Hey folks! I'm trying to decide between two palm sanders for my DIY woodworking projects. I already have a Bosch 18V battery-powered orbital sander and a drill, but I'm torn between getting the Bosch GKF 550 (corded) or the GKF18V-25N (battery-powered). The cordless one is $100 more expensive, and I'm wondering if it's really worth it for the convenience. I'm also thinking about future woodworking projects, but I'm worried I might regret my choice. What are your thoughts?
5 Answers
Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother with a palm sander. Just invest in some high-quality multi-grit discs for your random orbit sander instead. You'll get better results!
Battery-powered sanders are awesome for larger projects where you need to move around a lot. But for long sanding sessions, corded is the way to go. I love my cordless drill, but my corded sander never lets me down. I once had a battery sander that lost its juice after about 30 minutes, which really interrupted my flow. I just want to get the job done without those breaks!
Just a heads-up, the models you're looking at are routers, not sanders! I own both battery and corded palm routers. I prefer corded because if I drop it while it's running, I can quickly yank the cord to turn it off—rather than fumbling around for a switch. This is all about safety! But yeah, I do have a battery setup for sites without power.
If you can manage not to cut through your materials accidentally, I’d lean towards the corded sander. They’re usually lighter, you won’t have to worry about recharging batteries, plus you won’t have to deal with replacing them down the line.
Always go for a corded sander if you can. Batteries just aren't worth it for tools that run continuously like a sander. You’d need to spend a lot on a high-capacity battery, and ultimately, the weight can be a hassle. The convenience of not dealing with a cord isn’t worth it when you want power for extended periods.
I’ve also got a Makita battery sander with two 5Ah batteries and a fast charger—no interruptions for me! So it depends on how much you're sanding at once.