Thread: Random orbital sander bosch

I would be most interested in hearing some feedback as I too have been considering this tool.

Regards
Paul

Hi Guys,

Bought a Bosch GEX 150 Turbo Pro about 2 years back. Works well for me and still going strong. Give me a mirror finish when polishing chopping boards. I made a lot of big and small chopping boards, mainly for gifts to friends and family.

The finished it produce is so good till friends and family refuse to use them and ruin the mirror like finish! LOL!

With a 40 or 60 grit and setting it to coarse sanding, it can really take wood off fast, and I'm talking hardwood.

A plus is that, the dust port fits the Festool rubber connector for dust extraction. It's a tight fit but it fit just incase you're planning to get or have a Festool dust extractor.

Cheers
Woodin

Thanks for that woodin.
I really hesitate between this one and the Rotex. Especially cause you can have the rotex in 125mm which is probably more polyvalent.

I finally made a decision and bought a Metabo 450 instead.

It appeared very similar and on the day was $40 cheaper at $359 than the Bosch. It appeared to have very similar features, but it's power input is only 350W compared to the Bosch's 600W and the Rotex at 720W. The Metabo cam with three sanding discs but they dealer thew in a pack of 25 mixed sanding discs too.

We will see how it goes.

Regards
Paul

I would be interested to know how you get your mirror finish on your cutting boards woodin? I'm actually working on a slab of Sassafras to make a bar and I would like this kind of finish...
Cheers

Hi Lecoz

Here's my process to achieve a mirror finish:

Required items:
- 1x ROSander (inc dust extractor)
- Sand paper (grit) 1x 320grit, 1x 400, 1x 500, 1x 600, 1x 800, 1x 1000, 1x 1200, 1x 1500 and 1x 2000 (4000 optional)
- Burnishing oil (Tung oil) - I used Organoil brand, it's 100% natural and food safe.

1. Give the wood surface a good clean. Set ROS to fine sanding (free running on my Bosch GEX150 Turbo) and sand it with 320 grit thoroughly, at a slow pace. Don't push down on the ROS onto the wood, the weight of the ROS itself is enough.

2. Retain your 320 grit, it should be full of saw dust after step 1. Don't clean it as the saw dust will come in handy later.

3. Apply first coat of the burnishing oil with a lint free cloth or similar, make sure you cover the whole surface and remember not to over do it or drown it with the burnishing oil. Just a good medium amount of oil

4. Let it sit and soaked into wood for a good 2 to 3hrs (hot days 2hrs, cold days 3hrs)

5. Apply 2nd coat and this should be a light coat on the whole surface. Leave it for about 15 mins. Surface should be sticky by now with the oil.

6. Using the same sand paper retain in step 2. Polish the whole surface again as before in step 1. You will notice by now there is a slurry of saw dust buildup, this is good sign as the slurrry will work its way into the wood pores and sealing it.

7. Wipe off excess oil on surface (and slurry), just a once or 2 over.

8. With a new clean sand paper on the ROS (400grit). Work the surface again thoroughly (Always the same setting and pace as step 1).

9. Repeat again with 500 grit then 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and finally 2000. Make sure you wipe off excess oil and slurr buildup before progressing (just a once over wipe will do) to the next grit.

10. By 400-500 grit you should see a lustre sheen, and by 800-1000 almost mirror like finish. and by 2000, you should be able to see your reflection!

11. Once complete allow the oil to cure (I leave it about 2 weeks when using Organoil Burnishing oil) it may vary depending on oil choices. Make sure it is fully cure before use (especially food safe purposes) like a chopping board.

The important tips here are first, use the sandpaper grit in small steps 400 to 500 to 600 to 800 and so on. Secondly, do not rush it, a slow medium pace will do and finally, dont push down on the ROS, take your time.

Organoil Burnishing oil is sold at Carbatec and if you're in Melb, you can contact the local Organoil agent directly on 94644252 for a pickup at Thomastown.

I buy my sand paper in bulk in wood show, a lot cheaper and a very good tip here is not to throw away any of your old slurred, sawdust covered stained, sand paper. They can be re use by cleaning them easily. Dip a cloth into the same burnishing oil and just wipe the slurred, sawdust stained covered sandpaper with it. You'll be surprised how easily they come off.

Good luck
Woodin

Most interesting Woodin. I will have to try that. Is it ordinary ROS disc sandpaper you use as I am not aware of having seen those fine grits other than in wet and dry (not in ROS paper)?

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I finally made a decision and bought a Metabo 450 instead.

It appeared very similar and on the day was $40 cheaper at $359 than the Bosch. It appeared to have very similar features, but it's power input is only 350W compared to the Bosch's 600W and the Rotex at 720W. The Metabo cam with three sanding discs but they dealer thew in a pack of 25 mixed sanding discs too.

We will see how it goes.

Regards
Paul

Don't know what the Bosch sander is like but the Metabo one very very good. It is very easy to control.

I like my Metabo Duo.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Most interesting Woodin. I will have to try that. Is it ordinary ROS disc sandpaper you use as I am not aware of having seen those fine grits other than in wet and dry (not in ROS paper)?

Yes they comes in ROS disc paper. Bosch actually produce them all the way up to 2000 and 4000 (these looks more like buffing sponge).

Powertoolspecialist at Carlton sells them. <CITE>www.powertoolspecialists.com.au/</CITE>

Woodin

Originally Posted by Woodin

Yes they comes in ROS disc paper. Bosch actually produce them all the way up to 2000 and 4000 (these looks more like buffing sponge).

Powertoolspecialist at Carlton sells them. <CITE>www.powertoolspecialists.com.au/</CITE>

Woodin

Woodin

Since asking the question I did turn up some finer grits on the Sandpaper Man's site

https://www.thesandpaperman.com.au/discs-velour/

They only go to 1500grit, but bulk buys are possible. How does that compare? I will have to look around.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Woodin

Since asking the question I did turn up some finer grits on the Sandpaper Man's site

https://www.thesandpaperman.com.au/discs-velour/

They only go to 1500grit, but bulk buys are possible. How does that compare? I will have to look around.

Hi Paul (Bushmiller)

Do look around more, I had look at the website, a bit pricey to my liking and also they seem to have different attachment than the standard Velcro type.

I've just checked a couple of packs of unopen 600 and 800 grits I have left, these cost me $15 a pack at the Melb Woodshow last year. Each pack consist of 20 discs, so about 75 cents a disc and they are pre-punched (for Bosch ROS) for the dust extracting.

Luckily for you! The packs have their websites labeled (Veneer Inlay Australia and Veneer Inlay Australia). Looking at their websites (same one company), the pricing is still the same. I haven't ordered from them online but their service is not bad when I bought them at the Woodshow.

Powertoolspecialist at Melb do sell the finer grit paper (2k grit and 4k). They do have an online shop but not sure if they list them there. You can always call them up but i'm sure any trade power tool shop near you will have them or can get them in.

Hope this helps.
<label for="rb_iconid_7"></label> Woodin

Woodin

It certainly does help. Thanks

Regards
Paul