Speaking of the dust bag, it performed well which surprised me. I expected there to be much more dust in the air and around the tool when using the bag but it was actually not substantially different when attached to an extractor. Random orbital sander: If you can only afford one sander, a random orbital is the most versatile. They are typically circular, but not exclusively, and although it might look like they simply rotate the sanding disc, they actually move it around in an unpredictable pattern to avoid scratch marks. Their size and ease-of-use make them suitable for a wide range of sanding tasks. The WX820 comes with a microfilter dust box and gives you plenty of control thanks to six different speed options. It’s not as powerful as a corded sander, but the battery means you can use it anywhere and is interchangeable with other Worx Powershare tools. The design is taller than corded sanders and you have to factor in the weight of the battery, which also gets in the way of the grip a fair bit, but it’s easy to use and offers three different speed settings giving you good control. A maximum speed of 11,000opm (orbits per minute) isn’t particularly high but the DBO180Z makes up for it somewhat with a large 2.8mm orbit diameter. Dust extraction is above average and the machine is quiet in operation.

We used the sanders on a range of different types of wood, including some with large surface areas, and others with hard-to-reach sections. We also used them with different sandpaper grades to evaluate how each one performs. All of the sanders were used for long enough to be able to assess their ergonomics, including weight and dimensions. A 120-grit sanding disc will remove paint on wood and leave a smooth finish. (Image credit: Garry Martin) A pro orbit sander for DIYers and plenty of accessories The Makita DBO180 cordless 125mm random orbit sander is ideal for fine finish sanding (Image credit: Garry Martin) Good build quality and good dust bag performanceDisc sander: A disc sander is probably what most people think a random orbital sander is. The key difference is that they do spin in a fixed motion, much like the wheel on a car. They typically require two-handed operation and, like belt sanders, are better for tougher jobs where lots of material needs removing. The fixed motion means you need to be careful not to leave visible circle marks behind.

As mentioned above, there are typically four kinds of sander. Some are more versatile and can be used for multiple jobs, while others are more specialist. Below is a short summary of the main types and how they differ from each other. This can be repositioned in one of twelve directions in accordance with your use, and in all positions, the dust port protrudes. It’s also not clear why you should need a screwdriver to reposition this – it seems a simple friction toggle would have been much easier and more practical. Makita sell a range of accessories including hook-and-loop type abrasive discs (sandpaper), sponge pads, felt pads and wool pads for polishing, a dust box, paper filter bags and various batteries and chargers. It’s a shame the kit comes with only one 120-grit sandpaper disc – I would have liked to have seen a selection of different grits provided, and perhaps 2 or 3 of the common ones.On the downside, the cable isn’t very long and if you want to save yourself some bother make sure to buy pre-pierced sanding sheets as the provided punch plate isn’t great.

The Makita DBO180Z has been developed as Makita's first cordless random orbit sander powered by 18V Li-ion batteries. It has a compact design with short height and lower center of gravity for better maneuverability. Ergonomically best possible grip design for comfortable handling. Excellent performance as powerful AC model gives high productivity. MAKITA DBO180Z FEATURESOnce you’ve decided which type of sander you need, there are a few things to look out for before making your final choice. Detail sanders: In many ways, a detail sander is a type of finishing sander. Typically, they have a triangular shape with curved sides, and this makes them less suitable for larger areas. They are, however, ideal for precise tasks like edges or harder to reach places. Although this is a tool aimed at experienced DIYers and professionals, its simple operation means it can also be used successfully by beginners. Like any other cordless tool using a common battery platform, use of the BL series batteries in this kit opens up a huge range of other tools available as “bare” units without batteries and chargers for those who already have them. Equally, this sander as a “bare” unit could be the ideal addition for someone that has already invested in another tool as a kit version.