If you want to get a smooth edge on a curved, round or odd shaped piece of wood, the best way to achieve it is to use a spindle sander.
They are used when a woodwork project features more than just straight edges and lines and you need a sander that is more versatile and precise than a belt sander or disc sander.
A spindle sander features a flat work table with a round sanding drum located in the centre of the table. The sanding drum spins while at the same time oscillating up and down to give your work a smooth and professional feel.
If you’re not sure what to look for when buying a new spindle sander, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to check out our spindle sander reviews and recommendations, and keep reading down the page to find our spindle sander buying guide.
And as always, for those short on time, here are our top three picks of spindle sanders that are available on the market today:
Our Top Pick
A powerful, heavy-duty sander. A high-performance tool that will get the job done. A worthy investment for your woodworking collection.
Top Value Pick
Grizzly G0538 Oscillating Spindle Sander
A great quality mid-priced machine built to perform. Backed by positive reviews from customers.
Top Budget Pick
A good machine for a very good price. This is a great spindle sander for a beginner or someone interested in getting involved in woodwork.
Best Oscillating Spindle Sander Reviews
Check out the list below to discover what we consider to be the best oscillating spindle sanders available on the market today:
Delta 31-483 Heavy Duty Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/2 HP 115V 1 Phase
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 29
- Weight: 73 lbs
- Table size: 14-3/4” x 14-3/4”
The Pros
- Heavy duty build
- Good for larger and harder wood
- Large table space
- Minimal vibration
- Tilt table
- 5 year warranty
The Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Non-standard size dust port
Overview
The Delta 31-483 spindle sander is a high-quality and well-built product that, depending on your workload, might be more suited for professional use. It’s a powerful tool with a good size work table that makes sanding larger and heavier pieces of wood a simple and effortless process.
The only real drawbacks of this spindle sander are the fact that it’s quite expensive and it is heavy. So if you have the room for it in your garage or home workshop, it’s a great choice when it comes to deciding on a spindle sander but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who will need to pack it away after use or needs something more portable to take to different locations.
It’s covered by a big 5 year warranty which is another definite plus.
Click here for up-to-date Prices and Reviews
Grizzly G0538 Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/3 HP 110V 1 Phase 4A
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 72
- Weight: 37 lbs
- Table size: 20” x 14”
The Pros
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Extra large work table
- Six sanding drum diameters
The Cons
- Not for professional use
Overview
This solid spindle sander is both lightweight and portable, and comes with a huge 20 inch by 14 inch work table. It’s a mid-priced sander with a heap of great features and benefits and our number 1 choice on this list in terms of value for money.
It comes ready to use, straight from the box and includes six 4-1/2” sanding spindles, three 80 grit sleeves, three 150 grit sleeves, and six table inserts – all of which store neatly under the table, making it a well-organized sanding tool that can also be easily transported.
Made and designed by Grizzly, a trusted brand that makes great quality tools and equipment, this sander is ideal for DIY work, home workshops and garages. It might be a little more expensive than some other mid-range sanders but you get real value out of this sander and in my opinion, it’s worth the extra few bucks.
It comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty.
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WEN 6510T Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/2 HP 115V 1 Phase 3.5A
- Speed: 2000 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 58
- Weight: 30 lbs
- Table size: 15” x 11”
The Pros
- Great entry level product
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
The Cons
- Not suited for large projects or professional use
- Mostly plastic construction
Overview
If you are on a budget or are just getting into woodworking, the WEN 6510T just might be the spindle sander for you. This inexpensive sander is our top budget pick and while it isn’t suitable for professional use, it’s a great addition to a home workshop or garage.
Its small size and light weight make it perfect for storing or transporting but due to being so lightweight, some users have reported that vibrations may cause it to move a little during use, so it’s a good idea to make sure you are using this sander on a sturdy platform.
Besides this issue, there aren’t many other complaints or problems with this sander. It’s a bargain for the price and would make a great purchase for those starting out on their woodwork journey.
It comes with six different sanding sleeves and five different rubber drums, making it compatible with a wide range of projects and wood pieces. It also features a 1.5” dust port and onboard storage for your sanding drums and discs.
Includes a 2 year warranty.
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Triton TSPS450 Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 3.5A 450W 115V 1 Phase
- Speed: 2000 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 58
- Weight: 28.5 lbs
- Table size: 14-1/2” x 11”
The Pros
- Excellent user satisfaction and feedback
- Stable operation
- Quiet
- Portable
The Cons
- Non-standard sized vac port
Overview
The Triton TSPS450 spindle sander is a well-built mid-range sander that is backed by a heap of positive reviews and satisfied customers.
Triton is a respected brand that manufactures a wide range of woodworking tools that are designed for both professionals and amateurs alike.
This lightweight and compact spindle sander comes with six different sized sleeves with matching rubber drum inserts and a long list of optional extras to make sure it can handle any job that you throw at it.
Backed by a 3 year Triton warranty.
Click here for up-to-date Prices and Reviews
Jet 708404 Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/2 HP 110V 1 Phase
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 30
- Weight: 82 lbs
- Table size: 14-1/2” x 14-1/2”
The Pros
- Strong and durable build
- Powerful
- Won’t bog down
- Tilting work table
The Cons
- Expensive
- Not portable
Overview
The Jet 708404 oscillating spindle sander is the most expensive sander on this list. But if you are looking for a spindle sander that will stand up to any task, or you plan to be using your sander daily, this just might be the sander for you.
This is a well-built and durable sander that won’t bog down in power when pressure is applied or when using hardwood. At a standing height of 18.5”, it’s a fair bit taller than most spindle sanders, which is great if you are tall but just means you’ll need to mount it on a suitable table if the work surface is a bit too high for you.
It’s a heavy sander and not meant for portable use, so it’s ideal for workshops or garages that allow for a permanent set-up.
It also features a work table that will tilt to 45 degrees, making it ideal for sanding angled and beveled edges.
It comes with 5 spindle assemblies sized between 1/4” and 2”, two round table inserts, and two oblong table inserts.
Backed by a 5 year limited warranty.
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Powertec OS1000 Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 2/5 HP 115V 1 Phase 2.6A
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 30
- Weight: 60 lbs
- Table size: 18” x 18”
The Pros
- Large work table
- Easy and fast sleeve changes
- Steel table insert
The Cons
- Not for professional use
- Low horsepower motor
Overview
Because of its small motor, the Powertec OS1000 is better suited for working with small pieces of wood. Its large, round work table is perfect for sanding edges on small craft projects where a lot of power isn’t required.
It is a quite heavy machine though, weighing in at around 60 pounds, so it’s more practical to have as part of a permanent set-up, rather than have to pack it away after each use.
It comes with five sanding drums, six sanding sleeves, six table inserts, and five drum washers. All of which can be stored in the convenient under-table storage areas.
This mid-range table sander isn’t a practical solution for those with a heavy workload but it’s great for occasional use and for working with light materials.
Comes with a 1 year warranty.
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Shop Fox W1831 Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/2 HP 120V 1 Phase 3.5A
- Speed: 2,000 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 58
- Weight: 30 lbs
- Table size: 11-1/2” x 15”
The Pros
- Compact
- Powerful for its size
- A lot of included accessories
- Simple set-up
- Safety key
The Cons
- Not for professional or heavy use
- Can bog down in power if too much pressure applied to the sanding drum
- No built-in storage
Overview
If you are just getting started with woodworking and are looking for a lightweight, versatile and powerful sander that won’t cost you a fortune, the Shop Fox W1831 is right up your alley.
It comes ready for use from straight out of the box, so you don’t need to worry about setting up your machine if you’ve never used a spindle sander before. Just plug it in and go.
Weighing in at 30 pounds, it’s one of the lightest sanders on our list. This lightweight and compact size makes it ideal for home storage and portable use.
It also features a safety key, allowing you to lock it out from use. Great if you have kids at home whose curiosity might get the better of them. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
For a very reasonable price, you’ll get five rubber sanding drums, six sanding sleeves, six table inserts, and three spindle washers.
And it comes with a 2 year warranty.
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Delta SA350K Oscillating Spindle Sander
Features –
- Motor: 1/4 HP 120V 1 Phase
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Oscillations per minute: 60
- Weight: 49 lbs
- Table size: 18” x 18”
The Pros
- Lockout safety key
- Large work table
- Toggle switch
- Easy assembly
The Cons
- Not suitable for professional or heavy use
- Reports of nylon parts stripping during use
Overview
The Delta SA350K spindle sander is a mid-range product that comes with great features and benefits, making it a real value for money item.
The large table is great for working with a wide range of wood sizes but just keep in mind that it is not as powerful as some of the other sanders on this list, so it’s more suited to light to medium workloads.
It comes with five different sizes of sanding spindles, drum plates, abrasive sleeves, table inserts, a dust bag, and required wrenches. All of which can be stored in the two inbuilt compartments.
It also features a lockout key for added safety and comes with a massive 5 year warranty.
There are some reports of the nylon parts around the oscillator stripping during use, however, many other customers reported positive feedback about this machine.
Always remember to weigh up the pros and cons of every tool before purchase.
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What To Look For In A Spindle Sander
When working with curved or irregular shaped wood, a belt sander or disc sander probably won’t give you the result you want. And unless you want to sand everything by hand, in these cases, you need a spindle sander to reach those tight or curved edges.
You might consider investing in a spindle sander if you are undertaking projects such as:
- Furniture crafting
- Musical instrument making
- Decorative molding
- Toy making
- Handcrafts
The real benefit of these sanders and reason why they work so well is that they oscillate (the sanding drum moves up and down) as well as spin. This technique gives a smoother final sand while at the same time using less sandpaper.
If you are new to woodworking or using oscillating spindle sanders, you might be wondering what to look for when making your first purchase. Spindle sanders come in a wide range of prices and may include different features such as a tilting workbench or larger work table. Different machines also come with different accessories out of the box, so it’s worth taking the time to think about what features will suit your style of projects best.
When it comes to making your choice, the four main things you should be considering are:
Power
The spindle sanders featured in this list range from 2/5 HP to 1/2 HP. Basically, the heavier the workload, the harder the wood and the more pressure you need to exert onto the sanding drum – the more powerful you need your spindle sander to be. Sanders that are low on power will bog down if used for work heavier than they can handle.
For small projects, this isn’t an issue and a low horsepower spindle sander will handle small and soft pieces of wood without any problems.
If you aren’t sure of what tasks you will use your sander for or think you might need a more powerful sander in the future, it’s always better to go for a machine with higher horsepower, so that you don’t get caught out down the line.
Versatility
It’s best to look for a spindle sander that is able to fit a wide range of different sized sanding drums and sleeves. Most sanders come with around 5 or 6 standard sizes, with the ability to purchase other sizes if needed.
For fine, small jobs, you’ll want to look for a thinner drum, while larger curves and bends (such as furniture making) require thicker drums.
If you know for certain which size drum you require, make sure you check with the manufacturer before purchase to make sure they make the correct size you need.
Work Table Size
The size of the work table that you need depends on the type of projects you are undertaking. Small and compact sanders with an 11” work table are great for small craft and toy making but might make larger tasks like sanding pieces of furniture a clumsy and awkward process. For bigger jobs, look for something with a 15 to 20 inch work table.
Also, if you need to sand a lot of beveled edges look for a sander with a tiltable table. These sanders tend to come at a higher cost though.
Dust Port
While the dust collection system will have no real bearing on the way your sander performs, it may have an impact on your comfort while working and the cleanup time after you finish sanding.
Most spindle sanders feature a collection chamber with a valve that allows you to connect a vac to the sander to extract the dust.
Some sanders have dust ports that fit better to a wide range of vacuum hoses, so check the manufacturer’s specs and read through online reviews to see if the dust port on the model you are interested in will work with your vacuum.
Conclusion
When deciding on which spindle sander is the best suited to you, it’s very important to consider both the amount of work you’ll be doing with your machine and the type of work that you’ll be performing.
From there, you can look for the spindle sander that best fits your usage and budget, to get the right machine to add to your workshop and improve your woodworking experience.
Spindle sanders are great time savers that give your work a professional look and feel that is much harder to accomplish with hand sanding.
When it comes to value for money, my personal favorite spindle sander is the Grizzly G0538. It’s a solid, all-round machine that doesn’t cost a fortune but will do a fantastic job.
If power is what you are after or you are going to be putting your spindle sander through a lot of hard work, I recommend taking a look at our top pick, the Delta 31-483. It will provide heavy-duty power and grunt for great results on both hard and soft woods.
As always, remember to consider all your options before making your final purchase and choose the machine that best fits your needs.
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