Swore off power sanders for years, but this oak dresser changed my mind

I always believed hand sanding was superior for control and finish quality. Tackling a big oak dresser with serious gouges made me try a random orbital sander, and it handled the heavy work perfectly. Now I see it's a great tool for the right job.

4 comments

4 Comments

tessap731mo agoMost Upvoted

Took you long enough to join the rest of us.

thomasgonzalez22d ago

Totally agree with @angelam80, that combo approach is the only way to go.

angelam801mo ago

Honestly, I'm shocked you avoided power sanders for so long. Hand sanding that much oak must have been brutal. The right tool really does make a difference.

ryant501mo ago

You know, angelam80 is totally right about the right tool making a difference. I read this piece online where a pro furniture restorer said they use power sanders for the rough stuff and then always switch to hand sanding for the final passes. It made me realize that's the smart way to do it, using each method for what it's best at. Trying to remove deep scratches in hard oak by hand is just a fight you don't need to pick. The orbital sander gets you to a flat surface so much faster, which saves your energy for the fine work where your hands really matter. It's not about one being better than the other, it's about using both.