Thread: random orbital sander

Not sure this will answer your question about the swirl marks.. but I have the Bosch GEX125 and it is fantastic for the money. Have sanded pine and hardwoods before with no marking problems and as smooth as. I'm no expert but sounds like the GMC was just rotating with no random orbit.

Garry

I'm no expert but sounds like the GMC was just rotating with no random orbit.

Plunger could be right, I own both machines and have had no problems with either. If you get the Bosch, make sure you order/get the vac. attachment, it really does help.

Himzo.

Totaly with Plunger,

The Bosch is a joy to use (IMHO)

The Metabo Duo has two orbit sizes and will rough sand with the best of them, and then fine finish sand with no swirl marks. I didn't think anything could be as good as my old Towa half sheet wet sander but the Metabo is better and lighter.
Cheers,
Graeme

Originally Posted by graemet

The Metabo Duo has two orbit sizes and will rough sand with the best of them, and then fine finish sand with no swirl marks. I didn't think anything could be as good as my old Towa half sheet wet sander but the Metabo is better and lighter.
Cheers,
Graeme

I second that .... it is a great unit.

Go For The Metabo 450xl Duo. 3 And 6 Mm Orbits. 6mm For Removal And 3mm For Finishing.great Dust Extraction Option As Well.

Yep nice tool the Metabo duo, brought one at the WWshow.
Dust extraction works very good with a vacuum connected... the paper bag that comes with it is useless tho.
One thing that I've found is there is some heat transfer from the gearbox through the centre bolt that holds the pad on, when sanding woods that have high resin contents(crapiarta!)you get a build up of pitch... which in turn can leave brunish marks on the wood.(takes a fair while, I get a full cabinet done on 1 disc before too much build up)

I have both the Metabo and a Bosch
Bosch is good but Metabo better

I wish I'd bought the Metabo at the Bris Wood Show. $100 cheaper than normal shelf price, a good weight, two actions on the sanding, and all the other positives the guys have already mentioned, oh, and little or no vibration.

cheers

RufflyRustic

What did you do wrong? I’ll tell you what you did wrong. You put money before quality. Now learn the lesson and go for the better one next time. It took me a year to realise I was wasting my time buying cheaper tools.

Spend a bit more and get the Metabo and you’ll understand what we are going on about. You won't be sorry. Trust me. Enjoy.

I'm no expert but sounds like the GMC was just rotating with no random orbit.

The GMC was random orbiting in action, but I just couldnt get the swirl marks out. I thought it was deep scuffs from the coarse paper but as I worked away with the fine papers and removing the coarse marks I was getting the marks back. Maybe the GMC was deciding to do a couple of rotations every know and then?? Anyway this gives me an excuse to tell the war department that I need a real machine to get her job done.

Heres a side story:

I bought a GMC biscuiter ( based on a 4" angle grinder ) on special for $69 but after a couple of uses the spring action wasnt returning. I was going to clean it and free it up but thought bugger it and took it back under warranty. The bloke from bunnings comes back with the $169 dollar one (based on 5" angle grinder) and gives it me. The girl on the counter says to him " are you sure that is the right one? " And he says that it must be as it's the only one they stock. Seems as though the $69 dollar one was a GMC promotional one, so now I have a heavier duty one and it does what I need it to do. It's nice to have a win evey now and then.

Originally Posted by Wongo

What did you do wrong? I’ll tell you what you did wrong. You put money before quality. Now learn the lesson and go for the better one next time. It took me a year to realise I was wasting my time buying cheaper tools.

Spend a bit more and get the Metabo and you’ll understand what we are going on about. You won't be sorry. Trust me. Enjoy.

Wongo mate I usually do. Im a fitter and machinist by trade and know all about that bitter lesson. The reason I bought the GMC was 30 day money back satisfaction garrentee. Cheaper than hiring a tool. Now I'll buy a good one before next project. But you also have to be able to justify sending hundreds on a tool when it sits idle for 364 days a year ( the biscuiter in point ).

I've got a GMC ROS and it works fine. One day I will get it hooked up to a vacuum, but until then I am pretty happy with it.

Trav

I also have the GMC model and get the same problem with swirl marks.

I had been wondering if there was also a technique for using this type of sander, that I had overlooked. {Insert comments here}

And yes get it hooked up to a vacuum unit, it makes so much difference when working with certain woods.

Everything that makes dust in my shop is hooked up to a mini-cyclone ( ala Bill Pentz's site) and the reduction in dust is amazing.