Random orbital sander is very similar to belt sander and orbital sander but is said to be more versatile even though it won’t make your job done earlier; it is well known to eliminate the swirl that ordinary tools sometimes leave. Two great options for random orbital sanders on the market are Dewalt DWE6423K vs DWE6421K. These two are very similar with each other, thus many people are confused about which to choose. If you are also interested in them, you may want to check our article below.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
– What is Random Orbital Sander
– What are Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K
– What Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K Look Like
– What Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K can offer to you
– Dewalt DWE6423K vs DWE6421K
About Random Orbital Sander
There are actually more than one type of sanders available today and each one of them bring different benefit to your job. The first is belt sander which is probably the best to deal with rough and large surfaces since it accept sanding belts with the abrasive features to do the job quickly. The second type is random orbital finishing sander which is relatively lightweight, quiet and easier to control, so it is the safest option if you are worried about damaging the object.
The last is random orbit sander which is sitting between the previous two types of sander and since the name is similar, it is easy to get confuse between the orbital and random orbital. What separates them clearly is the shape of the pad because random orbital is round while orbital sander is square. The round shape makes everything different since it is not only moves in small circle but also spin to give an ultra-smooth sanding even though it won’t be as quick as belt sander.
About Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K
Both of Dewalt DWE6423K vs DWE6421K are fall into the last category which makes them random orbital sander. Some people may also use sander for polishing, but it is not recommended since the spin may be too harsh for polishing act and there will be a high possibility it will ruins painted surface if not used carefully. The smooth result when using random orbital sander can be achieved with these tools but even though it is versatile, you will also need more control to operate the tools. Read also: Dewalt DWP849X vs Porter Cable 7424XP here.
Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K Design
In a glance, both of Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K look very similar to each other but if you pay attention more closely, you will be able to tell the difference just from the design. As you can see DWE6423K is having a different plastic material finish on the unit; it is matte and not completely black or we said it is a combination between black and dark grey while at the other side DWE6421K is having a smooth, glossy finish to the body.
These two are also similarly small and compact, measuring at only 5.5-inch tall, slightly over 10-inch long and weigh around 2.9 lbs. making these tools able to move around easily especially when used in placed with corners. The handle or grip is placed at the top of the sander to improve the tools mobility combines with rubber grip to enhance the comfort and promote a firmer handling. Its short figure is great to improve force distribution resulting in an even finish.
Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K Features
As it has been mentioned earlier, Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K are rather similar than different because it offers a similar set of features. Both of these tools are coming with a powerful 3 amp motor to offer the right amount of power needed in a random orbital sander. With this enough power you can perform both polish and finishing work at half of the time compared to other random orbital sanders with a motor less than what these two have.
In an addition, the motor which is packed at the bottom of the unit is featured with an air vent to promote good circulation which means it will not overheat even when you use the tools for a prolonged period while it also translates to longer tools life.
Talking about the motor is not complete without also mentioning the speed since this is the important part you will need to measure how long or fast the job will be done. This part is also what separate these two tools apart because Dewalt DWE6423K is variable speed random orbital sander while the other is just a random orbital sander. Just from the naming we can understand that you will be able to choose a variant of speeds in the first machine which is not possible in DWE6421K.
Dewalt DWE6423K itself is coming with a variable speed control and able to perform a no load speed of 8.000 to 12.000 OPM to let you finish your work faster or slower according to your need. The best benefit of variable speed is you can adjust it to be slower, so when dealing with delicate materials, you don’t have to worry about messing them up. At the other hand DWE6421K is pure random orbital sander which means it will only deliver single speed in 12.000 OPM under no load.
The option to adjust the speed also bring another benefit in its versatility. Since sander are mainly designed to eliminate a coarse surface, its power tends to be stronger than polisher and may burn a painted surface, so it in not safe for polishing. However, when it is featured with speed option, it can be set to run much slower, so it will be also safer for polishing. Another great features from Dewalt DWE6423K and DWE6421K is their dust collector that is very useful to catch debris and dust, making your working area neater.
Comparison
Now, let’s compare Dewalt DWE6423K with DWE6421K. As it has been mentioned earlier, what separate them is the fact that DWE6423K is a variable speed random orbital sander which able to deliver speed from 8.000 to 12.000 while the other is in fixed speed at 12.000 under no load. The adjustable speed is also adding more versatility into the tools since it can perform softer polishing.
Dewalt DWE6423K vs DWE6421K
Conclusion
All in all, the decision is all yours to make. In our opinion, if what you are looking is a random orbital sander strictly for sanding, DWE6421K is the more affordable option. However, if you also plan on using it for polishing, we will highly recommend you the variable speed Dewalt DWE6423K.