As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, they sent along several Dewalt cordless power tools for review consideration – the new brushless random orbit sander, and a recent brushless braking grinder. Both are part of Dewalt’s growing 20V Max cordless power tool platform.
First, there’s the new Dewalt DCW210 20V Max brushless random orbit sander.
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It features a 5-inch 8-hole hook and loop sanding pad and comes with a one-handed locking dust bag. Or, you can use a Dewalt dust extractor (DWV010 or DWV012). To connect other vacuum hoses, you’ll need a Dewalt DWV9000 universal quick connector adapter.
- 5″ sanding pad
- Works with 8-hole sanding discs
- 8,000-12,000 OPM
- One-handed dust bag
The geometry is different from I’m used to. Normally, with a corded sander, you have the power cord coming out of top, and the dust bag is on the bottom, straight at the back.
The Dewalt cordless sander, because of where its battery pack is placed, has a completely different shape. Its grip takes a little getting used to. You can guide the sander from the front, but I found my hands getting a little close to the sanding pad.
Overall, vibration control is good, and the sanding doesn’t seem wanting for power.
I have a few woodworking projects planned for the spring, and I think this will be my go-to for the work I’ll do outside, mostly for continued testing purposes, but also because it’s compact and useful. For indoors work, I’d want to pick up the vacuum adapter, but quite frankly, if I’m using a dust extractor vac, I might as well just a corded tool.
Although… I don’t see why it can’t be used with a cordless dust vac, as long as one can make the connection between the smaller hoses found on such vacuums.
The beauty of this sander is that it’s compact, cordless, and seems to do about as good a job as any 5″ random orbit sander I’ve used before. I haven’t done runtime tests, but it fared well on the compact battery pack I used it with.
The ergonomics are tricky to talk about. I will say that I still prefer a corded sanders, but my 6″ Festool is a completely different animal. I also do think that Dewalt did a fantastic job with the design, and that they paid very careful and diligent attention to the balance and vibration control.
If you’re wondering whether this is a recommended buy, so far I’d say the answer is *yes*. It’s just about as good as any cordless sander can be.
Price: $119 for the bare tool
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I will be holding onto the sander for a while longer so that I can continue to test it. If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll answer them as best as I can.
In most tests I paired it with a compact battery, but it can also be used with a higher capacity battery pack. You’ll get more runtime with a larger battery, and I don’t feel much of a difference in regard to balance or control.
Dennis Bauser says
I’ve been using this sander for a few weeks and really enjoy it. It’s lightweight, very comfortable, operates smoothly and the shut off is almost immediate, no waiting for the sander to wind down. I also like the attachment of the dust bag and option to hook it up to my cordless vacuum. I had the Milwaukee cordless sander previous to buying this one and the DeWalt is the option I chose to keep.
Steve Gordon says
I have alot of cordless tools, my Dewalt orbital sander is corded & the off/ on switch is hard to turn on. That being said I would like to try a new sander, I’m trying to save up enough money to buy a better vacuum system.
Julian Tracy says
I’ve had the Makita one that looks like this and I’ve found it to be so buzzy and un-ergonomic to use that my hand cramps up – I’m
Selling it.
Tim says
How much?
Roy says
The two sanders – the cordless and the cordid – seem to be equal in weight. Will it be too heavy to work over time with a cordless sander and a 4 amp battery?
Bill says
Because most of my sanding involves a cabinet or a piece of furniture in my shop, I don’t often need the portability of a cordless sander. I use one of my two corded Dewalt 5″ RO sanders with a vacuum hose attached to my Fein auto start vacuum. With the electrical cord routed with the vacuum hose to my vacuum I really don’t gain anything with a cordless sander and I will loose my seamless auto start/stop functionality. But I’m sure it’s a nice sander if you need the portability.
Chris I says
Everyone should know that the DWV9000 does not lock onto the collar. Don’t force try. Something doesn’t align.
Jeremiah Petersen says
Maybe I just got lucky, but my DWV9000 works on both my corded Dewalt as well as this particular cordless sander.
cb says
I’ve had mine a few months in my woodworking shop. Love it. No more messing with cords or having them rub on the sanded wood.
I love it so much that I will buy the cordless trim router also. I’ll use it with an 1/8″ or 1/16″ round over bit to easily ease edges.
Nathan says
I’d like to see a comparison between this and it’s corded counterpart and the Bosch device. (mostly because I own the bosch one)
and I guess who ever’s cordless one. Milwaukee and makita I guess. Ridgid?
How does it do with vibration and grabbiness if you put a heavier pack on it. IE how does it do with the older 3AH or whichever larger packs? If I got one I’d be using it mostly with a vac too which is my I didn’t consider it much. But I do like the idea for other needs. But if I got one I’d be running it mostly with a 3AH or 4 Ah pack as that’s what I have currently.
Boggsy says
In a top-down scenario, it’s great even with a large battery pack. In a vertical position, it felt awkward, compensating for the bottom heaviness… Until I flipped it around (wrist near the controls)… And I felt like a sorcerer. It’s actually a better grip that way almost all the time. Which makes me think Milwaukee might have a better ergonomic design.
Joe framer says
Have it, it’s great for jobsite use, but I prefer my cordless Festool sanders
Nathan says
considering 3+ times the cost I would imagine so.
Whiskey and Wood says
how is the dust collection on them? I haven’t seen too many real world reviews, but if i were to get one, I’d want to be free of the dust hose as well. I have 8 festool sanders in my shop and love them all, but would love something cordless for certain renovation jobs!
Robert says
I’ve been using it on and off for a couple months and I would say that if it’s a quick sanding job, this thing is great. No hunting down a place to plug in.
But if you’re using it for an extended amount of time you’ll probably have a 4-5ah battery in it and the weight of the battery and tool will wear your hand out. I sanded several 2’x4′ sheets of plywood with it and by the end I was wishing for a corded sander.
It’s got the power, and for a 30 min. or less sanding job, not a problem. Longer than that and I would use a cord or a few 2ah batteries.
Rick Owen says
Any details on the on board dust collection would be useful. Especially if used indoors. How loud is the sander? Regarding the dust collector.. How often would you need to empty it? How would you clean it? Is there a visible dust cloud in tithe sir during use?