Black & Decker Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch, 2.4-Amp

Why I reached for this sander

I’ve kept a compact 5-inch random orbit sander in my kit for years for one simple reason: it’s the fastest way to make rough surfaces look intentionally smooth. This Black & Decker 5-inch random orbit sander fits that role squarely. I’ve used it to knock down old paint on doors, blend planer marks on a softwood benchtop, and tidy up plywood edges before finishing. It’s a lightweight, single-speed, corded sander with an adjustable grip and a built‑in dust bag—basic on paper, but capable of clean, consistent results when used with the right technique.

Design and ergonomics

At about 3 pounds, the tool is easy to operate one-handed, even on vertical panels. The adjustable three-position grip sounds like a gimmick until you get into a corner or need to approach a surface from an odd angle; being able to change hand position without contorting your wrist helped keep the pad flat and reduced fatigue over longer sessions.

The 5-inch pad uses standard hook‑and‑loop discs, which is exactly what you want. Swapping grits takes seconds, and discs are inexpensive and widely available. Build quality is what I’d call homeowner‑grade: a sturdy plastic shell with simple, functional controls and a straightforward dust bag interface. Nothing fancy, but it’s well-balanced in the hand and stable on the workpiece.

Performance and power

This is a 2.4-amp, single-speed sander that runs at roughly 12,000 orbits per minute. In use, that translates to an efficient general-purpose machine. It clears old finish on flat stock, removes pencil marks and light scratches, and leaves a uniform surface without the telltale swirls of a finish sander used the wrong way. The random orbital action helps hide your tracks, especially if you resist the urge to push down.

Power is good for its class. With coarse paper (80–100 grit), I was able to erase old brush marks in paint and blend shallow divots on pine with steady, moderate passes. On hardwoods and denser materials, it gets the job done, but it’s not a stock-removal monster. If you lean on it aggressively, it will bog a bit and run hotter than I like. Let the paper do the cutting; slower, even passes produce better results and keep the motor happy.

The single-speed nature matters. You can’t tame the orbit speed for delicate veneers or high-gloss prep like you can on pricier variable-speed models. I compensated by stepping up the grit sooner (for example, 80 → 120 → 180 → 220) and using a light touch. That worked well for general finishing, but if you routinely sand tricky finishes or heat-sensitive materials, a variable-speed sander will give you more control.

Dust collection

The on-board dust bag is better than nothing and, in this case, better than I expected. It captures a meaningful portion of fine dust and keeps the immediate work area cleaner than open-air sanding. On painted pine and raw plywood, I could see dust building in the bag within minutes, and less debris escaped around the pad than I usually see with entry-level sanders.

There are caveats. Any bag-only system is a compromise. Fine dust (especially from hardwood or composite materials) still escapes, and the bag fills quickly during heavy removal. Emptying is quick, but you’ll be doing it regularly on big surfaces. If you work indoors or sand a lot of drywall, MDF, or fiberglass, a sander with a vacuum port connected to a HEPA vac is the cleaner, healthier setup. Regardless, wear a dust mask and eye protection; the bag reduces airborne dust but does not eliminate it.

Practical tip: align the holes in your sanding discs to the pad’s pattern. It seems obvious, but good alignment noticeably improves dust capture and extends disc life.

Control and surface quality

Surface quality is where this sander earns its keep. With the pad kept flat and the tool guided by its own weight, I consistently ended up with a smooth, even scratch pattern. The random orbit motion hides minor lapses in technique that would show up immediately with a straight-line or sheet sander. I found it particularly good for:

• Breaking edges and easing corners without rounding them excessively
• Blending small plane or chisel tracks on softwood tabletops
• Prepping previously painted trim for new topcoats
• Removing minor scuffs on factory-finished plywood panels

It’s less efficient at flattening truly uneven surfaces or erasing deep defects; that’s planer, scraper, or belt sander territory. But as a finishing and light-removal tool, it’s dependable.

Noise and vibration

Noise is typical for a compact random orbit sander—loud enough that ear protection is a good idea in enclosed spaces. Vibration is present but not harsh. With a fresh, well-balanced disc, I could sand for 20–30 minutes without fingers tingling, which is about what I expect from a small brushed-motor sander. As discs load up or tear, vibration creeps in; swap paper sooner rather than later.

Sandpaper, pad life, and maintenance

The hook-and-loop pad held discs securely through repeated changes, and I didn’t experience premature slippage. As with any H&L pad, avoid running the sander on edges without support; that chews hooks and shortens pad life. Keep the pad clean by tapping off dust and brushing the hooks occasionally.

Maintenance is simple: empty the dust bag frequently, blow out the vents with low-pressure air after dusty sessions, and store it with a flat disc on the pad to protect the hook surface. The brushed motor is standard at this price point. Brushes are consumables over long-term use, but for DIY duty cycles, you’ll likely move on to a different sander before you need to replace them.

Where it shines, and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Lightweight and easy to control one-handed
- Random orbit action produces a clean, uniform finish
- Simple, fast disc changes with common 5-inch hook-and-loop paper
- Adjustable grip helps reach awkward areas and supports better pad control
- Built-in bag meaningfully reduces dust on most general sanding tasks

Limitations:
- Single speed limits finesse on delicate finishes
- 2.4-amp motor is adequate, not aggressive; heavy stock removal is slow
- Bag-only dust capture can’t match a vac-integrated setup for fine dust
- Not intended for all-day, every-day professional use

Who it’s for

This sander makes the most sense for homeowners and DIYers who need a reliable, affordable tool for general sanding: furniture refreshes, trim prep, small repairs, and weekend projects that span a few hours rather than full workdays. It’s also a handy secondary sander for pros who want a lightweight unit for punch-list items or site touch-ups, recognizing its power and dust collection limits.

If your workload includes frequent hardwood flattening, cabinetry-grade finishing where variable speed matters, or you require excellent dust extraction in occupied spaces, you’ll be happier stepping up to a higher-amp, variable-speed model with a dedicated vacuum interface.

Recommendation

I recommend the Black & Decker 5-inch random orbit sander for general-purpose sanding in a DIY or light-duty setting. It’s lightweight, easy to control, and produces a consistent finish with minimal fuss. The built-in dust bag captures enough debris to keep small jobs manageable, and the adjustable grip is genuinely useful for access and comfort. Its single-speed, 2.4-amp motor isn’t built for aggressive stock removal or delicate, high-end finishing, and the bag-only dust collection has obvious limits. But used as intended—with sensible pressure, the right abrasives, and basic PPE—it’s an honest, capable sander that earns its space on the shelf.