Skil 2.8 Amp 5 IN. Random Orbital Sander

I put the Skil sander to work on a week’s worth of tasks—refinishing a small cabinet, easing plywood edges, cleaning up maple face frames, and prepping a handful of aluminum brackets for paint. It’s a compact, budget-friendly 5-inch random orbital that aims to balance comfort, control, and dust management. After extended use, I came away impressed by how much capability Skil packs into a simple tool, with a few clear areas where it could go further.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, setup is straightforward: hook-and-loop disc on the pad, dust box clicks into place, and you’re off. The form factor is tidy—easy to wrap a hand around—with a low enough profile to keep my wrist in a neutral position. At 3.44 pounds, it’s light enough for one-handed work, but it doesn’t feel flimsy or top-heavy. The rubber overmolded grip is genuinely helpful; it’s grippy without being gummy, and it stayed secure even with dusty hands.

The power switch is dust-sealed, and after multiple hours it never stuck or felt gritty. The variable-speed dial is easy to thumb mid-task, and it offers a broad, usable range rather than a token slow/fast split. I didn’t find myself hunting for a “right” speed that didn’t exist; there’s fine control across the dial.

Speed control and sanding performance

With a 2.8-amp motor spinning 7,000 to 13,000 orbits per minute and a 2.7 mm orbit, this sander leans slightly toward finish quality more than raw material removal. That’s not a knock—random orbit sanders in this class are meant to balance both—but it informs how best to use it.

• For stock removal (removing planer marks or leveling a patch), I ran it near the top of the range with 80–100 grit. It’s not a belt sander, but it moved material respectably without bogging.
• For edging plywood, chamfering softwood, and general cleanup, the mid-range speeds with 120–150 grit were most efficient.
• For final passes on maple and birch, dialing down the speed with 180–220 grit minimized surface heating and swirl risk.

Crucially, it stays consistent under light pressure. Random orbit sanders work best when you let the pad float, and the Skil rewards that approach with even scratch patterns and fewer pigtails. I didn’t see any weird stalling or pulsing as the load changed; the motor feels steadier than some in its price bracket.

On aluminum and steel, the lower speeds were handy to keep the surface from glazing or the disc from clogging. On plastics, the slow end of the range kept edges from melting, which isn’t always the case with single-speed models.

Dust collection: better than most onboard systems

Skil’s cyclonic dust box is one of the standout features. On bare wood, it captures a surprising amount of fines, and the transparent canister makes it obvious when you need to empty. The twist-off design is simple to open and clean; I didn’t find caked corners or dead zones where dust collected and never emptied. It’s not a substitute for a shop vac on large surface areas, but it’s a real upgrade over the typical cloth bag.

A couple of notes:
- The box seats with a positive click. If it’s not aligned, you’ll know—dust immediately starts venting. Take the extra second to ensure it’s fully locked.
- I wish there were an included adapter for connecting a vacuum hose. There isn’t one in the box, and while the onboard system is good, a vac hookup is the gold standard for fine dust control.

Vibration and noise

If you’ve used a few lower-cost random orbitals, you know vibration can be the fatigue-maker. Here, the counterbalance does its job. Over hour-long sessions, my hand and forearm were noticeably less buzzy than I’d expect at this price point. It’s still a power sander—there’s vibration—but it’s tempered and evenly distributed. Noise levels are typical for the class; not something I’d call quiet, but not shrill or rattly. Hearing protection still recommended.

Control and finish quality

The pad tracks predictably and doesn’t fishtail on startup when you set the tool on the workpiece before pulling the trigger. With the right technique—keep the pad flat, light downward pressure, and overlap your paths—swirl marks were minimal even on blotchy softwoods. The 2.7 mm orbit helps here: it’s aggressive enough to erase scratches but fine enough to leave a clean surface.

Edge control is good. The compact body lets you get close to inside corners and around cutouts, though a round pad can’t reach into tight 90s, of course. The sander’s balance encourages one-handed use without tipping, which is useful when you’re working around profiles or on vertical surfaces like door frames.

Disc changes are uneventful: the hook-and-loop face holds well, releases cleanly, and standard 8-hole discs lined up with the pad perforations without fuss.

Heat management and durability

I put the sander through sustained runs on dense hardwood and didn’t see concerning heat buildup in the housing or at the pad. The motor didn’t smell hot, and the body remained comfortable to hold. The sealed switch and enclosed dust box likely help keep the internals clean; after blowing it out with compressed air and inspecting the vents, I didn’t see accumulated fines clogging anything.

As with any random orbital, best practice: start the tool with the pad already on the work, keep the speed matched to the grit and material, and don’t lean on it. Used that way, the Skil feels composed and reliable.

Limitations and wish list

• No vacuum adapter included. Onboard collection is good, but a hose port would make it great.
• The cord is serviceable for bench work, though a longer lead would reduce extension cord juggling on larger projects.
• Not a heavy stock-removal machine. If you expect it to hog off mill marks like a 6-inch sander or a belt sander, you’ll be waiting. It’s tuned for balanced performance and finish quality.

I didn’t encounter speed surges or runaway behavior. The variable dial stayed where I set it, and startup was controlled. As always, make sure your disc is firmly attached and undamaged; a compromised hook-and-loop interface can let a disc fly, and that’s true of any ROS.

Who it’s for

• DIYers and homeowners who want a capable, easy-to-handle sander for furniture projects, trim, built-ins, and small repairs.
• Woodworkers who need a dependable 5-inch ROS for finish sanding and light shaping without stepping up to a pricier pro model.
• Metal and plastic fabricators who occasionally need to scuff or blend surfaces—especially thanks to the lower speed range.

If you’re in production work or tackling tabletops day in, day out, a more powerful 5- or 6-inch sander with a vacuum-ready port and a larger orbit will move faster. For most shop and site tasks, though, this Skil strikes a practical balance.

Bottom line and recommendation

The Skil sander punches above its price with real strengths where they matter: a smooth-running motor, genuinely useful variable speed, effective onboard dust collection, and comfortable ergonomics that keep fatigue in check. It’s easy to set up, predictable in use, and delivers the kind of finish quality I expect from a good 5-inch random orbital.

I recommend it. It’s a great fit for small to medium projects, it’s friendly to first-time users yet satisfying for experienced hands, and aside from the missing vacuum adapter and a wish for a longer cord, there’s little here that feels compromised. If you want a reliable, compact ROS that prioritizes control and clean results without inflating the budget, this one deserves a spot on the bench.