Palm sander - quarter sheet

Palm sanders are a type of orbital sander that use quarter sheet sandpaper. 

They are different to orbital sanders primarily in the way they are held. Typically palm sanders will be held by hand on top of the machine, where as orbital handles are usually held using a handle.

These sanders are also known as finish sanders and are good for sanding wood, walls, and paint lightly. These one-handed sanders are often used by decorators to help create a fine finish.

• Palm sanders do not have a variable speed function. Choosing your power source: The first choice is between a mains (110v or 240v) or a cordless tool. 240v tools are used with normal mains power whilst 110v tools are used on construction sites for safety reasons.
• With regards to cordless (battery powered) tools there are a variety of chemical types; Li-ion is the latest technology, prior to that it was Ni-MH and Ni-Cad was the original. The higher the Ah (Ampere hours) the longer the interval between charges; the fewer times you recharge a battery the longer it will last. Some cordless tools can also come without batteries - sometimes referred to as naked, bare units or body only. These tools are supplied without a battery or charger and more often than not without any accessories; as a result they are significantly cheaper in price.