Category: Orbital Sanders

The Makita BO3710 is a very good finishing sander, also known as a sheet sander. It is not the cheapest sander but you get what you pay for, a quality finishing sander. The BO3710 is a powerful and versatile 1/3 sheet sander.

The Makita BO3710 is easy to operate, it is relatively lightweight, no problems to use it on vertical surfaces. Thanks to the ergonomic rubberized grip and handle as well as a built-in counterbalance system designed to reduce vibrations, it is comfortable to use. Despite being a powerful sheet sander, the Makita BO3710 is quiet.

The built-in dust collection is good, it picks up most of the dust, and it is easy to change papers. A 1/3 sheet sander has the advantage of being more powerful than 1/4 sanders and less heavy than 1/2 sanders. To summarize, a quality sheet sander which gives you good value for the money.

The Makita BO3710 finishing sander does not really have any significant shortcomings. A small problem is that if you want to connect it to a shop vac, you need an adapter and no adapter is included with the sander.

The Makita BO3710 comes with a 1 year limited warranty.


Pros
– Quiet
– Powerful
– Good value for the money

Cons
– No adapter for shop vac included

Makita BO3710 Sander Specifications

Pad Size	3-5/8″ x 7-1/4″ (93 mm x 185 mm)
Abrasive Paper Size	3-5/8″ x 9″ (93 mm x 228 mm)
No Load OPM	11,000
AMPS	1.7
Overall Length	10″
Cord Length	6.6 feet
Net Weight (lbs.)	3.5
Shipping Weight (lbs.)	5.1

The following is included with the Makita BO3710 Finishing Sander

• Abrasive Paper (#120; Makita 794568-3)
• Dust Bag (Makita 140115-2)
• Punch Plate (Makita 451271-6)

Makita BO3710 Sheet Sander Customer Reviews
The Makita BO3710 has got a very high rating, almost every single customer is very happy with their Makita BO3710 sander. Virtually everyone said that the BO3710 is a powerful and quiet sander which is easy to operate. Most of the buyers thought that they had got very good value for their money.

No had found any significant shortcomings. A few complained about the difficulty of attaching the BO3710 to a shop vac. An adapter is needed for this and none is included with the sander. Given the relatively high price, some buyers had expected to get an adapter with the sander.

At Amazon.com, you can read Makita BO3710 customer reviews

Makita BO3710 Sander Review Summary

You can find cheaper finishing sanders than the Makita BO3710 but it is a quality sander. It is powerful, quiet, low vibrations and has good dust collection. The 1/3 Makita BO3710 sheet sander offers good value for the money. Quite clearly, it is an outstanding finishing sander.

You can buy the Makita BO3710 sheet sander at Amazon.com, taking advantage of Amazon’s low prices and excellent customer service. Click here to go to Amazon.com

Orbital sanders, also called finish sanders, are primarily used to smooth surfaces between finish coats. But an orbital sander can be used for much more. The fast and tight orbiting movements make the the orbital sander capable of aggressively smoothing wood.

You have two types of orbital sanders, the palm sander and the two-handed sander. The palm sander is compact, ideal for for smoothing interior surfaces in confined spaces. The two-handed orbital sander is larger and more powerful, it can be used for a number of sanding tasks. Note that the orbital sander has a tendency to leave swirl marks. You need to be careful when using a finishing sander. If necessary, use a sanding block to remove swirl marks.


Here are our recommended orbital sanders:


Best Palm Orbital Sander: Makita BO4556K 2.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Finishing Sander

Our Rating: 4.5/5  

The Makita BO4556K Finishing Sander is an excellent palm sander. Despite the small size and light weight, it is powerful. It generated very little vibrations and the dust collection is very good. It is comfortable to use. If you are looking for the best palm sander, here it is. You get a hard case with the Makita BO4556K. Thanks to the low price, you get excellent value for your money. At Amazon.com can learn more about the Makita BO4556K 2.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Finishing Sander.

Best Value For The Money Orbital Sander: WEN 6313 Electric 1/3 Sheet Sander

Our Rating: 4/5  

If you need a cheap sander, then the WEN 6313 Sheet Sander is worth having a closer look at. It may not be the best sanders on the market, but it is capable of handling everything that can be expected of a sheet sander. The price is certainly very attractive. The cheap price means that you get very good value for your money. It is not a sander for professionals but for the occasional sanding task it is a very cost-effective solution. At Amazon.com you can learn more about the WEN 6313 Electric 1/3 Sheet Sander.


Best Two-Handed Orbital Sander: Bosch OS50VC 1/2-Sheet Orbital Finishing Sander

Our Rating: 4.5/5  

Often, buying a random orbit sander is better than buying a two-handed orbital sander. But if you want an excellent orbital sander, the Bosch OS50VC 1/2-Sheet Finishing Sander is the sander for you. Note that you can remove the front handle if you are going to use the sander in tight spots. The Bosch OS50VC sander is very quiet and generates very little vibrations. The dust collection is very good, but you probably need an adapter if you want to connect it to your shop-vac. Bosch OS50VC is expensive but you get what you pay for, an excellent orbital sander. At Amazon.com you can learn more about the Bosch OS50VC 1/2-Sheet Finishing Sander.