Best Sander For Metal Work

Sanding down metal is a tough (and sometimes dangerous) job that requires some serious equipment. There are several tools that are commonly used to sand metal, some of which are designed specifically for this purpose.

Now the question is – which sander can really help you out with metal sanding? Well, we’ve listed the best sander for metal we think you’d love to try. Want to have a peek? Scroll a bit down then.

Our Top Pick

After rigorous hours of researching, we have labeled the WEN 6515T Belt Sander as the best belt sander for metal work.

It’s a bang for the buck deal with loaded features applicable for all home and pro operators.

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Best Sander for Metal

We don’t believe you’re going to need the sander for just once, and you’ll throw it in the corner like a useless piece. So, we thought of bringing you the top 5 finest sanders for metals as you’ll be needing for a very long time. Let’s get started with the first one.

1. WEN 6515T Belt Sander

When you’re planning to sand something as stubborn as metal, obviously, you’re going to need something equally stubborn and powerful to handle the job. The 6515T belt sander from WEN is the best belt sander for metal without any doubt.

For a high-quality sander, power is everything. So, team WEN thought of taking care of that first with the 2.3-amp motor. Guess what came up as a result? Yup! It has taken the 80-grit belt’s speed settings up to 3160 FPM and the 100-grit disc’s up to 3450 RPM.

By the way, we haven’t told you about the belt and disc yet, did we? Well, 6515T got a 1” x 30” Belt and a 5” Sanding Disc. So, no matter what kind of items you want to take through sanding, these bad boys can simply make them smoother than ever.

And are you thinking about changing the belt? You can count that as nothing but easy as pie. Plus, the operation is something that you can simply keep at your fingertips.

After all, all you need to do is hit the start button. But what you’re going to simply love is its heavy-duty construction base that has minimized the chance of walking and wobbling.

We know you hate the dust but don’t worry; the two dust ports are there to maximize the vacuum efficiency. From efficiency, this belt sander has a miter gauge, too, in case you’re planning to work with any angled pieces.

2. BUCKTOOL BD4801 Bench Belt and Disc Sander

In the early ages, making something precise used to depend entirely on the skill of the maker. But lately, the power tools have started to take 50% percent of the credits for that precision.

Want to know the name of a power tool like that? Well, it’s the BD4801 bench belt sander from BUCKTOOL. It’s a kind of a tool for what you’ll say – Damn! That’s what I was looking for. But there’s not only one reason for that but a ton of them. It all starts with the 3/4HP Direct-drive Motor that literally takes the efficiency level 25% higher compared to all those traditional ones you’ve seen so far.

But what’s the point of having a powerful motor if the sanding belt is good for nothing? Well, you’ll get no chance to complain about that, at least not after seeing its 4” x 36” belt and the 8” disc. Now, rather than wasting money on two different sanding machines, you can have two in one.

Team BUCKTOOL doesn’t know how you like it. So, they’ve opened an option for you to let the sander work from 0° to 90°. On top of that, you don’t even need to bring any adjustment to the belt tension while changing the belt.

By the way, it’s maintenance-free and has humanized track control too. And worrying about the heavy vibration? The aluminum base is backed by rubber feet to handle that hassle.

Also, this tilting belt sander has an angle-adjustable work table with a miter gauge that can be set to different angles. By the way, if you’re a dust hater too, then its 2 dust ports will give you another reason to love it.

3. WEN 6307 File Sander

Maybe you’re not in the mood to throw some heavy cash at the best metal sander. Well, we respect your thinking, and so does team WEN. Otherwise, why would they’ve brought in something like the 6307 File Sander?

Have you ever been in a situation where your sander sanded so hard that the piece got damaged? Well, we don’t think that’s going to happen with this one. Thanks to its Variable speed dial for giving different speed settings. Now it’s on you if you want it on 1080 or 1800 FPM.

But the makers didn’t stop trying to make it a more convenient tech by using the Auto-tracking belt system. This means you won’t have to take any headaches about tensioning or adjustments.

And the range of motion? It’s 55°, and we don’t think it’s anything less than what you’ve been looking for. Now you’re free to adjust it the way you want while sanding anything.

Team WEN knows how much you look forward to the ease of a tech. So, how could’ve they deprived you of that? That’s why they’ve made it in a way where you won’t need any tool for belt installation. So, not only has it made the job easier but quicker as well.

Besides, to keep your floor clean, the 6307 allows you to attach your preferred dust collector system to it. After that, the only thing you’ll have left to do is let its 2 amp motor do what it does best with the 1/2” X 18” belt.

4. RIKON 50-151 Belt with 5-inch Disc Sander

Looking for the best sander for metalwork? Well, we’ve got a strong candidate here. It’s the 50-151 belt disc sander from RIKON that got the fourth slot on our list.

There’s no way to call it anything but a big shot. To be honest, it’s got a quite clear reason for that, and we call it the 2.3 Amp motor. This mini monster can take the maximum speed up to 3340 RPM, which we believe is more than enough to sand anything.

But what meets the eye here has also turned it into a game-changer. Yes, we’re talking about its Cast Iron Construction which has pretty much made it among the tough ones.

But the real deal here is its 1″ x 30″ 100-grit sandpaper that can simply sand all those sophisticated metal pieces of yours. And don’t think the makers have forgotten to add a 5″ Disc right there. Plus, to let you have all the ease in the world while working, they’ve also added the Dual-Cast Aluminum Tables. But you’ll be surprised more when you’ll see its ability to tilt 0-45° to make your sanding job easier.

By the way, don’t forget to have a glance at its belt tracking knob too. After all, that’s what makes controlling the machine a piece of cake. Changing the belt of sanders can be a real pain in the neck, this is not the case for this machine, though. Besides, the 2″ dust port kept the way open for you to add the vacuum to it for efficient dust removal.

5. Rockwell RK7866 Belt Disc Combo Sander

Are you too having problems with those big metal pieces of yours? Then we think you really need to bring in something bigger this time. Hey! Why don’t you give RK7866 Belt Disc Combo Sander from Rockwell a shot then?

The makers have literally made this one a powerhouse with a 4.3-amp motor that has the ability to push the speed up to 1700 SFM on the belt and 3450 RPM on the disc.

But what will you do with the power if it doesn’t have a good sanding belt? Don’t worry; Team Rockwell has fulfilled that wish too with the 4” x 36” belt. But that’s not the end. They’ve made heavy-duty steel base go from 0° to 45° anytime you want as well.

By the way, if you’re having a thought about how you’re going to change the belt, then the Quick-release tension lever will be there to ease that up.

Plus, the design isn’t going to take much of your tablespace. So, do you like sanding vertically or horizontally? It doesn’t matter which way you prefer the most as it can go on both the horizontal and vertical sanding modes.

Like a cherry on the top, this combo belt sander has got the miter gauge to keep the metal piece at the right angle. And to save you from accidental starts, it’s got the safety motor switch too.

Best Sander For Metal Work – Buying Guide

Choosing the best metal sander can be really tricky with different types of sanders available at the market. Given below are the features you should consider before buying the one for your job.

Types Of Sanders For Metal

Different types of metal surfaces require different types of metal sanders. Mostly, belt sanders are the perfect choice for metal sanding. But, orbital sanders are also used sometimes.

Belt Sander: We have already mentioned a few belt disc sanders in our article & described how they can be the perfect choice for smooth sanding of metal. These are used for metal polishing. Sanding corners or difficult angles can be easily done by a belt sander.

Before buying a belt sander you have to consider the belt length & width according to your job demands. Usually, longer & wider belts tend to work better on the metal surface. Although they can be expensive, they will do the work just as you want. Also, you should know about the belt size you are going to buy. Most of the time, a 2 inch enough for doing finishing work.

Orbital sander:  Orbital sander for metal work is not that popular even though they are good enough to be used on metal surfaces. They are usually used for metal shaping & other small to medium projects.

Material Type

If you are familiar with metal sanding you know you have to deal with different types of metal such as steel, aluminum, etc on a daily basis. You have to choose the power sander depending on the surface you are going to sand. A Belt Sander is suitable for aluminum while an orbit sander is suitable for steel bodies.

Whereas belt & disc sanders are suitable for both metal & wood surfaces. Buy a sander that is not for just a specific material & serves you on every type of surface.

Sandpaper Type

Sandpaper type also has significant importance for a well-finished project. You have to choose grits as per your project requirement. For example, if you are removing heavy rust spots from metal, then use abrasive sanding discs. For light sanding, use light grits. Aluminum oxide sandpaper is the best suitable type of sandpaper for sanding metal.

FAQ

Can you sand down a metal rod?

If you’ve been wondering whether you can use a sander for removing rust material from metal objects, the answer is yes. With the right sander, you can easily sand down a metal rod.

How can I sand metal quickly?

To sand a large metal piece quickly, you can use a power sander. Sanding a metal piece with sanding blocks will take a lot of your time. Whereas a sander will do that for you in a few minutes.

Can you use an orbital sander on metal?

An orbital sander is good enough for working on metals like stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, nonferrous metals, etc. It’s very easy to operate this tool because there aren’t any moving parts inside. But a belt sander would be more suitable to be used on metal.

What sandpaper should I use on metal?

If you are planning to polish up a metal part, then you’ll require a fine grade of sandpaper. On the contrary, if you are trying to remove scratches from a metal body & the body requires coarse sanding, then the coarse grade sandpapers (abrasive disc) will help you out. So make sure you select the appropriate sandpaper grit before starting off.

Final Words

Are you still roaming confused? Well, if something lightweight and convenient to handle is what you’re looking for under a tight budget, then we say the WEN 6307 is the perfect sander for you.

But when you’re more into a premium one with a wider belt, then we don’t know what can serve you better than the BUCKTOOL BD4801 belt disc sander.

Now the question is, what if you need it to be just perfect in every way as your next best sander for metal? Then count the WEN 6515 as a wiser choice.

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