Vertical Sander

You can sand large areas quickly by starting with a coarser grit (such as 60 or 80) to rapidly level the surface, using a high-powered random orbital sander with dust extraction, overlapping each pass by 50 percent, and systematically progressing through finer grits without skipping steps.

A wide belt sander or a large floor drum/orbital sander is best for massive flat surfaces like tabletops and doors, while a 6-inch random orbital sander serves as the ideal portable choice for tackling large general projects efficiently.

A random orbital sander is widely considered the easiest and most forgiving sander for beginners because its pad spins in overlapping, random circles. This dual-action motion prevents the sander from leaving deep, visible cross-grain scratches, making it very easy to get a smooth finish on flat surfaces without needing advanced technique.

It is called an oscillating spindle sander (or an oscillating edge sander). The "oscillating" motion means the sanding drum moves up and down while spinning, which prevents heat buildup, extends the life of the sandpaper, and eliminates deep scratch marks on the workpiece.