you have left too.

Weighing in at 1.3 kg, this “naked” power tool isn’t supplied with batteries. But, it can be powered by any of the Bosch 18 V Power For All battery systems. You can save money if you’ve already bought into their power system though.

What makes this palm sander really special though, is Bosch’s SDS two-plate sanding system. The front portion of the sanding foot can be replaced with several different shape pads. This includes a genius finger-shaped one that will get into any nook or cranny you need it to. They’re not included, unfortunately, but having the option is worth mentioning alone.

Japanese tool manufacturer Ryobi have been providing clever solutions for DIYers since 1945. Famous for their ONE+ battery system, you can use just one battery to power almost any type of power tool or accessory you can think of.

Ryobi’s R18PS-0 is one of the best cordless palm sanders for DIYers I’ve got my hands on so far. It keeps up Ryobi’s reputation for solid, quality DIY tools that are surprisingly affordable. And if you’ve already got a Ryobi battery to hand, this “naked” palm sander is an absolute bargain.

It’s a robust feeling palm sander that’s a bit taller and bulkier than the Bosch, but not so much that it’s uncomfortable to use. Weighing just over 1 kg with the battery installed means it’s easy on the arms. The rubber grips are comfortable enough and the power switch is easy to reach with one finger while in use.

One drawback of this palm sander is the dust collection box, or lack of it. If you want to keep your workspace dust-free you’re going to have to buy a separate vacuum hose and connector to fit in the rectangular port on the side of the body. But for the price, it’s still one of the best cordless palm sanders out there.

Making tough but affordable DIY tools, the Worx WX648 De-Tail sander is an ultra-lightweight detail sander. It doesn’t have the biggest motor but still has an excellent power to weight ratio.

Even though it’s remarkably light at just 700 g, Worx have made sure this little sander is well put together. Everything feels solid, and the rubber overmoulding is in the right places to help reduce at least some of the vibration.

The shape of the sanding foot is well thought out as well, it’s fine enough to get into tight corners. When you need that extra length, you can swap out the tip for an extended finger sander attachment. Luckily, it’s included in the set.

The small dust collection box is filtered and seems to collect a fair amount, but you can connect to a shop vac for the best results. Worx have also included 15 different grit sanding sheets and six sanding sheets for the finger attachment.

The WESCO 18V cordless palm sander. It’s a brand you might not know well, but after taking a closer look it’s one of the best detail sanders I’ve tested. And it’s a bargain too because WESCO include a whole kit. A 2.0 Ah battery, a charger, and a reasonable selection of sanding sheets too.

The build quality of this sander is rather good on first impression. The blue plastic casing feels solid and the rubber overmoulding creates a decent grippy surface. The vibrations are kept down to a reasonable level.

The battery itself is mounted sideways on the rear of the sander, which might get in the way if access is particularly tight. But, seeing as WESCO have included an SDS system like the Bosch, you should be fine. You can extend the front part of the sanding shoe to get into tight spots. It’s a feature you’d only expect to find on the best cordless palm sanders.

Manchester-based tool and homewares brand VonHaus have a decent range of kit to suit most budgets. Doing away with those pesky wires is their E-Series range of 18 Volt cordless tools. Their cordless detail sander is a lightweight and capable machine that still won’t break the bank.

Designed to fit snugly in the palm of your hand, this grey and orange sander is comfortable to hold thanks to the rubberised sections on the top and front. There’s a fingertip controlled on/off switch at the front, and you attach the sanding pads with a standard hook and loop setup.

Weighing less than 700 g when bare, the included 1.5 Ah battery pushes the weight to just over 1 kg. You get a basic little battery charger included in the purchase price as well. The 18 Volt battery pushes this little sander up to 12,000 rpm, which is enough for most jobs around the house or garden.