10 Best Sanders For Decks in 2021

Wooden decks are commonly found in many households, and they stay attractive and beautiful throughout the years. To ensure they maintain their beauty and last for more years to come, you need to treat them with care. The maintenance of wooden decks is not difficult, and it only has two steps to achieve what you want.

The first step is choosing a sander to remove the worn out parts and smooth put any shabby parts and then use a few coats of varnish over the wooden deck, and it will last for another set of long years. As simple as the steps are, you still need to get a good sander that will do a high-quality job and give you the best finish.

See also:

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However, there are important factors such as the type of deck sanders that you can use, what their features mean. Knowing these things will give you the knowledge you need to choose a good sander for decks.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SANDER FOR DECKS – BUYING GUIDE

First of all, you need to know what a deck sander is and its uses. A sander is used in smoothing out surfaces with sandpaper and abrasion. The sandpaper is attached to the sander and moves quickly on the work surface to make it smooth. Most sanders are powered by electricity, but you can also find sanders that are battery-powered available in the market.

There are different types of sanders for sanding a deck and knowing the different types and their uses will allow you to choose the right sander for your deck.

TYPES OF SANDERS

There are numerous types of sanders that include;

Flap sander: This sander is also known as a sanding flap wheel, and it has a Rolodex shape. They are commonly used on handheld drills and bench grinders. They are mostly used to smoothen curved surfaces.

Belt sander: A belt sander, also known as strip sander, is mainly used in shaping wood and other materials. The belt sander is an electric device that has an abrasive coated belt that is placed on top of two cylindrical drums and is rotated by an electric motor. The material moves towards the sanding belt while using the belt sander; it can trim, sand and level flat and round surfaces.

Disc sander: These sanders are mostly used as the stationary benchtop sander; they have circular and replaceable sandpaper. This sander is rotated by compressed air and electric motors.

Random orbital sander: These sanders have round sanding pads, and they are known as one of the most versatile portable electric sanders. Its pads have two different movements, it vibrates in small circles and also turns in circles and because of this swirls that are commonly found in other sanders is not present in this sander.

Stroke sander: This sander uses a hand-operated plate that is put in a basic sanding belt to apply accurate pressure. It is majorly used in finishing doors, tabletops, cabinets and other large surfaces.

Sheet sanders: These sanders are made specially to smoothen flat surfaces. It works by using a 9*11 inch sandpaper in the device. The sandpaper is placed against a flat square pad by two spring clamps. The motor then vibrates the pad in tiny orbits, and this allows you to move the sander in any direction.

Commercial wood floor sander: These sanders are usually available at rental outlets. Commercial sanders are best suited for hardwood floors, but they can also be used for decks. Commercial orbital sanders weigh up to 100 pounds and release a lot of vibration. Due to their heavyweight, they are hard to transport, but they work wonderfully well for areas that are not cupped or warped. Commercial drum sanders are large tools that are fitted with a rotating sanding drum. They are made for sanding large surface areas. However, they can remove wood at a high rate, so it may cause harm to the household deck if handled by a beginner.

CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS

It is important to know what you need a sander to do, do you need a smooth finish or you want to get rid of unwanted materials, or you need both features in your sander. After deciding on what your needs are, then it will be easy to choose the right sander for your project.

SANDING AREA

The kind of sander that you will purchase depends on the type of deck you have. Some decks have odd-shaped corners and have different designs. You may need a versatile sander that can handle detail work or a sander that provides you with speed and power if you have a flat deck.

SANDER TYPE

As we have mentioned above, there are different sanders for decks available in the market. Since you will be using the sander on a deck, we would recommend that you go for the belt sander because they are powerful and fast, but you can go through the types of sanders and their features and choose the one you think best meets your requirements. You might consider orbital sanders, but they are made for control and precision. They do not have the power to cover large areas in a short time.

HEAD TYPE

It is important to consider the head type of a sander when purchasing a sander. To choose the best head type, select the one that is best suited for your workpiece and will meet all your requirements.

SIZE

Sanders are measured in inches. The wider the sander, the more surface area it will be able to cover at once. Just know that you might not be able to reach corners with a large sander, but if you go for a smaller sander, you will need more time to complete your project. Choose the size that you think best suits the needs of your deck.

POWER INPUT

There are the wired and battery-operated deck sanders. The wired sanders have a higher rating over the battery-operated; they are also better to use for an extended period. If you decide on purchasing a battery-powered sander, then go for one that uses Lithium-ion batteries.

MOTOR

The size of the motor usually entails what the motor’s strength will be. The motor size of handheld motors is measured in amps. It will be best if you go for a sander that has at least three amps motor power if not, it will take longer to finish your work.

SPEED

The speed of a sander is another important factor to consider. There may be times when you have to work with different types of materials, and for this, you should get a sander with variable speed features to help you deal with all the different materials.

DUST EXTRACTION

Sanders leave a lot of dust and debris while they work. It is best to have a sander that comes with an in-built dust extractor if not, you will end up with extra work on your hands. Cleaning can be stressful, and having all that dust lying around could cause health issues.

PRICE

Purchasing a good deck sander does not mean you have to break the bank. If deck sanding is all you are going to use the sander for, then you will be able to get a sander of decent quality at a reasonable price. Ensure that you compare all the features and prices and make a decision that suits you best.

There are different types of sanders with varying features, and it may seem like it is impossible to choose the right sander. No worries, we have provided you with a buyer’s guide and product review to help you choose the best sander for decks without and hassle.

Let’s check the list.

We have compiled a list of the best sanders for decks along with their features and specifications to give you a detailed review on the products.