Buying a power sander... opinions?
 

I'm thinking this will get into a Ford/Chevy or Coke/Pepsi debate, but I need opinions on power sanders... 1/4 sheet sanders to be exact.

Home Depot has a number of them and they're all priced about the same, so how about some feedback.

DeWalt, Porter Cable, Makita, Ryobi, or Ridgid. They're all about $50 except for the Ryobi which is $30.

I own the DeWalt 1/4 sheet sander. I have had it for a couple of years and I'm very satisfied with it. I actually own a few DeWalt sanders and they are all great products.

I think these are all probably pretty similar. I have had good luck with ryobi - no reason to think it would be significantly worse than any of the others - and it is $20 off. I owned a ryobi 1/6 sheet sander and used it hard and professionally for over 5 years and it still works. If I were buying a sander today though I would be getting a random orbital and not an orbital like these.

Well, if they are pretty much all teh same price, i would say get DeWalt. They may not be the best, but they make VERY good tools.

I have the Makita 1/4 sheet sander. No complaints at all.

Thanks all. I ended up buying the Porter Cable. Why? I dunno, just did.

Porter Cable and Delta make excellent tools. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Unless you are a contractor & will be using it day in & day out, any of the above should be suitable/reliable for general use.