Thread: Random Orbital question

Well i have gotten 400grit from bunnings for my orbital sander

I have the Triton attachment to fit an angle grinder and bought discs from Bunnings up to and including 1200 grit. I'm amazed at the finished product

Have killed 2 Bosch random orbital sanders. Wouldn't have another if it was given to me.

I now have a Festo ES150/3 and couldn't be happier. Have also used the Triton and a couple of others that fit on the angle grinder. Give me the Festo any day. Costs a bit more than the Bosch and a lot more than the Triton etc, but other than cost there is no comparrison.

If you want a cheap version the Triton is definitely the way to go. I would have to say I would rather it than either of the Bosch ones.

Just my oppinion. I hope it helps a bit.

Cheers - Neil

Second that Neil re the Festo.After using this nice beast ..wouldn't swap for any other moreover after using the Bosche.
Also had the Bosche Pex orbital and had no trouble getting various grit disks for it.
Cheers


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Johnno

I'd love a Festo, and one day I'll pick one up. In the mean time I have other priorities and they aren't exactly cheap.

I have both the Bosch random orbital sanders and their delta sander, and I'm very happy with them for my purposes (weekend warrior). I also have a Bosch green 9.6v cordless drill, a 12v, a blue 12v, a green hammer drill, their big blue router, tenon saw, staple gun and a couple of others. I've had zero problems with them - though after taking a beating for a couple of years the batteries on the two green cordless drills are not so great, as you'd expect.

I'd definitely make the same choices again in the same situation. Bosch tools are good value for money, though obviously if you want the best and are prepared to pay for it buy the Festo. I've bought everything up to 400 grit discs from Bunnies as well.

Has anyone used those dual-orbit machines (I think Metabo) that you can switch orbit distances between, say, 3 and 6mm?
Are the dual orbits any use or is this a gimmick?

Yep I'd love to buy a Festo but I can't justify the cost.

It must be just my local Bunnings (Artarmon) 'cause I couldn't see any fine grit pads - unles of course my eyesight is going

Craig

re the metabo duo random orbit with orbit selection.
Yep have got one very happy with it. The dual orbit function certainly changes the sanding action although on some materials you wont se much diference others you most certainly will.
The metabo is a joy to use I on ocasions hve it in my hands for several hours at a time.

Cant make a personal comparison with the festo but I believe that the festo & the metabo are so far ahead of all the rest.

the metabo is much cheaper.

The most important thing about all the random orbits is the dust extraction efficiency when hooked to a vac. Very Effective.

I recon you also get close to the next higher grit finish of a random orbit.

re the bosch
a mate of mine has a bosch machine & has recently started using it with a shop vac and is much happier with the unit
He still covets my metabo which he has test driven.

re fine grits
any good adrasive specialist should be able to get you any thing between 40grit & 1200gritt for most machines I dont need anything over 320 myself.

Cheers
Any working random orbit machine is better than none.!!!

Craig,

I once owned a PEX 400 but it couldn't do the fine wet on wet burnishing finish with organoil that the festo rotex does. It is more expensive but worth the dollars. Makita, Stayer and Fein make a random orbital like the Rotex and I can only comment that Stayer is a good machine as I have used it at a demo at the Working with wood show; the other 2 I have only read reviews about.
For sandpaper, I go to carbatec and have bought grits upto 800 with velcrose backing and use 1500 & 2000 grit sheets by cutting out rounds (6 inches) and contact glue them to a standard 6 inch velcrose backed sheet. They work well and I get 2 discs per sheet.
The higher grit papers (1500 & 2000) I buy in packs of 50 (made by Hermes) from carbatec as they are cheaper in bulk; so are the velcrose backed discs in boxes of 100.
You won't find these higher grits at Bunnings
and from what I have seen their abrasives are way too expensive.

Cheers,
Evan

Thanks for the responses.

Soundman, is the Metabo you own the sxe 450 Duo machine? From the Metabo Australia website it sounds like the one you describe.
It looks to be their top of the range machine. Any idea of the rrp?

Re the available grit sizes, I've been to three different Bunnings now and the finest they stock is 240. I checked at Carbatec the other day when I was there and they have finer grades as was mentioned. The tip for making your own for the finest grit sizes sounds like the go.

Cheers
Craig

I have had a Metabo SXE 425 (the precursor to the 450 Duo). It has been absolutely faultless, and is probably one of my most used and most treasured power tools.

I have it hooked up to a central vacuum and the removal rate is amazing, along with the eventual quality of finish with fine grades.

You can buy 320 grit paper over the internet (I think from Timbecon or similar) and I have found this the best way.

Bunnings no longer handle the Bosch discs which I have found to be excellent.

I cannot commend the Metabo sander highly enough. I have used it for many hours at a time, with all grades of paper.

Hope this helps,

Doug

Just a tip, Doug. You might want to have a look a the date on the thread before replying.

Welcome back to the forum.

Tex

Thanks,

Doug

I've a friend who had one of the troublesome boschs and has been very interested to hear that others have had trouble too, even though the 'trouble' was a while ago.

When I eventually get myself one of these tools, it will definitely be the Metabo duo.

cheers
Wendy