Appreciation post: That $40 orbital sander from Harbor Freight has saved me HUNDREDS in refinishing costs

I picked up a Chicago Electric orbital sander on sale for $40 last spring, thinking it would probably die after one project. Nine months later, it's stripped four dressers, a dining table, and two nightstands. No joke, the thing just keeps running. Everyone told me I was an idiot for not spending $150 on a name brand. But I spent $40 and got the same results. Yes, the dust bag is basically useless and you need to wear gloves because it vibrates pretty hard. But it sands flat and doesn't bog down. I'm not saying buy the cheapest thing you can find every time. But for occasional furniture flipping, this thing paid for itself on the first job. Has anyone else had good luck with a cheap tool that everyone told you to avoid?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_king1mo agoTop Commenter

Right after I bought mine, my wife asked if I was trying to burn the house down for the insurance money.

danielwhite1mo ago

@ray_king man that is HARSH but also hilarious. My wife just gave me the side eye when I brought mine home and said "at least it was cheap." Honestly I bet that sander could survive a house fire with how tough it seems.

abby_palmer8d ago

At least it was cheap" is basically my go to justification now. I told my husband the same thing after buying a tile saw I barely knew how to use and he just shook his head. He came out to the garage an hour later and I had already made a mess of the driveway so he wasn't wrong to be worried.