Thread: Which Random Orbital Sander?

G'day legswilly,

Were the belts on the "right way around"?

Also, save your money and buy a festool ets 150/3. Festool is a great brand and for the price you get a brilliant machine that you will always use and therefore (in my opinion) an excellent value for money tool.
Is it reasonably priced? If you want quality - then yes it is.

How much(if any) downward pressure were you putting on your belt sander? If the surface was reasonably smooth to start with then you shouldn't have gone through the belts as you said. Although if it wasn't smooth then maybe that is why you did.

Can you supply us with photographs? As they say, "a picture is worth a 1000 words".

Festool make nice tools but there are other brands that work quite well and are as least as durable. Be sure to look at Makita or Metabo.

Festool if you can afford it.

Metabo Duo if you can't afford the Festool.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I have a question on a similar topic.

I have a Bosch 125mm random orbital sander, which I made the mistake of lending to a "mate". The backing pad that takes the sheets is now stuffed, the edges of the velcro ended up being used as a sanding pad .

Anyway, a replacement backing pad for the Bosch will cost about the same as a new sander from GMC or any of the other cheaper brands. Should I replace the pad on the Bosch, or are the cheapies a better option?

Cheers, Dean

Tas Dean, I had a gmc ROS once, never again!
If the bosch is a good one then replace the pad.

Originally Posted by craigb

Festool if you can afford it.

Metabo Duo if you can't afford the Festool.

Festool is near $900 German made; Metabo duo is less than half that price is German made.

Metabo I am told has recently been bought out by Festool.

The guy at the organ oil display at the WW show had a Festool but spoke very highly of the Metabo duo (and the show sale price) - I went and imediately bought one - with out a doubt the best impulse purchase I have made in recent years

Teejay, you are confusing the price of a festool ROS 150/3 ($450-511) with the festool rotex.

Interesting point about metabo. I have some metabo tools but my festool is better in build and overall quality. It remains to be seen if you will get "festool quality" metabo products. It didn't happen with GMC/Triton.

Anyway I still say save your money for the festool - It's so quiet, smooth and the dust extraction is awsome. Also you can use a lot of the rotex pads and accessories with it, I have sandpaper up to 2000 grit, felt polishing pads and other stuff I use with it - a very versatile sander.

Originally Posted by felixe

Teejay, you are confusing the price of a festool ROS 150/3 ($450-511) with the festool rotex.

Interesting point about metabo. I have some metabo tools but my festool is better in build and overall quality. It remains to be seen if you will get "festool quality" metabo products. It didn't happen with GMC/Triton.

Anyway I still say save your money for the festool - It's so quiet, smooth and the dust extraction is awsome. Also you can use a lot of the rotex pads and accessories with it, I have sandpaper up to 2000 grit, felt polishing pads and other stuff I use with it - a very versatile sander.

Fair enough Felix - I don't profess to be an expert on Festool I only have that silly domino thingy from them.

In relation to the recommendation on metabo - I was referred to the garden gnome at the woodshow by U-Beaut's Neil Ellis and the gnome who is a principal of organ-oil gave high reviews of the Metabo - it has the 3mm osilation and the 6mm osilation etc etc - seemed good oil to me so I went and bought one - very happy with it.

Is there rubbish coming from Germany - would Festool buy a wobbly brand? Don't know?

I agree entirely about the duo. Great little sander, works a treat. A quick spin through the drum sander and then it's only a couple of minutes doen through the grits with no dust whatever, vitually. not used the Festool, but very happy with the Metabo.

Ok, let me set it straight. I never ever said that metabo was rubbish.

My metabo tools are excellent.

Happy?

Originally Posted by craigb

Festool if you can afford it.

Metabo Duo if you can't afford the Festool.

.

Lingum, you can't say that!

You'll upset Teejay!

Am i allowed to say

Festool C12 >>>>>>>>> Panasonic >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>the rest