Every good furniture flip includes some sanding. If you can only have ONE tool in your arsenal to start flipping, make it a sander.
There are many good sanders available that can be used for furniture flipping, and it can be hard to narrow down your choice with such a large selection available. There are multiple styles of furniture sanders, as well as a huge selection of brands within each style. The best sander for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
If you’re a beginner to furniture flipping, you may not have experience with choosing the best sander for a furniture flip. That’s ok! We’ll break down the most common types of sanders and give you the information you need to choose the best sander for your furniture flipping business.
Here are the best sander options to consider:
1. Random Orbit Sander
A random orbit sander (also known as a random orbital sander) is a popular choice for furniture flipping because it is relatively easy to use and produces a smooth finish. It works by rotating the sanding pad in a random pattern, which helps to reduce the appearance of sanding marks.
Random orbit sanders are often affordable, which is great if you’re flipping furniture for profit and need to reduce your expenses.
Random orbit sanders offer a smooth finish without marks and without the intense physical effort that comes withhold sanding, so it'll leave you with . The only downside to a random orbital sander is that the sanding pad is circular which can leave you hand-sanding corners. And furniture usually has lots of corners! That said, a random orbit sander is still the best sander for furniture flipping. A flexible interface sanding pad will allow your random orbit sander to more easily sand curved shaped surfaces, like legs.
Ryobi makes an affordable sander that works very well on furniture. Personally, I actually have two of the Ryobi sanders. Why two? This sander is my favorite tool and I can't work without it.
Remember to get multiple grit levels of sandpaper pads. A multipack is the most economical way to buy sandpaper discs.
2. Belt Sander
A belt sander is a powerful tool that can remove material quickly, making it a good choice for removing old finishes or roughing up surfaces when you’re flipping furniture. However, it can be more difficult to control than a random orbit sander, so it may not be the best choice for finishing work. If you are removing old finishes from large pieces of furniture with extensive flat surfaces, like dressers, a belt sander will save you a lot of time.
WEN makes a good one. Don’t forget the sandpaper!
3. Detail Sander
A detail sander is a small, handheld sander that is well-suited for sanding tight corners and hard-to-reach areas. It is not as powerful as a belt sander or random orbit sander, so it may not be suitable for removing large amounts of material and is definitely not your best tool for removing old finishes or fixing heavy damage.
A detail sander is an excellent companion to a larger sander like a random orbit or belt sander. I use my obit sander for most of a piece of furniture, then use the detail sander for corners, nooks, crannies, and awkward spaces around hardware. If you can afford two sanders, I’d recommend a detail sander and a random orbit sander. Together, they will cover nearly all furniture flipping situations.
You may be curious why I'm skipping over palm sanders. A palm sander is a small, lightweight sander that is easy to maneuver and can be used for finishing work. It is not as powerful as a random orbit sander, so it may not be the best choice for removing a lot of material. Palm sanders are great for smaller projects and are often cheaper than larger sanders. If you’re just doing light finishing work on a furniture flip, a palm sander is great. BUT, a detail sander can do double duty as a palm sander, so if you want a palm sander, I recommend that you still stick with the SKIL sander above.
4. SurfPrep
The SurfPrep sanders are the best on the market, but I don't recommend them.
Whaaat? Why?
The SurfPrep sanders are fabulous. They last forever, sand faster, and can even attach to your vacuum for nearly perfect dust control. But they're expensive.
Like really expensive.
So expensive, in fact, they can triple (or quadruple, or more!) your entire furniture flipping startup budget. So if you're given a SurfPrep sander as a gift, by all means, accept it and celebrate! But if you're starting furniture flipping to make a little money, don't bother with the SurfPrep. If you really want to spend a bit more money to jazz up your workshop, get a shop vac instead. It'll keep your workspace clean and save you hundreds of dollars.
5. Sanding Blocks and Sponges
Sanding sponges are basically gritty sponges that allow you to hand sand a piece of furniture. They work well but can be more expensive than plain sandpaper without being much more useful. Instead of sanding sponges, I recommend a sanding block. A sanding block is not technically an actual sander, just a tool to help you hand sand. It takes more physical effort and elbow grease than the mechanical sanders listed above, but it is the cheapest option and can be a great choice for very small pieces of furniture. It’s also a great way to get some use out of any extra sandpaper you have lying around.
Amazon Basics makes a very affordable sanding block.
Overall, a random orbital sander is the best sander for furniture flipping because it is relatively easy to use and produces a smooth finish. If you can only choose one sander for furniture flipping, a random orbit sander is the best all-around choice. However, you may want to consider using other types of sanders depending on the specific needs of your project.
If you can afford two sanders, consider adding a detail sander to your arsenal. With a random orbit sander and a detail sander, you will be able to sand nearly any piece of furniture that you choose to flip.
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