DeWalt DWE6421K Vs DWE6423K Vs D26453K Vs D26451K: What Works?

Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Georgie Smith

Sanding is probably the least enjoyable task that many homeowners want to perform. It`s tedious and time-consuming. However, if you are DIYer and woodwork enthusiasts, sanding is unavoidable.

Nevertheless, sanding can be made more enjoyable by using a sander. Orbital sanders offer a quick, and fast way of professionally sanding your wood while making the excruciating task more pleasant.

Moreover, in this article, we shall review, four of DeWalt`s best orbital sanders; the DeWalt DWE6421K vs. DWE6423K vs. D26453K vs. D26451K. We shall look at some of their salient features, compare them before we pit them against each other.

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This comprehensive review and comparison guide aim is to allow you to make a more informed decision when buying your next DeWalt orbital sander.

Read on…

Types of Sanders

Before we review our power tools, it is prudent that we first have a rudimentary understanding of the different types of sanders and see why we prefer orbital sanders over the rest. [1]

Belt Sanders

As the name suggests, a belt sander is a continuous loop of sandpaper, also known as a sanding belt, running through a machine like the way a chain runs in a chainsaw.

Belt sanders are strong and rough, therefore, ideal for removing large pieces of wood, especially during the initial stages of sanding.

Orbital Sanders

The orbital sanders are extremely lightweight, easy to control, and relatively quiet. Again, as the name suggests, orbital sanders go around in tight circles. By making small circular circles on the wood or board, it creates ultra-smooth wood sanding and rounding over sharp edges.

However, the orbital sanders are quite docile, and therefore not ideal for heavy stock.

Drum Sander

Featuring a single drum with open or closed ends, a drum sander is a close associate to the belt sanders. The drum sander is extremely heavy and requires handling by at least two people.

Drum sanders are ideal for wood flooring only. Do not use the drum sanders in other areas of your house.

Random-Orbital Sanders (ROS)

The ROS fall in between the belt sanders and the orbital-sanders.

It`s easy to confuse the orbital sander and the ROS since they share a similar design and a compact housing with rounded palm-grip tops.

Their difference, however, lies on their sanding pad; the ROS have a square pad, while the orbital sanders have round pad.

Now let us review the DeWalt`s ROS. We have created a table for easy comparison.

DeWalt DWE6421K Reviews:

If you have the right skills, you can turn any piece of wood into a vintage beauty. The DWE6421K allows you to rework on any wood surface and make them look new.

Weighing at only 2.9 pounds, there is no better tool for sanding a surface or removing materials during the stripping process.

Motor Power and Voltage

Like all the DeWalt ROS on our list, the DeWalt DWE6421K comes through with an impressive 3-amp motor, powerful enough to rotate the 5-inch sanding pad at 12,000 orbits per minute.

The 12,000 OPM is the optimal sanding speed, and it provides you with the power you need for all your projects. Moreover, depending on the grit you use, you can remove paint or varnish or buff a surface to a high shine. The sander is perfect for working on plastics, metals, and wood.

Speed

Unfortunately, the DWE6421K comes with a single or fixed speed, which means that you will have to forego the joy of added control.

However, you should not dismiss the single speed sanders in any way. First, single speed sanders are a tad cheaper than the variable speed options, but most importantly, though, the single speed sanders can also perform a fantastic job of producing smooth, and silk sanders as efficiently as the variable speed sanders.

Finishing Quality

The finishing quality largely depends on personal choices and the results you want.

With a single speed of 12,000 OPM, the DWE6421K functionality comes to an end after delivering a smooth surface. Unlike the other variable options such as DWE6423K and D26453K, it cannot perform other tasks such as removing paint or veneer on a material. It is only suitable for finishing work.

User Friendliness

This ROS comes with an ergonomic palm-size grip on top with a rubber-over molding that prevents slips and reduces vibration.

The over-molded handle plus the internal counterweight design further reduces the vibrations significantly, allowing you to have control over the tool even on the speediest settings. Also, the ability to reduce the vibrations translates to lesser fatigue for the user, primarily when they are working on larger projects for an extended period.

Moreover, weighing at 2.0lbs, the DWE6421K is exceptionally light, portable and easy-to-use.

Dust Collection

For a productive and healthier working condition, the sander features a dust collection system. While the fiber cloth dust bags are by no means the best filters, they are durable and will sieve 99 percent of the dust for fresh air and clean environment.

Since the sander will get exposed to dust and debris in its lifetime, DeWalt has included a sealed switch to protect the internal organs of the tool.

The DEWALT DWE6421K Random Orbit Sander Kit, 5″ is an ideal option for the budget-conscious individuals. It is feature-rich and does not bog down on the job or leave swirls.

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DeWalt DWE6423K Reviews:

At first glance, the DWE6423K looks a lot more like the DWE6421K we have described above. However, the DWE6423K has more similarities to the D26453K. In fact, the former is the new version of the D26453K, which we shall review later.

Motor Power and Voltage

Just like other ROS on our list, this power tool has a powerful 3-amp motor under its hood. The powerful motor offers the strength and the right amount of power you need for performing your sanding task, at half the time of other sanders.

Besides time, the motor will boost your productivity significantly.

Speed

Unlike the earlier model, this power tool comes with variable speed control, with no-load speeds of 8,000-12,000 OPM.

The variable speed offers versatility when working with materials of different densities. Whether removing paint or polishing smooth surfaces, this tool is an excellent option.

What`s more? The speed controls are easily accessible even when you are sanding.

It`s also well-worth noting that this tool has a practical feature known Controlled Finishing System (CFS.) It`s a feature that allows the tool to start the sanding pad slowly and increase the speed gradually to prevent gouging.

Finishing Quality

The powerful 3-amp motor plus the variable speed control gives room for versatility while allowing you to perform a myriad of tasks.

For instance, the fast spinning sanding pad that makes tiny orbital movements allow you to create professional, smooth and polished surfaces.

The variable speed allows you to adjust the speed settings to achieve a “customized” finish quality, while the tool allows you to achieve the same quality by changing the 5-inch sanding pad with higher or lower grit size.

In any case, this power tool allows a fair amount of experimentation to get the user to have the exact and desired finish quality.

User Friendliness

The DWE6423K is a newer version of the DWE6453K. It comes with a lower profile than its predecessor.

The new model has less vibration that will get to you thanks to the improved vibration dampening, achieved courtesy of a separate counterweight inside the main body of the sander.

The model also has an ergonomic grip, making it comfortable to use even for an extended period.

Dust Collection

To keep the workshop and work area clean, this sander comes with a dust collection bag that captures dust and debris resulting from sanding.

The DEWALT DWE6423K Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander, 5″ is built for those who are looking to lay hands on a quality and reliable ROS for finishing work. Though not the most powerful sander in the market, it offers value for your money compared to other high-grade models.

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DeWalt D26453K Reviews:

Motor Power and Voltage

The 3-amp motor is a standard feature across all the DeWalt ROS we are reviewing. This powerful amp is agile enough for the most general-purpose sanding. Whether softwood or hardwood, this tool should provide adequate performance for any sanding task.

Speed

With a variable no-load speed that ranges from 7,000 OPM to 12,000 OPM, this tool provides you with greater versatility, primarily when working with different materials.

The D26453K gives you greater control over the finished product.

Finishing Quality

The variable speed of the D26453K allows greater versatility by allowing you to get an extra-smooth finish on your next carpentry project.

For instance, the lower speed setting of 7,000 OPM is ideal for preparatory tasks such as removing lots of material fast, preparing raw lumber, removing paint on wood, and any other coarser tasks.

On the other hand, the highest speed setting, the 12,000 OPM is ideal for the sleek and smooth mirror-finishing tasks.

Like the DWE6423K, the DWE6453K also features the proprietary DeWalt Controlled Finishing System (CFS) which controls the pad speed while minimizing gouging your material while starting up.

User-Friendliness

When it comes to power tools, especially hand-held tools, ease of use is an important factor to consider.

The DWE6453K features an ergonomic and textured plastic grid, which prevents slips when in use and promotes a comfortable user experience.

To combat the effects of vibration, DeWalt has included a handy “slip disc” system between the pad and motor which absorbs vibration.

The primary purpose of the slip-disc is to prevent the pad from spinning too fast when lifted from the material surface. Besides slip, the feature limits the vibrations felt by the user, therefore limiting fatigue and promoting a comfy working environment.

Dust Collection

Sanders generates a lot of dust and debris.

To promote a healthier and cleaner working environment, DeWalt has put a dust collection system comprising of dust collection bags and dust switch seals.

If you are looking for a sander that will offer versatility and greater control over a diverse range of materials, the DEWALT D26453K 3 Amp 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Kit with Cloth Dust Bag is the tool to go have.

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DeWalt D26451K Reviews:

The 5-inch DEWALT D26451K Random Orbit Sander offers a smooth, fine, and clean finish work for all your tasks on carpentry and paint jobs.

DeWalt has expertly combined performance-driven features on this tool to produce a sander with just the right performance for achieving the perfect, smooth finish on the various types of workshop jobs.

Motor and Voltage

The powerful 3-amp motor of the sander allows you to tackle a gamut of tasks with ease and confidence effortlessly.

This 3-amp motor allows you to handle most of the small to medium household tasks with ease.

Speed

The powerful 3-amp motor can generate a no-load speed of up to 12,000 oscillations per minute. With such speed, you can finish any of the workpieces easily by using this sander.

Like all the DeWalt sanders, this tool also features a proprietary CFS technology that minimizes gouging during startup of the sander.

Finishing Quality

Though the sander has an optimal pad rotation speed of 12,000 OPM, it does not offer versatility as it is only available in a fixed speed. The fixed speed limits your control over the material you are working on at the time.

However, the sander is ideal at smoothing your pieces of furniture, as it provides mirror-like results.

User-Friendliness

Weighing at 3.4 pounds, this sander is lightweight and portable. Also contributing to the ease of use are the textured grips for the ultimate user control and precision.

Dust Collection

Much dust generates during the sanding process, and this can affect you as well as compromise on the functionality of the sander.

To limit the effects of dust, this sander comes with a dust collection system, as well as a sealed switch to prevent dust from accessing the internal organs of the sander.

Though the 3-amp motor on the unit is powerful, it does not display aggressiveness when sanding, meaning it does not cause too much peeling of the material. It also does not scratch or leaves swirl marks on the surface.

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What Works?

DeWalt is known to create high-quality, performance-oriented, and durable products and singling a product is quite challenging

For a start, all the above products have similar features, with the ones that seem superior having a minor tweaks to the existing features.

However, since having control of what type of material you work with is an essential aspect of every woodworking project, I would use the variable speed as my reference and first selection criteria. That is to mean I would go for the DWE6423K or the D26453K.

DeWalt D26453K vs. DWE6423K

As we had explained earlier, the DWE6423K is the newer version of the D26453K. It has a slightly lower profile, and according to DeWalt, the DWE6423K has some additional improvements than its predecessor, including the ability to transfer fewer vibrations through to the operator’s hands.

With lesser vibrations, you can expect a lesser user fatigue, ease of use and comfortableness over extended use.

Nonetheless, the true difference between the two is the variable speed range. The DWE6423K provides 8,000 to 12,000 OPM while the DWE6453K provides 7,000 to 12,000 OPM.

The speed difference is negligible, and many people would not notice when put in practice and therefore, speed is not decisive as such.

If given a choice between the two, I would go for the one on sale and the cheapest one.

Why?

Because performance-wise, they are effectively the same tools. Same motor, control, accessories, and finish.

If you are shopping, go for the cheaper one.

​Tips for using a Random Orbit Sander

In the section below, we shall show you how to use a random-orbital sander.

Here is what you need to do to use a ROS. [2]

Secure the Work Item

The first step before turning the sander on is to secure that material you will be working on tightly. Securing the material will ensure that you get a more finished surface. Additionally, securing the material prevents it from moving and possibly causing dangerous kickback.

Turn on the Ventilation

Once the material is secure, connect the ventilation system to collect the sawdust that will accumulate as you work.

Start Sanding

Turn on the sander, let it get up to full speed before you gently place it on your material. Keep it constantly moving and overlapping as you sand the wood. Do not keep it in one place for too long to avoid uneven surface.

When sanding, gently guide the saw with even pressure, while keeping it flat at all time and try not tilting to avoid the unwanted circles.

Finishing the Edges

For an even and smooth look, it is better to keep away from the edges of your material and finish them later.

Working on the edges, especially rounding them can result in unsightly material and even damage the sander.

Creating an Even Surface

To avoid necking or denting the material, do not press the tool down to hard. Aside from the uneven surfaces, pressing down too much can result in potential damage to the sander and wear out the discs.

Finishing

When you are through with sanding, do not take the tool off the wood until you have turned the sander off and are sure it has stopped spinning.

Changing the Sanding Discs Is Easy and Fast

Changing the sanding discs is essential for optimal productivity. In the section below, we look at how to change the sanding disc in an easy and fast way.

Before we look at how to change the discs, it is important that you consider the tips below.

• Use a quality sanding disc brand
• Do not remove the wax paper entirely because you will not be able to slip it in between the table and the disc without the gum catching the disc before it completely aligns.

Step 1: Fold the wax paper 1/3 and slide it. This way, you can hold the 1/3 sticky section away from the disc until you get your sandpaper centered on the disc.

Step 2: Once you have it centered, press the 1/3 sticky section onto the disc.

Step 3: Rotate the disc 180 degrees and pull back the sandpaper so that you can grab the wax paper, then pull it off.

Step 4: Press the rest of the sandpaper in place.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: What should I know before using the sander?

A: Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes. Wear a face shield whenever the tool is in operation. Oil your sander daily for superior performance.

Q: How do I know what size backup pad I should use?

A: The size of the pads is marked on the bottom of the sander when removing the pad.

Q: Can I use a 5″ pad on a 6-inch sander or vice versa?

A: No. The size pad of the sander should always accompany the size of the sander

Q: What grit of sandpaper sheets or rolls is optimum for sanding?

A: Always use the finest grit to achieve the best result.

The best orbital sanders are essential and must-have tools for creating the perfect finishing touches to your pieces of furniture, r any surface of your choice.

So, if you are looking to make use of such a handy device and a device that will best suit all your purposes while being the best fit for your budget, then you need to choose from DeWalt DWE6421K vs. DWE6423K vs. D26453K vs. D26451K.

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