I own 7 drills, but this is the power tool I use most often

Published Aug 18, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, six years ago, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published there there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also a youth pastor at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. I've been doing DIY projects for well over half my life, and I have used a bunch of power tools over that course of time. However, my favorite tool that I use most often isn't one of my (seven) drills. It's a detail sander. Drills have their place in my shop, but... It's just a given to have one... or seven Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Listen, if you do DIY work at all, then you have a drill. Or, if you're like me, seven. Don't ask. But, drills are boring. They're useful, don't get me wrong. I love my drills and use them frequently, but they just aren't the most used tool in my shop. They get a job done, but there's nothing revolutionary about them. It's one of those tools that I can grab any of the drills I own and they all work equally well. The expensive ones, cheap ones, there's not a lot of difference when it comes to DIY projects. That's just how drills are, though. Sometimes there's a unique feature or two, but they're all basically the same. However, there is one tool I own that I simply couldn't get by without: my Milwaukee M12 cordless orbital detail sander. I use this Milwaukee detail sander way more often From CNC projects to refinishing, a detail sander has a wide range of uses I have a lot of tools in my shop, including a CNC mill that I use to make various things on. One of the products that I make for my Etsy shop is a simple task card holder. This actually has become my best-seller, but it took a lot of work to create. My CNC doesn't have the best bottom surface when parts come off of it, so I always just used a hand sanding block to help fix that. I also always used to hand sand the roundovers on cutting boards, serving trays, and anything else that I make. The problem with that is my hand eventually tires if I'm doing big runs of projects. I need to use a good bit of force, and the hand sander just isn't the best tool for production work. That's when I eventually found Milwaukee's M12 cordless orbital detail sander. I picked it up on sale for $149 about two years ago with a bundled 4Ah battery, though it does cost a bit more now when not on sale. The detail sander instantly upgraded my sanding game, and I actually found that I use it in far more ways than I thought I would. For example, I never thought about using it for juice grooves on cutting boards—but it's perfect for that. I also didn't expect it to come with a Sponge Interface Pad (basically a foam cushion that attaches to the sander and then the sandpaper attaches to), which lets it go over roundovers on both sides instead of having to use a hand sander for that job. The pointed tip gets into handles well, and overall it's just a fantastic tool that I use way more than almost anything else in my shop. Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Cordless Orbital Detail Sander Tool Type Cordless sander Cordless? Yes Brand Milwaukee Milwaukee's compact M12 FUEL 12V cordless orbital detail sander is a tool that you don't realize you need until you have it. The compact head fits into tight corners, and the Sponge Interface Pad included in the package helps sand roundovers without making them flat. Upgrading from hand sanding to a battery-powered detail sander saved more than just time I had no idea how nice the upgrade would be Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Time and fatigue were the two biggest reasons that I got the detail sander—and it absolutely saves in both of those areas. However, that's not the only place I saw an upgrade. Because it's an orbital sander, it helps to remove sanding strokes that would get left behind when I was hand-sanding, producing a better finish overall. Plus, it has four speed settings depending on how aggressive I need it to be. I also use it in many more areas than I originally planned. My mother-in-law recently redid her kitchen cabinets, and we used the detail sander to get into the grooves on the doors and around the sides of the drawer faces, for instance. Also, when I need to sand something small, I no longer reach for my larger circular random orbital sander, which could throw tiny pieces across the room if not held well. The Milwaukee detail sander is more of a vibration sander than a rotating one, which makes it ideal for more delicate jobs. Overall, the Milwaukee orbital detail sander has become a cornerstone of my shop and I couldn't imagine working on projects without it anymore. Sometimes the most-used thing in your shop is something you never expected My shop is full of woodworking and maker tools. From the CNC I mentioned to laser engravers and cutters, 3D printers, and a full woodworking setup—I have a bunch of tools at my disposal. So, when I picked up this detail sander, I never expected it to become one of my favorite tools in the shop.