Best power sander?

[terry mccammon]

Under the heading of for what it is worth, I made my own "Sandmaster" by using a 1/4" sleeve bearing with a magnetized ball bearing. Drill a hole near the end of a 2x2x15" blank to fit the sleeve bearing, turn the blank to fit your hand and suit your taste, put the ball bearing in the hole, fit the sleeve bearing and insert your sanding mandrel. As it happens Eddie Castelin sells a kit for this as well.

[Olaf Vogel]

I've tried angle drills, but found they overheat easily.
For rough sanding, my preference is a car polisher like this http://www.sz-wholesaler.com/p/633/6...01-242930.html
Cheap, powerful, speed adjust and disposable. Loud, heavy, very messy, but extremely powerful and fast. Definitely need good dust collection.
The original cheapie is still running well. Several felt pads to soften the contact surface, plus velcro to hold the pads.
I buy the sandpaper by the sheet and use a hole drill to create the pads. (i'm cheap..)

For smaller or inside forms, I use this http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-49-2.../dp/B000BYEJ02 hooked up to a flex shaft and then to an old furnace motor. Very precise, smooth and quiet.

Olaf