The Festool Rotex can be switched from rotary motion for aggressive stock removal to random-orbital motion for fine sanding. Designed to be used only with a vacuum hose attached, it was quite a handful, particularly in rotary mode where even two hands couldn’t prevent it from jumping and moving the workpiece. Even the random-orbit mode proved exhausting: The sander was noisy and rough-sounding, with a noticeable vibration that left our hands tingling. If you want fast stock removal, the Bosch 1250DEVS and the Makita BO6040 offer similar or better performance for half the price.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

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.

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Makita SP6000J1 Track Saw

With enough power to slice through thick hardwoods, the Makita makes smooth, chip-free cuts in all materials.

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Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

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