Harbor Freight Vs Home Depot Corner Sander: How They Compare And Which Is Best For You

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There's a whole bunch of different sanders to help you put a smooth finish on everything from large decks to the modest woodworking projects that even beginners can do. When you need to work on small pieces or in tight spaces, a corner sander is ideal. Harbor Freight's Warrior Corner/Detail Sander is one affordable option, as is the WEN Detailing Palm Sander from Home Depot. We've compared them to find out which is best.

These tools are remarkably similar. Both are corded. The WEN sander has a 1 amp motor, while the Warrior's is 1.1 amps – not enough to make any practical difference. The WEN runs at 13,500 oscillations per minute (OPM), whereas the Warrior's speed is 12,500 OPM. Again, the difference is negligible. Both weigh around 2 pounds. Both have convenient hook-and-loop attachments for the sanding pads.

So is there anything to separate them? The current price for the Warrior Corner/Detail Sander is $19.99. The WEN Detailing Palm Sander is $16.80. However, while the Warrior has a dust-collecting bag included, the WEN has only a dust port, so it will blow sawdust everywhere unless you buy a bag or attach it to a shop vac. Although you should always wear a mask when sanding wood, it's still inconvenient. With two sanders that are so closely matched, this could be what makes the Warrior the one that's best.

Harbor Freight customers give the Warrior corner sander 4.6 stars on average, and 95% would recommend it. Most think it's a great little sander, and one in particular sums up the positive reviews by saying, "It is my go to sander for small projects. Just as good as some of the big brands but much less expensive." That said, there are a few who aren't happy with the tool's durability.

Home Depot customers give a similar average of 4.5 stars, although only 84% would recommend it. Once again, the majority think it's great for small sanding tasks. Comments like "does an awesome job getting into those hard to reach places" are typical. However, a significant number report faults or are annoyed by the lack of a dust bag.

Even the simplest method for creating the perfect wood finish relies on having a smooth surface. Tools like the Warrior and WEN corner sanders are invaluable for reaching into places where other sanders cannot. These are budget-friendly options with almost identical features except for one key aspect. If the WEN had a dust bag, even if it added a couple of bucks to the price, the tools would be almost impossible to separate. Without one, it's the Warrior that is best.