The best replacement for sanding is planing.

The best alternatives to sanding are rated as following:
★★★★★  planing
★★★  stripping
★★★  stripping furniture
★★★  scraping
★★  sponging drywall
★★  stripping paint
★★  screening
★★  sandblasting
★★  deglosser
★★  stripping wood
★★  grinding
★  deglossing
★  chemical stripping
★  buffing
★  sugar soap
★  dry sanding
★  wet sanding
★  liquid deglosser
  steel wool
  primer
  striping
  planning
  sponging
  power washing

Your alternative for sanding is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about sanding, one probably shouldn't forget about stripping.

Other search terms related to sanding and their ratings are:
★★★★★ stripping
You have in mind a companion for sanding and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of sanding in all years. Click on graph for more.
sanding
planing
stripping