Ridgid’s new variable-speed belt sander is a thoughtfully designed tool with a sturdy feel and attractive features. Heavier 4×24 and 3×24 sanders may be better suited for sanding large surfaces, but the Ridgid R2720, like other 3×21 sanders, is more maneuverable and easier to use off the bench—held horizontally to scribe woodwork to the wall, for example.

Among praiseworthy features: a trigger lock and a speed-adjustment knob that are easy to reach, a lighted plug that tells you at a glance whether the sander has power, a dust bag that is simple to attach and detach, a multi-position front grip, and a hook-and-loop strip to contain the 12-ft. power cord. The sander’s in-line design keeps it narrow and means it can sand flush with a vertical surface on one side. Its rubber-like grips are comfortable.

My only gripe was with the platen: It was held in place by two screws whose heads were not fully set into the surface. It was easy to countersink the holes a bit deeper and solve the problem. The sander retails for about $180.

—Scott Gibson is a woodworker and a writer in Maine.

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