If you are creative enough there’s nothing you can’t make using a pallet. Before using pallets, you need to sand them. Sanding pallets can be easy or hard, it all depends on your experience and on the tool you are using.
Usually, pallets require a sander that has a lot of power and that it’s fast. If you are looking we recommendations then we might help you. We made a list of best sander for pallets that has different sanders with different power, speed, and features.
Depending on how big your project is and how many times you will use the sander you can choose one of the other.
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Comparison List
| Products | Product Name | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Variable Speed Settings  | Variable Speed Settings |
| View On Amazon |
Durable  | Durable |
| View On Amazon |
Dust Collector  | Two - Speed Modes |
| View On Amazon |
Good Dust Collector  | Good Dust Collector |
| View On Amazon |
Budget Choice  | Budget Choice |
| View On Amazon |
What Sander Is Best For Pallets?
There are a lot of sander types you can use for pallets, but the two we recommend are the belt sanders and the orbit sander.
The belt sanders are very powerful sanders and can deal with tough surfaces easily, but due to their power and vibrations, they are hard to control. I don’t recommend belt sanders for beginners.
The orbit sanders aren’t as powerful as belt sanders and you can control them easier. Plus, the variable speed makes them more versatile. But, they don’t do good on larges surfaces.
Best Sander For Pallets – List
1. Bosch GET75-6N
Best Features 
- Variable Speed Settings
- Powerful Motor
- Dual-Mode with Turbo Setting
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
We have reviewed a lot of variable speed sanders, but we think that the Bosch GET75-6N is the best one when it comes to sanding pallets. This sander has a very powerful 7.5 amp motor, which delivers from 3000 to 7,500 OPM. You can choose the speed to match your project.
A big reason why we choose this sander is due to it’s variable speed system which allows for precise control. The first mode of this sander is the “normal” mode, I mostly use this mode when I have to remove paint or need a fine finish. The other mode is the “Turbo” mode, I mostly use this mode when I have to remove paint or sand rough objects. When it comes to sanding pallets, I usually use turbo mode, especially with old pallets. The turbo mode is 5 times faster than the normal mode.
This tool comes with rugged cast aluminum which gives the tool a longer life and at the same time helps the tool to vibrate less.
On the downside, the Bosch GET75-6N has a passive dust collection system which means it needs to be hooked up to a vacuum or shop vac.
What We Liked:
- Variable Speed – You can change the speed based on your needs.
- Powerful – 7.5 AMP motor that delivers 3,500 to 7,300 OPM.
- Durable – Rugged cast aluminum with dual-bearing pad mount.
- Dust collection requires a separate vacuum
2. Makita GV5010
Best Features 
- Durable
- Powerful
- Lightweight
My Overall Rating
(4.5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are working on large projects daily then you need a sander that not only is powerful and fast but also lasts a lot. If you are working with pallets for a long time project then the Makita GV5010 can be a good choice for you.
We have been using this sander for a while now, we have used it for heavy-duty projects and the sander still works perfectly. Most of the sanders we used for these projects didn’t last as much as this one.
The GV5010 comes with a “Makita-built” 3.9 motor that delivers up to 5.000 RPM. This sander is powerful and fast, which is a great combination if you are dealing with old pallets. The tool is also very lightweight, it only weighs 2.6 pounds.
The sanding process goes very smoothly, it comes with soft grip handles that are rubberized which makes the whole process comfortable and gives you better control over the tool.
What makes this tool special is the durability, this sander is made to last. The inside parts of the tools are protected, it comes with a ball-and-needle bearing construction which is the reason why this tool lasts a lot.
Overall a very good tool, although this is somewhat pricey, it is still worth it since you will have it for a very long time.
What We Liked:
- Powerful and Fast – 3.9 AMP Motor that spins the tool up to 5,000 RPM.
- Lightweight – Weights only 2.6 pounds.
- Comfortable – Soft grip handles
- Durable – Inside parts are protected by a bearing construction.
- Pricey, but worth the money.
3. Bosch ROS20VSK
Best Features 
- Two – Speed Modes
- Turbo Mode
- Powerful
My Overall Rating
(4.5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
Another Bosch sander. The Bosch ROS20VSK features a high-quality 2.5 amp motor that delivers 7,500-12,000 OPM. It comes with Variable speed settings and changing the speed is very easy and fast.
It features a micro filter system for fine dust and trapping particles as small as a 1/2-micron in diameter. Durable and compact, the dust canister shows dust level and easily detaches for mess-free tasks.
It is easy and comfortable to use with a soft-grip top and body with low-vibration operation.
On the downside, I’ve had multiple users complain of the short shelf life of this sander, although mine is still going strong after 1 year of usage.
What We Liked:
- Variable Speed Settings – 7,500-12,000 OPM
- Motor – Features a 2.5 amp Motor.
- Dust Collection – Micro Filter System
- Shorter lifespan compared to other orbital sanders
4. DEWALT DWE6423
Best Features 
- Powerful
- Good Dust Collector
- Fast
My Overall Rating
(4 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
Some pallets are hard to sand, you need a powerful sander to get through it. One of the sanders that checks all the boxes when it comes to sanding pallets is the DEWALT DWE6423. This sander is powerful, fast, and gives you good results.
The DEWALT DWE6423 features a very powerful 3.0 AMP motor, the motor delivers up to 12,000 OPM. While sanding old pallets you will produce a lot of dust, to prevent that this Dewalt sander comes with a great dust collection system.
The dust collection system is improved (if you compare it to other DeWalt sanders) plus it allows you to connect a vacuum to the sander to help you get rid of the dust faster. To make it better, it also features a one-hand locking system for the dust-bag.
I was very impressed by how effective the dust collection system was. Moreover, it comes with a dust-sealed switch which prevents the dust to come in contact with the switch, this gives the switch a longer life.
Whenever you are a professional or a beginner, you will love the design of this sander. The overall height is reduced to allow the user to get closer to their work, this gives you better control over the tool.
Like many other sanders, this one too comes with a separated counterweight to reduce the vibrations. Also to note, this sander uses PSA pads.
On the downside, the cord of this sander is short, so this one takes a hit when it comes to portability.
What We Liked:
- Powerful – 3.0 AMP motor that delivers 12,000 OPM.
- Improved Dust Collection – Allows you to connect to other vacuums plus it features a one-hand locking system for the dust bag.
- Good Design – Height is reduced to allow the user to get closer to the work.
- Fewer Vibrations
- PSA Pads
- Short power cord
5. BLACK+DECKER BDERO600
Best Features 
- Good Dust Collector System
- Good Motor
- Fast
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
And the final tool in our list is the BLACK+DECKER BDERO600. This sander is a budget pick, meaning that it is affordable.
You won’t get as good results as you will get with the other tools listed here, but still, this sander gives you a solid performance. If you are working on a small project and need a small sander then this is your perfect choice.
This sander comes with a good 2.4 amp motor that delivers 14,000 OPM. It has a 3-position grip meaning that it gives you several options when it comes to holding the sander – palm grip, handle grip, precision grip.
It comes with a good dust collection system that has an in-built micro-filter. The sander is very lightweight and fits tight places.
What We Liked:
- Good Motor – 2.4 AMP motor that delivers 14,000 orbits per minute.
- Paddle Switch
- Budget-Friendly
- No variable speed switch
What Should You Consider When Buying a Sander for Pallets?
While looking for a sander, you will come across a lot of different types of sanders. Each of them comes with different features that can be used for different projects.
When dealing with pallets, you can use almost every type of sander, but these sanders must have some features that will make the whole process easier. To help you understand which features you need, we have made a list that you can read down below:
Power & Speed
If you are trying to sand pallets then you definitely need a sander that has a lot of power and speed. Most of the pallets you will be dealing with have a lot of wood and other old material on them, a slow sander won’t be able to get through it, especially if the pallets are old. You need a very powerful and fast sander so you can get the job done.
Speed and power not only will help you to get rid of unnecessary material but also will help you complete the job faster, especially if you have to sand a lot of pallets. Even if you don’t have a lot of pallets to sand, who is to say that you won’t have a lot of pallets in the future? That’s why it’s always a good idea to get a sander that can deliver maximum performance.
If you know that you won’t be using a sander only for pallets, then I recommend you to get a sander with variable speed settings. Therefore you can use the same sander for different jobs. A variable speed sander will also help you save a lot of time because you don’t have to change the sandpaper every time you are working with different materials, you can complete the whole project in one go. We have made sure to include two sanders with variable speed ( Bosch 1250DEVS & Bosch 3725DEVS ).
Paper Attachments
The problem with working with used pallets is that you will have to spend a lot of time preparing them. Most of them are old so you have to first get rid of the unwanted material, dust, then you need to remove the paint, and lastly, you need to give it a smooth finish.
This whole process takes time, a big reason why it takes so much time is that for each of these tasks you need different sandpaper. Changing sandpaper can become difficult if you own a low-quality sander. Your sander needs to have a stable paper attachment system. All of the tools listed here make the changing sandpaper process easy. An alternative to getting rid of this problem is buying a sander with variable speed settings.
Dust Collector System
If you have dealt with old pallets before then you know that they come with a lot of dust, plus the sander itself produces a lot of dust while working, meaning that you will have to deal with a lot of dust while sanding pallets. Dust can be bad for your health, so you should always protect yourself by wearing a mask.
Most people prefer to connect a vacuum to the sander to get rid of the dust easier. That’s not always possible. Not every sander comes with an additional port for vacuums, and people that are on a budget can’t afford to buy an extra vacuum for this. And that’s why it is always important to check the dust collector system before buying a sander.
I always recommend buying a sander that has an in-built dust collector system plus at the same time it allows you to connect another vacuum. That’s the most effective way to get rid of the dust. All of the tools we have listed here come with a good dust system collector, some of them even come with a micro-filter dust collector meaning that the system gets rid of even the smallest dust.
But if you are buying a budget sander for pallets then most likely the sander won’t have these two features. So the in-built dust collector and the bag is the only thing you can rely on. Keep in mind that you will have to empty the dust bag a lot of times while working, so the size of the bag and the ease of removing and attaching the bag is very important.
Comfort
Some sanding jobs will take a lot of time to complete, especially sanding pallets. With a lot of squares feet of wood to sand that means that you will be holding the sander for a long time. That’s why it is always important to buy a sander that comes with high-quality handles that can make your hand and the whole process comfortable.
The handle isn’t the only thing you need to focus on when it comes to comfort. A thing that can make the process uncomfortable is the vibration, usually, low-quality sanders that have a powerful motor vibrates a lot – that’s why it is important to look if the sander has any features that prevent that. Most of the sanders we have listed here come with a separated counterweight that reduces the vibrations a lot. Also, some sanders can be very loud, if you can find a sander that is very quiet then you will thank yourself after a while.
Final Words
All the guidelines about speed power and the other things we have mentioned here may confuse you, but they are all important. A good thing about working with pallets is that they are cheap, meaning that even if you don’t get good results in one of them you can still practice and over time you will get better and better results.
It is always important to have a good sander that is durable and gives you good results. That’s why we have made of the best sander for pallets. All of the tools we have listed there come with features that will make the sanding pallets easier, but not limited to. You can use most of them for different projects. And if for some reason you decide not to buy any of the tools we have listed here, then you can still read the buyer guide that will explain to you what features you need when dealing with pallets.
