Street price: $170 Table size: 11-1/2 in. by 15 in. Motor rating: 3.5 Spindle/drum sizes: 1/2 in., 3/4 in., 1 in., 1-1/2 in., 2 in., and 3 in. Spindle stroke: 5/8 in. Oscillations per min.: 58 Dust collection: Very good
Includes onboard storage for drums with sleeves, inserts, and tools. Workspace in front of spindle is limited to 4 in. wide by 9 in. long.
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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.
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.
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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