Thread: Which ROS? (Smoothness vs Reliability)

Sounds like you'r drive/motor shaft is bent. Mine fell from a bench and has done this twice, I was able to straighten the shaft and is now as good as new!

If you do buy a new ROS, I'm not sure high price is a guarantee of smoothness. For example, I have two 5" ROS's, Bosch and Festool. The Bosch is definitely smoother than the Festool.

This question has been asked before & I think the Bosch got a few favourable mentions.

My Bosch pex threw the disc off. I cannot get it to stay on. The worst anchorage for anything ever dreamed up!

It could also be the bearings.

These rely on bearings as part of the oscillating action and if you have a seized bearing it creates vibration as it is not spinning as it should.

I was going to suggest bearings as well. We have a Makita 6 inch ROS and we did a bearing in the first year. Which they replaced under warranty at no cost and it has run like a dream ever since. When the bearing is gone it still runs, but isn't as smooth and doesn't do as good a job, and I believe if you leave it too long it just gets worse and worse.

Thank you to everyone who replied!

I've since been told that Peter's Power Tools at Willoughby is the
official Metabo service centre nearest to me, so I've taken the tool
there. It will be a couple of weeks before I find out what's wrong,
and how much the repairs will cost. (

I also bought a small Hitachi 125mm as a spare since it got
good reviews. Seems fine so far, touch wood.

Cheers.

(BTW, artme, I've heard that the problem with the Bosch green pex
throwing discs doesn't happen with the Bosch blue range.)

I very nearly bought a green Bosch this week . What's the problem with them?

Originally Posted by *Kev

I very nearly bought a green Bosch this week . What's the problem with them?

My green Bosch is > 15 years old, still go strong and smooth, it is made in Sweden though. Nowaday the China stuff ... I'm not sure

I can also add that the green Bosch has been faultless for the 3 years I have had it - as has the blue Bosch of course.

I have the big metabo and have given it a hammering, I have 3 mates with them too.

I replaced the main pad bearing a while ago..and yes everything depends on it.....and it aint cheap...and yes you are better off buying the genuine part.

The main pad bearing assemby is a centre shaft with two bearings mounted on it...one is a plain bearing and the other is a one way/ or anti reverse bearing.

I repleace mine because it was getting a bit noisy, and there was some play in the pad.....if it was allowed to get worse I could see that the one way bearing could start playing up...that could result in a very rough action.

to replace this bearing you undo the cap screw in the centre of the pad, and remove it..this should reveal the hold downs for the main bearing ..that should pull out without too much difficulty.

cheers

I have had the green Bosch for about 18 months. No problems, I am delighted with it, the discs stick on like , " Well, you know what ! "

Pete

Re: the Bosch green ROS throwing disks - Just don't let someone put it down on the bench still running without a disk on it I had one that got that treatment & it was never the same again - luckily the person who did it bought me a Bosch Blue ROS to replace the green one

Originally Posted by TP1

If you do buy a new ROS, I'm not sure high price is a guarantee of smoothness. For example, I have two 5" ROS's, Bosch and Festool. The Bosch is definitely smoother than the Festool.

hi tp1.
i have used every brand of sander known to man.
i have also been using festool sanders for 10 years now.

one thing i can tell you is that the 5 inch festool that you have requires a run in period of 8 to 10 hours. during this run in period the sander will appear to be very jumpy and not run smooth.
i have heard about people hanging their festool sanders in their garages from the ceiling with the trigger taped in the on position for 8 to 10 hours.

after the run in period the festools have run as smooth as silk.

how long have you had your 5 inch festool sander?

i dont like any brand of 5 inch sanders.
i much prefer the 6 inch sanders which do not require a run in period.

i recommend the original poster try the festool ets/5 sander.
it takes 6 inch/150mm discs and is the best sander on the market, imho.
i run my festools very hard, sometimes 10 to 12 hours a day.
ten years later and they are still going strong.

they are more expensive than the other brands, but there is a very good reason for that. you will understand why they are more expensive once you have picked one up and flogged it hard for 10 hours.

regards, justin.