Thread: Random Orbital Sanders - Ozito, GMC or??

Let us know how it performs when you do some work with it. I'm keen to find out. A ROS is one of the tools on my "buy soon" list, and I considering a bosch blue, but it's a bit more than the makita. I would love to stretch to a metabo duo, but for the amount I'd use it that's completely out of my price range (around $375 for one of those).

Hi James will do.. expect to break out the Makita this weekend.

If you are keen on a Blue Bosch or Metabo Duo (there's one of these on EBay for sale at the moment - currently bidding is around $200 with 3 days to go. RRP $469) could I suggest you find a shop that will give you a demo of these. When Watson suggested a demo to be honest I wasn't sure what sort of demo a shop could give or what it would show. Obviously they are not going to sand timber. But it will you an excellent guide to how each machine vibrates. That ruled out anything under $100 for me.

Looking through forums here I was reading about Rotex's and how well they "mill" timber as an ROS. But that's a bit different to my current projects.

When we got back last night noticed that the case the Makita comes in (hard plastic) has a dent in one corner of it. So will be onto Bunning first thing this morning. But that big red Makita sticker down one side is quite impressive and the case is quite compact for carrying in a car.

James if you were not in a hurry and could come to grips with voltage/transformer and warranty issues you could investigate whether it's worth buying some of these of tools in the USA. I had a quick look but need mine this weekend so did not pursue this angle.

Rgds John

Originally Posted by MelbMan

...James if you were not in a hurry and could come to grips with voltage/transformer and warranty issues you could investigate whether it's worth buying some of these of tools in the USA. I had a quick look but need mine this weekend so did not pursue this angle.

Rgds John

If looking to the US this is what you need to add to the price noting
the Makita is a 220 watt input and the Metabo Duo is 400 Watt.

You would have to add about $129 for a 250 Watt transformer or $219 for a 500 Watt transformer assumming you were prepared to operate that close to the margin. 1000 Watt is $340. these prices are from Jaycar and come with US output plug (in quantities of 4 or more the 1000 Watt is only $275) and are totally electically isolated.

Dick Smith is cheaper for the two larger ones -250W $149,500W $178 and 1000W $246 but at least one member has had trouble getting a 1000Watt one that worked so shop in person at Dick Smith.

Good point Pusser... I bought an early broadband router from the USA a couple of years ago when they were not so common here and expensive. Finished up with a 110/240v transformer from Dick Smith. It works ok but a lot of piggybacking at the powerpt. Not sure if I'd really want a run a power tool through one.. assuming a power tool draws a fair bit of current and heat.

The Metabo Duo draws 3.8amps at 110 Volts and the Makita about 2 amps I think. The Jaycar 1000 W is rated at 8.6 amps, the 500 W at 4.2 amps and the 250 Watter at 2.2 amps. I am not sure whether this is the 240V side or the 115V side though. Dick smith are rated roughly the same.

For comparison, A big Triton Router is listed as drawing 15 amps in the US.

Ive had a Makita BO5021 (125mm) orbital sander for a few years It's been used heavily, almost on a daily basis and its never let me down. Vibration is very low and its quiet. In its price range, its one of the best
Its best used for finishing, as its orbit is small, it doesnt tear away at the wood quickly.
My Makita has just gone into retirement, as I have recently purchased a Festool Rotex 150. Huge price difference to the Makita, but it really shows in quality...I'll never use the Makita again after using the Rotex, but it did a lot of good work without letting me down
cheers!

John, when I get one I'll get it in aussie. Too much hassle buying one from the USA with a transformer. At $177 I'm going to have to heavily consider that makita as well!

Research is half of the fun, I reckon

Hi James if you like research take a look at some of the Jamestown Distributors videos on ROS on YouTube. If you do a search for Festool you'll find a heap of reviews. Quite interesting as the guy puts a dot on the base of a few ROS and the different size of the circles when the different machines orbit.

So gave the Makita it's first run this arvo sanding an old Merbau verandah.
Now I'm not sure if Merbau is really hard (I reckon it is as once built a picket fence out of Merbau pickets and virtually impossible to nail without pre-drilling the holes).

So I had gloves, a pretty fancy nose and mouth filter, ear muffs, goggles.
Talk about a lot of s**t to put on! Well the earmuffs broke so did without them and the elastic in the goggles was so old they were worthless as well. I do have glasses so some protection.

Had read with ROS that you should let the weight of the machine do the work. Setting 5 for sanding. Anyway to cut along story short the Makita is very easy to handle, not noisy at all. I reckon the sanding was a continuous 30 mins. My hands were tingling afterwards but are ok now.

I sort of concur with Underused about removal of timber..but Merbau is hard. I was using 80 grit paper. Did have some 60 grit tempted to use.

But the machine was fun to use, took all this well in its stride and its very ergonomic. The only thing I've had a problem with is putting the machine back in its case and getting the case to close. That's a job for tomorrow.

Should mention very little dust with the Makita... the dustbag must be doing its job.

John pretty happy with his choice..

PS: saw a blue Bosch ROS at Northland Bunnings today. This was not available at the Bunning where I made my purchase. The Blue Bosch was $250.

I have the Trition ROS, and it's great! definitly worth considering. IMO great value for money. I have never used any other ROS so i can't compare.

Sounds good John. I'd also be keen to hear how it is for finishing, i.e. sanding all the way up to ~400 grit.