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DeWalt Palm Sander Review 2020: Quality without breaking the bank
This corded tool is ideal for larger sanding projects. It's simple, easy to use, and offers the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to sanders.
DeWalt Palm Sander DWE6411K
5.0
The bottom line Durable, inexpensive and reliable. This DeWalt palm is budget-friendly and extremely easy to use. Buy if You want a reliable palm sander without bells or whistles
Quick facts
- The Dewalt palm sander (DWE6411K) comes with a handy DeWalt bag for storage.
- Accepts 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 sandpaper sheets with ease.
- It comes with a hole puncher tool for easier dust suction.
- You can attach a shop vac to the sander to eliminate dust.
Pros and cons
Pros
- It’s most budget-friendly since it allows you to use traditional sandpaper rather than pads.
- Offers 14,000 oscillations per minute
- Sandpaper is attached with a lever on both sides and a sturdy clamp on the front.
- Has added vibration control, so your hand doesn’t go numb after sanding for 10 minutes!
Cons
- This tool is corded. While that may be a con for some, I personally opted for this to complete larger sanding projects without having to worry about charging a battery.
- This palm sander uses traditional sandpaper sheets. It’s certainly not as convenient as pads, but it is more budget-friendly.
DeWalt palm sander DWE6411K specifications
| In the box |
|
| Oscillations per minute | 14,000 OPM |
| Tool weight | 3 pounds |
| Voltage | 120v |
| Battery | Not required, the tool is corded |
| Warranty | 3 year |
| Motor | 2.3 amps |
My full review of the DeWalt sander
Reason for buying
My wife and I tackle quite a bit of DIY projects. Not just things that need to get done around the house, but also crafts. For example, my wife owns a small retail store. I have made all fixtures by hand, including a 10 foot counter.
Anyone that has worked with wood knows they need a sander, and depending on the projects you do, a corded sander makes sense. It allows for longer sanding without having to worry about a battery. It also reduces the overall weight since a DeWalt battery can weigh up to 1.4lbs depending on the size!
When our previous sander finally died after 10+ years of service, I came across this sander at Lowe’s. Since I hardly ever buy anything before researching it, I looked it up on Amazon right away when I got home. Seeing the 900+ 5 star reviews and prime discount & free delivery made it an easy choice for me! I placed the order, and 2 days later, my sander had arrived.
Using the sander
So as I do with any tool, I unboxed it and put it to work. At that time, I was making a new fixture for my wife’s store. It included sanding 6 2×3’s and a full 4×8 sheet of sheathing. When I put my sandpaper sheet in place, I noticed the front clamp, which was new to me. My previous sander just had the two levers, one on each side, to hold the sandpaper in place. This new clamp really holds the sandpaper sheet in place more securely!
Here are a few photos of the fixture I was making:
So sandpaper in place, I got to sanding. Boy, did it make quick work of all that lumber. I used 60 grit sandpaper, which is ideal for removing any indents and markings on the lumber. Since the 2×3’s were going to get stained, it had to look good and be baby smooth.
It literally took me no time to get every piece sanded. I’m guessing around 10 minutes total. While I did not notice it at the time, I realized afterward that my hand never got numb. If you’ve ever used an older or cheap sander, no doubt you’ve experienced your hand going numb from all the vibrations after just a few minutes of continuous sanding. But not with this DeWalt sander! While the grip is comfortable, it also offers a counterweight for less vibrating on your hand, which definitely works!
Final thoughts
This DeWalt sander is simply a must-have in my book. I expect it to work flawlessly for years to come, and at a price of just under $50, there’s no reason not to pick one up. It’s a no bells and whistles sander, yet it outshines similar sanders due to improved construction and thoughtful implementations.
Frequently asked questions about the DeWalt palm sander
What is the black thing that comes with the palm sander?
This is an attachment that snaps in place under the sander. When you do so, it will perforate holes into the sandpaper sheet. Why poke holes in a brand new sheet of sandpaper, you mask ask?
This is so dust from sanding will be collected in these holes, which go through the sandpaper and the sander’s bottom into the dust collector! This works even better if you have a shop vac hose attached rather than the dust collector it comes with. It will keep your workspace virtually dust-free.
How to put sandpaper on the DeWalt palm sander?
While it’s straightforward to do, if you’ve never done it before, you may be itching your head for a moment. Here’s how:
- Release the lever on both sides of the sander
- Push in the clamp on the front
- Slide the sandpaper sheet into the front clamp
- Lay the sandpaper sheet flat on the bottom of the sander
- Attach the lever on both sides
The sandpaper should be firmly in place, flush to the sander. Ensure the sandpaper sheet entirely covers the sander pad, or you could damage the pad while sanding rough edges if it comes in direct contact with wood. While this isn’t a huge problem and bound to happen over time, it will decrease the sander pad’s overall life.
Keep in mind that you can always replace the sander pad if needed.
What sandpaper does this sander take?
This DeWalt palm sander takes standard 1/4 sheets of sandpaper. This makes it extremely easy to pick-up some sandpaper sheets as any hardware store sells these, and they’re even available at supermarkets, like Walmart.
However, if you’re not in a hurry to get more, it’s worth exploring Amazon for sandpaper sheets. You can typically save money while getting better quality sandpaper, like the 25 sheet bundle by Fandeli.
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