If you are a professional auto body repairman, using an electric sander will be unthinkable.
But what if you are a do-it-yourself at home person that wants to do bodywork?
Can an electric orbital sander be used to do auto bodywork?
The short answer is yes they can be used. I have seen many at home individuals do good work with electric units.
The most common reason an electric sander is used is there is no air compressor available to run air tools.
The reason professionals do not use them is they have a high RPM and many cheaper ones have no variable speed.
The electric motors get hot fast which requires some cool-down time so you do not burn it up.
If you have a choice definitely go with air tools. If not, try and get at least a variable speed unit.
Remember a sander is only used to strip paint and rough in Bondo. After it is roughed in, sanding by hand is necessary to get a good finish.
There are many good units available with some of our favorite picks below.
As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon, forums, here, or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
- DEWALT DWE6423 Random Orbit Sander
The older Dewalt D26453K was a solid variable-speed pick for years. The current corded model that replaced it is the DWE6423.
It has a 3 amp motor and variable speed from about 8,000 to 12,000 OPM. That range helps when you need to slow down around body filler.
It runs on standard 120V household power, so it will work basically anywhere there is electricity.
- BOSCH ROS20VSK Palm Sander
This unit from Bosch has also been around for a long time and is still a good pick.
It has a dial that controls the speed from 7,500 to 12,000 OPM.
It uses a 2.5 amp 120-Volt motor and comes as a kit with a dust canister and hard case.
- BLACK+DECKER BDERO100 Random Orbit Sander
For those looking for just a very low cost unit, the Black+Decker BDERO100 is worth a look.
It is a basic 5-inch unit with a fixed 12,000 OPM speed. No variable speed, but good for those on a tight budget who only need light paint strip and rough work.
Summary
Using an electric sander for automotive body repair can be done, but it takes more time to get the job done right.
Air tools moving at slower speeds let an operator get body filler shaped up closer with less hand sanding.
The key to using an electric sander is to know when to stop and switch to hand tools.
If you have the money, always get a compressor and air tools if you can. For at home jobs an electric unit can still get the job done in a pinch.
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