6 Best Oscillating Spindle Sanders of 2023

Photo: Jet

Sanding your workpieces by hand whether you are a professional woodworker or DIYer can be tiring and time-consuming. And things become even harder when you have to sand oddly-shaped, round or curved pieces.

But if you find yourself having to sand the oddly-shaped pieces often, you can make things way much easier by investing in the best oscillating spindle sander.

An oscillating spindle sander is a special sanding tool with cylindrical drum covered with a sandpaper strip, and besides the fast and consistent spindle rotation, it also oscillates up and down to prevent burn marks and marring.

Here we are all about helping you pick the right oscillating spindle sander for you from the many options available and we do this by reviewing 6 top-rated models and explain the important things to look for.

6 Best Oscillating Spindle Sanders – Review

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES
	1. Wen AT6535 (Best Overall)	3.5 Amp motor Versatile and powerful Handy onboard storage Variety of accessories included
	2. Triton TSPS450 (Precise Finishes)	3.5 Amp motor Neat and precise finishes Great for sanding irregular shapes and curves On-board accessories storage included
	3. Grizzly G0739 (Budget Friendly, Efficient & Precise)	0.5 horsepower motor More budget-friendly Neat and easy sanding drums organization Safety paddle switch included
	4. Grizzly G0529 (Power Meets Versatility)	1 horsepower motor More powerful and versatile sander Larger sanding capacity Paddle switch with removable key included
	5. Jet 708404 JBOS-5 (Solid Quality & Quiet Running)	0.5 horsepower motor Solid cast iron construction Relatively quieter operation Quick and effortless spindle change
	6. Powertec OS1000 (Great for the Money)	0.4 horsepower motor Great value for money Lightweight and portable design Sturdy cat iron worktable

1. Wen AT6535 – Best Overall

Photo: Wen

• Power: 3.5 Amps
• Speed: 2,000 RPM and 58 OPM

For hobbyists and professional woodworkers that do some light sanding, the Wen AT6535 will be a perfect choice as it is powerful enough and comes at a great price.

This Wen oscillating spindle sander runs on a 0.5 HP motor that delivers up to 2,000 RPM and oscillates at 58 OPM to ensure a fast, easy and smooth sanding.

The spindle sander comes with 5 different size spindle sleeves that help to make it a more versatile sander, and they are super easy to change for minimal downtimes.

When you buy the Wen AT6535 you get 80-grit sanding sleeves, throat plates, and rubber sanding drums to ensure you have everything you need for immediate use. And the design also includes onboard storage for these accessories and a dust port for efficient dust management.

Although the included dust port might not fit some vacuum hoses, this is a small problem to fix by using an adapter.

More Detailed: Click here

Pros:

• Powerful and versatile all-round sander
• Spacious and beveling table
• Onboard accessories storage
• Variety of sanding spindle sizes
• Easy to change drums

Cons:

• Dust port does not fit some vacuum hoses
• Still quite loud

2. Triton TSPS450 – For a Precise Finish Every Time

Photo: Triton

• Power: 3.5 Amps
• Speed: 2,000 RPM and 58 OPM

Triton TSPS450 is what every hobbyist and woodworker that does some light sanding a lot should buy for a more precise finish every time, speed and efficiency.

The top-rated oscillating spindle sander runs on a 3.5 Amp motor that provides speeds of 2,000 RPM and 58 OPM making this one of the fastest sanders on our list.

Like many other top-notch spindle sanders, it includes onboard storage for the accessories and the power switch has a dust cover for longer life. The accessories that you get on your purchase include 6 sanding leaves and some rubber sanding drums and table inserts.

Mounting this spindle sander should also be an easier and more secure affair as its design includes some handy locating holes.

If you use a shop vac for dust management as most woodworkers do, you might find the dust port odd sized, but this is not a big deal because you can fix it with a little inventiveness or even using an adapter.

More Detailed: Click here

Pros:

• Delivers neat, smooth and more precise finishes
• Larger and more durable cast iron table
• Handy on-board storage
• Dust-sealed power switch
• Locating holes provide more secure bench mounting

Cons:

• Odd sized dust port
• Some of the washers do not fit very well

3. Grizzly G0739 – Budget Friendly, Efficient & Precise Spindle Sander

Photo: Grizzly

• Power: 0.5 HP
• Speed: 2,000 RPM and 58 OPM

Being one of the cheapest items among out oscillating spindle sander review, Grizzly G0739 will be a good choice for DIYers, hobbyists and other occasional users.

This smaller and more lightweight spindle sander comes with a durable cast iron table that will last for many years and with 6 sanding drums with different diameters for increased versatility. There is also some onboard storage to make it easier to organize the accessories.

Setting up this sander and changing the spindles also does not take a lot of effort. And the compact size makes this one of the best benchtop oscillating spindle sanders as woodworkers can easily mount it on their workshop bench.

The relatively smaller work table can make sanding larger pieces harder, but for typically spindle sander applications and this is more so for hobbyists and DIYers, it is still a good size.

Pros:

• Relatively more affordable
• Durable cast iron table
• Onboard storage included
• Simple to change spindles

Cons:

• Relatively smaller table
• Dust management can be challenging

4. Grizzly G0529 – Power Meets Versatility

Photo: Grizzly

• Power: 1 HP
• Speed: 1,725 RPM and 60 OPM

With a more powerful 1 horsepower motor, the Grizzly G0529 has what it takes to handle almost any sanding task. And it is also a more versatile sander as it includes both spindle and disc sanders.

This amazing sander features two highly durable and 45-degree tilting cast iron tables that will not only last long but also give users an easier time when sanding.

Furthermore, the unit comes with 4 spindle sizes that make use of sandpaper sleeves for fast and easy paper change to minimize downtimes. And there is also a welded steel stand to eliminate the need to mount it on a bench.

Also, this spindle sander includes two dust ports, and despite being the priciest on our oscillating spindle sander review, for such a powerful and versatile sander, it still comes at a great bargain.

Pros:

• Powerful motor
• More versatile design
• Durable and tilting cast iron tables
• Easy sandpaper change
• Includes two dust ports

Cons:

• More expensive spindle sander
• Dust collection is still not very good

5. Jet 708404 JBOS-5 – Solid Quality & Quiet Running Spindle Sander

Photo: Jet

• Power: 0.5 HP
• Speed: 1,725 RPM and 30 OPM

The solid construction is what steals many woodworkers’ attention when looking at this Jet spindle sander for the first time, and it is the kind of machine you will have in the workshops for many years.

Besides the durable build quality, it offers a quieter operation than most others in its class and comes with a 45-degree tilting table for more flexible operation.

Woodworkers and DIYers will love that it has several innovative features such as a removable on/off switch and built-in storage racks for safer and smoother operation.

The spindle sander also has non-skid rubber feet to keep it in place, precision ball bearings, heavy-duty gear mechanism and 1-inch spindle for scratch-free finishes.

While changing the spindles takes quite some effort as you need to use a couple of wrenches unlike those that have spindle locks, it will not seem like a huge task once you get used to the sander.

More Detailed: Click here

Pros:

• More solid overall construction
• Relatively quieter operation
• Tilting table for more flexibility
• Safer and smoother operation
• Excellent fit and finish
• Non-skid feet to keep it in place

Cons:

• Spindle changes take quite some effort
• Not enough accessories storage

6. Powertec OS1000 – Great Oscillating Spindle Sander for the Money

Photo: Powertec

• Power: 0.4 HP
• Speed: 1,725 RPM and 30 OPM

Powertec OS1000 is one of the best spindle sanders you can get for the money because to get a more feature-rich and better-performing model, you would need to spend lots more cash.

It uses a 0.4 HP motor and is designed to run smoothly and with almost no vibrations and quieter operation than most others in its class.

Also, it has been designed to make paper sleeve changing fast and easy for minimal downtimes, and it has a more spacious 18-inch cast iron table that will last a long time.

There is plenty of onboard storage for all the accessories and a safety power switch to make this a safer machine to operate.

While a tilting table is always more favorable when it comes to spindle sanders, it is not always necessary, and so the fact that the cast iron table on this sander does not tilt will not be a dealbreaker for many users.

Pros:

• Excellent quality for the money
• Spacious and highly durable table
• Quick and easy sanding sleeve change
• Plenty of onboard storage
• Lockable power switch for safety

Cons:

• Table does no tilt
• Worm gear material is not heavy-duty

How to Buy the Best Oscillating Spindle Sanders

Choosing between the many good oscillating spindle sander models out there does not have to be complicated as all you need to do is watch out for the following things when shopping.

1. Power

Power is one of the first and most important things to consider when choosing any woodworking power tool, and an oscillating spindle sander is no exception.

The more powerful the spindle sander is the better it will be as it will sand faster and more efficiently. Also, a powerful spindle sander like the 1 HP Grizzly G0529 is often more durable as users do not have to subject it to a lot of pressure when sanding, and it does not have to run for long periods as it finishes the job fast.

Typical oscillating spindle sanders will have motors with between 1/2 and 1 HP, and what you choose will depend on your particular sanding tasks.

2. Speed

Besides going for something with a powerful motor, the best spindle sander also needs to deliver enough sanding speed.

With an oscillating spindle sander, you need to consider both the drum’s rotation speed which is measured in rotations per minute (RPM) and its oscillation speed that is measured in oscillations per minute (OPM).

While higher RPM and OPM are more favorable, an even better idea is to go for a spindle sander with variable speed as you can adjust the speed to suit your particular sanding tasks.

3. Dust Collector

When buying any sander type, you can never overlook the dust collection because sanding produces a lot of wood dust, and you do not want it to end up all over the workspace.

Oscillating spindle sander with a built-in dust port will give you a much easier time when it comes to dust management as you only need to connect your vacuum.

However, besides just having a dust port, you should make sure that it is compatible with your vacuum or the dust management system in the workshop.

4. Noise Level

While it is true that almost all oscillating spindle sanders will be loud, some will generally be noisier than others, and so you have to consider the noise level when making your choice.

The good news is that given the advancements in technologies over the years, most modern oscillating sanders will provide relatively quieter operation.

But, as you choose your spindle sander, you still need to make sure that it has a noise rating of under 95 decibels because anything higher than this can have adverse effects on your ears.

All in all, models that operate at low noise levels and those that have noise dampening features are always the best buy, and this is more so for woodworkers that plan to use the spindle sander a lot.

5. Brand

Although the brand will not affect the oscillating spindle sander’s quality directly, it still matters, and so you will always be better off buying from a reputable brand.

Reputable spindle sander brands are not only known to offer products made from highly durable materials and with more advanced features but will also stand by their products with longer warranties.

Some best oscillating spindle sander brands include Wen, Powertec, Grizzle, and Jet. Also, note that some of these top brands are more expensive than others and some will focus on making spindle sanders for professional woodworkers and others for DIYers and hobbyists. 

Conclusion

Oscillating spindle sanders will always ensure you have a much easier time when sanding arced, curved, rounded and oddly shaped workpieces. But, to realize the many benefits that come with these sanders, you need to choose a good model.

Our top 6 oscillating spindle sanders will help narrow down your options. And regardless of which one you choose, you can be certain you will have a great sander. But, the Wen AT6535 is our best overall model and the Grizzly G0529 is our recommendation for maximum power and versatility.