DeWalt vs Makita Palm Sanders: Which One's Actually Better?

Hey all, I'm torn between the DeWalt DWE6423 and the Makita BO5041K for my next palm sander. I do a lot of furniture refinishing and want smooth, swirl-free finishes. Which one has better dust collection and less vibration? Dewalt's got the hook-and-loop pad, but Makita's known for smooth operation. Any insights?

Felix, I've used both extensively for restoration work. The DeWalt is a workhorse—great pad longevity and the dust collection is solid if you hook it to a shop vac. But for really fine finishes, the Makita's orbital action is smoother. I'd say if you're doing mostly sanding between coats, go DeWalt. If you're stripping and finishing, Makita. Also, check the pad size—Makita's 5" is a bit more versatile.

I'm a contractor and we run Makitas on the job site. They take abuse and keep running. The BO5041K has variable speed which is clutch for different materials. DeWalt's is a bit louder and vibrates more after a year of heavy use. My two cents: get the Makita, but buy extra pads cause they wear faster.

Noob here—what about the price difference? I saw the DeWalt is like $20 cheaper. Is the Makita worth the extra cash for a weekend warrior like me?

Thanks guys! Dave, I think for weekend projects the DeWalt is plenty. I'm leaning towards the Makita for the smoother finish, but I'll keep an eye on pad costs. Gary, thanks for the heads up about vibration long-term. Dan, appreciate the breakdown! I'll probably go with the Makita and grab a few extra pads.