Need sander rec for deck and cabinets - overwhelmed by options!

Hey everyone,

I'm about to refinish my back deck (about 12x16) and also build a set of built-in cabinets for my garage. I've never owned a power sander before and I'm looking at getting one. But there are so many types: orbital, belt, detail, random orbit... I don't know where to start.

What would you recommend for a beginner that won't break the bank but can handle both deck boards and cabinet plywood? I'd rather buy once than upgrade later. Thanks!

For a deck that size, you're gonna want a belt sander for the rough stuff. A 3x21 or 4x24 will eat through old stain and rough boards fast. But for cabinets, belt sanders are too aggressive. You'll need a random orbit sander for the fine finish. Honestly, you can't do both well with one sander. If I had to pick one for a beginner, I'd say get a decent random orbit sander (ROS) like a DeWalt or Bosch. You can use it on the deck with coarse paper, just takes longer. But if the deck is really rough, you'll burn through pads. My advice: buy a cheap belt sander from HF for the deck, and a good ROS for the cabinets. You'll thank me later.

Rick's right about needing two, but if you're on a budget like me, you can get away with a decent random orbit sander for both. I refinished my mom's deck last summer with a Ryobi ROS and it worked fine. Just use 60 grit to start, then 80, then 120. It took a while but saved me money. For cabinets, same sander with 120-220 grit. I got mine refurbished for $40. Also, don't forget a detail sander for corners—I used a cheap one from Amazon for like $30. Works great for getting into tight spots. Just my 2 cents.

I do a lot of woodworking and have all three types. For cabinets, you really want a random orbit sander with variable speed. The cheap ones are single speed and can leave swirl marks. I'd recommend the Bosch ROS20VSC—it's about $80 but worth every penny. For the deck, a belt sander is ideal, but you can also use a ROS with a hard pad. If you're only doing this one deck, maybe rent a belt sander from Home Depot for a day. That way you don't have to store another tool. As for brands, stay away from the no-name stuff on Amazon. Stick with Makita, Bosch, DeWalt, or even Ridgid. Oh, and get a good shop vac—sanding makes a ton of dust. Trust me, your lungs will thank you.

Good point on the dust collection. Even with a vac, wear a mask. I've seen too many guys cough up dust after a big sanding job. Also, for the deck, consider a chemical stripper first to save time. But if you're set on sanding, get 3M Cubitron paper—lasts way longer than the cheap stuff. And yeah, variable speed on the ROS is a must. I second the Bosch. Mine's been going strong for 5 years.