The Ridgid sander is easy to control but moves the workpiece a bit. To measure the sander’s aggressiveness, Engel sanded a poplar board for five minutes and measured how much wood was removed. The Ridgid sander removed eight grams of stock over the five minutes and the same amount when a vacuum was attached.

In addition, Engel sanded clear Plexiglass to compare the sanders’ scratch patterns. The Ridgid sander had a good scratch pattern. Engel found that the machines with the most uniform scratch pattern tended to be the most aggressive. With vacuum attached, the sander collects 73% of external dust.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Stanley Powerlock 16-ft. tape measure

With its smooth lock, tough case, compact size, and excellent accuracy, this Stanley tape is perfect for workshop use.

Buy at Amazon

Bosch 12V Trim Router

Trim routers are easier to handle when you cut the cord, and the Bosch’s compact, curvy shape and unique base give it unmatched control.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

Buy at Amazon