RO Sander Recommendations?

[Keith Wilson]

First, I hate sanding, so I want to get through it as quickly as possible. I have a Porter-Cable 5" RO sander which is OK, but I've been thinking about one of the 6" models. Two questions:

- Is a heavy-duty 6" RO enough faster than the ordinary 5" ones to justify spending some money?

- If so, what kind? No, not Fein, they're nice, but do I look like Bill Gates? I've looked at Porter-Cable and Metabo/Ridgid.

[Keith Wilson]

First, I hate sanding, so I want to get through it as quickly as possible. I have a Porter-Cable 5" RO sander which is OK, but I've been thinking about one of the 6" models. Two questions:

- Is a heavy-duty 6" RO enough faster than the ordinary 5" ones to justify spending some money?

- If so, what kind? No, not Fein, they're nice, but do I look like Bill Gates? I've looked at Porter-Cable and Metabo/Ridgid.

[Keith Wilson]

First, I hate sanding, so I want to get through it as quickly as possible. I have a Porter-Cable 5" RO sander which is OK, but I've been thinking about one of the 6" models. Two questions:

- Is a heavy-duty 6" RO enough faster than the ordinary 5" ones to justify spending some money?

- If so, what kind? No, not Fein, they're nice, but do I look like Bill Gates? I've looked at Porter-Cable and Metabo/Ridgid.

[Bruce Hooke]

What are you sanding? For sanding curved surfaces in a real hurry an 8-9" sander/polisher with a foam sanding pad and sanding discs really gets the job done fast. It is not random orbit so it will leave some swirl marks, but with care these can be minimized.

FWIW - If I did the math right a 6" disc has 44% more area than a 5" disc, which should say something about how much faster a 6" unit will be than a 5" one...

[Bruce Hooke]

What are you sanding? For sanding curved surfaces in a real hurry an 8-9" sander/polisher with a foam sanding pad and sanding discs really gets the job done fast. It is not random orbit so it will leave some swirl marks, but with care these can be minimized.

FWIW - If I did the math right a 6" disc has 44% more area than a 5" disc, which should say something about how much faster a 6" unit will be than a 5" one...

[Bruce Hooke]

What are you sanding? For sanding curved surfaces in a real hurry an 8-9" sander/polisher with a foam sanding pad and sanding discs really gets the job done fast. It is not random orbit so it will leave some swirl marks, but with care these can be minimized.

FWIW - If I did the math right a 6" disc has 44% more area than a 5" disc, which should say something about how much faster a 6" unit will be than a 5" one...

[Donn]

My PC takes either a 5" or 6" pad. Just have to run a different counter-weight in it. Does yours?

[Donn]

My PC takes either a 5" or 6" pad. Just have to run a different counter-weight in it. Does yours?

[Donn]

My PC takes either a 5" or 6" pad. Just have to run a different counter-weight in it. Does yours?

[JimConlin]

The PC 7335 and 7336 are the same tool, 'cept for the pad and counterweight.
I have one of each.
PC has only one dust-sucker shroud part, which fits the 6" pad just fine and would, i expect, seeem cumbersome if using the 5" pad.
The choice of pad size is pretty much dependent on the contour of what you're sanding.
The amount of material the machine can remove is a function of the machine's power and the effectiveness of the paper.
So, get the strongest machines you can afford and control and tailor the pad to what you're sanding.

What Bruce said about a soft pad on a polisher.

[JimConlin]

The PC 7335 and 7336 are the same tool, 'cept for the pad and counterweight.
I have one of each.
PC has only one dust-sucker shroud part, which fits the 6" pad just fine and would, i expect, seeem cumbersome if using the 5" pad.
The choice of pad size is pretty much dependent on the contour of what you're sanding.
The amount of material the machine can remove is a function of the machine's power and the effectiveness of the paper.
So, get the strongest machines you can afford and control and tailor the pad to what you're sanding.

What Bruce said about a soft pad on a polisher.

[JimConlin]

The PC 7335 and 7336 are the same tool, 'cept for the pad and counterweight.
I have one of each.
PC has only one dust-sucker shroud part, which fits the 6" pad just fine and would, i expect, seeem cumbersome if using the 5" pad.
The choice of pad size is pretty much dependent on the contour of what you're sanding.
The amount of material the machine can remove is a function of the machine's power and the effectiveness of the paper.
So, get the strongest machines you can afford and control and tailor the pad to what you're sanding.

What Bruce said about a soft pad on a polisher.

[Ron Williamson]

September's Fine Homebuilding has a pretty broad survey of ROs.
Do a search of the forum for some of my recent comments regarding Porter-Cable.
R

[Ron Williamson]

September's Fine Homebuilding has a pretty broad survey of ROs.
Do a search of the forum for some of my recent comments regarding Porter-Cable.
R

[Ron Williamson]

September's Fine Homebuilding has a pretty broad survey of ROs.
Do a search of the forum for some of my recent comments regarding Porter-Cable.
R