Choosing the right power tools is never easy. It’s up to you to be an informed consumer and make the selection that is best suited to your needs. One of the most essential power tools of all is the orbital sander. Here at Jason Brown Wood Floors, we are proud to stock orbital sanders manufactured by Mirka. We don’t believe you can go wrong with a sander made by Mirka, but you will have to choose between electric or pneumatic orbital sanders. Here’s a comparison of these two different varieties.
Which is best for you: electric or pneumatic orbital sanders? Here’s a comparison.
Cost
Let’s get this out of the way: electric sanders are generally more expensive than pneumatic ones. But this comes with one big catch. Keep in mind that you will need an air compressor to use a pneumatic sander. This is an extra expense you should be aware of if you don’t have one already. But if you already have a great air compressor, pneumatic sanders are especially economical.
If you don’t have easy and affordable access to high volumes of compressed air, electric sanders might just be a better financial option.
Lifespan
Generally, you would expect that the more expensive product has the longer lifespan. But in the case of electric and pneumatic orbital sanders, the latter actually tends to outlive electric sanders. This results from something we discussed earlier; pneumatic sanders have fewer components, and so there are fewer components that can sustain damage and cause the tool to fail.
Weight and Noise
Pneumatic orbital sanders don’t have a motor. This gives them two distinct advantages over their electric counterparts: weight and noise. They are both lighter and quieter than electric orbital sanders.
So far, all the qualities we have discussed seem to tilt in the favor of pneumatic orbital sanders. But there is one significant drawback we need to address.
Dust Collection
There is no overstating the importance of dust collection on your job site. Not only is dust a pain to clean up, but it can pose a significant threat to your respiratory health.
One of the biggest selling points of electric orbital sanders is automatic dust collection. There are a few pneumatic sanders on the market that feature dust collection, but this is hard to come by. If dust collection is a must for you, then electric sanders might be the way to go.
Hardwood Flooring from Jason Brown Wood Floors
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 4 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
Jason Brown Wood Floors is also your convenient dealer of high-quality, professional grade power tools. We offer brands that tradespeople trust most for the job. Come check out our Bel Air showroom to browse the in-stock selection of products and tools by Festool, Freud, Diablo, Shaper, and Mirka.