New random orbital sander

[coelacanth2]

Old Dewalt crapped out after many a strange year. Local Ace is having a sale on the same model, trying to move out old stock. But, I was passing a Woodcraft store on my way home from being edumacated, dropped in for the first time in, oh about two years, and came out with a 6" Festool and the adaptor for the little shop vac. Gona try it today or to-morrow:D

[Michael Beckman]

Those festool ones are awesome. Especially combined with their vac, the remote power switching is really a nice touch.

Benefit of volunteering for local nonprofits.. They tend to have good tools donated.

[Captain Blight]

I keep hearing that the medium-sized one vibrates like something form the Xandria Collection. Like almost uncontrollably in certain conditions. Keep us posted on what you find out, willya?

[Ron Williamson]

I'm happy with my Bosch.
R

[coelacanth2]

Well, I fired it up for a bit earlier. Xandria's customers would have been a bit miffed - lots less vibration than the old Dewalt:D.

[Paul Girouard]

Me thinks Blighty got bad intel , (or doesn't know jack but had to say something :rolleyes:) the couple I've tested at Woodcraft where nice machines. To spendy for most folks , but nice tools.

[Captain Blight]

Me thinks Blighty got bad intel , (or doesn't know jack but had to say something :rolleyes:) the couple I've tested at Woodcraft where nice machines. To spendy for most folks , but nice tools.
Yeah, I had the same experience (the testing part, not the nattering part ya... :p) at Woodcraft which is why I was made thoughtful by the reports that they vibrate something awful. Maybe there's some combination of sanding grit and pressure and surface irregularities? Or the people who don't like 'em don't know what they're talking about? Dunno. Hence the posting. I certainly don't think much I say needs to be carved in stone.

[JimConlin]

I've got the earlier version of the Festool 6" 'Rotex' sander and it is a wonderful tool. Versus the P-C 7336 it replaced, it is both more aggressive and easier on the operator. The dust collection works better, too. Unlike the Fein RO sanders, the Festool discs are reasonably priced. If you are going to spend some time sanding, it's well worth the higher cost.

[Lew Barrett]

I have an ETS 150EQ and of all the tools I have ever purchased, this sander justifies its high price better than almost anything else I own. It will allow you to machine sand flat surfaces with great ease and precision and is the easiest, best and only sander in my kit for machine sanding finishes without ending up with a shiny sack of walnuts.

I bought the 5 mm stroke unit because I was willing to go with the slightly more aggressive motion. In practice, finishes and wood sanded with this unit show no swirls whatsoever, so if you want to move a bit quicker through the work, consider that. I have not been unhappy that I didn't get the Rotax version, but I should add that I have aggressive sanders for other work. But I have nothing else that works with the finesse of the Festool. Their abrasives are excellent, there is a great choice of media, and their papers are actually very reasonably priced for what you get and how well they last on a machine, especially one that is hooked up to dust collection. This might be something to consider. I think that part of the deal is a plus, even compared to the wholesale pricing I was getting on other brands of paper. A happy customer here.

[David G]

I love the idea of the Rotex sander. Dual mode, quiet, solid, good dust collection. I've two friends that own them. The first raves about his, the other doesn't use it as much as he thought. When he showed me why, I realized it wasn't the sander for me either. The handle is just too thick for my delicate little paws to grapple one-handed. Ah well... I'm pretty happy my my Bosches anyway.

[Lew Barrett]

Maybe there's some combination of sanding grit and pressure and surface irregularities? Or the people who don't like 'em don't know what they're talking about? Dunno. Hence the posting. I certainly don't think much I say needs to be carved in stone.

I don't know about the Rotax when set to it's aggressive stroke, but on my sander, no extra pressure is necessary. You just sort of push it around the work and the machine does the rest.

I have two pads for it; there's a hard pad available, and for sanding flat surfaces, it's a useful, even necessary option. I use that pad 99% of the time, and the machine doesn't rock with it....a good thing!

Some work just isn't best done by machine though, so it's not a complete panacea. You never get completely away from the misery whip, I think.

[coelacanth2]

After Mass this AM, while the boy was at Sunday school I ducked home and sanded the scarfs for the strakes on the little Sassafras canoe we're building. 80 grit disc, 10 strakes total, about 20 minutes with a nice finish. Hooked up to the vacuum, no appreciable dust. It took longer to make a cup of coffee and change my clothes. Daddy always did say to buy the best the first time...

[pipefitter]

I have the P-C one as well and it has been good. I recently got back into the pneumatic sanders, mainly the Hutchins 8650 super sander and I am never going back to electric.

[David W Pratt]

Love my Festool. The guys at Jamestown Dist. pulled my coat on the cost of discs. Also love not breathing in bottom paint dust.
Used it on some floors in the house, no dust.
Good luck.

[JimConlin]

David, I've bought the discs at Woodcraft and at Burns Tool in Fall River. Burns carries a more complete line.

[Ed Harrow]

Norton makes discs for the Festool - Providence Lacquer carries them, but I've not had any luck finding them locally, not even by special order.

I like mine, and was surprised at the write-up and comments re vibration.

[JimConlin]

Ed-
Which Norton product do I look for at Providence Lacquer (http://www.providencelacquer.net/)?

[Jay Greer]

Although my random orbit sander is made by Fein, when it dies, it will go for the Fess Tool. I have yet to hear a complaint. Though expensive, their tools are awsome!
Jay