Thread: Silencing Random Orbital Sanders

I was making 4 coffee tables. 1490x640x380 in spotted gum. Apron flush to face of leg with a 4x4 shadow line on top of leg/apron. So the flush aprons need some sanding, and I rushed the tabletop glueups leaving a few steps here n there and I only have a #6 foreplane and a block plane. Sanded the tops from 60grit to 4000grit oiling at 400grit. So......theres a bit of sanding to be done. I dont have a belt sander....I wish I i did for this, or a #4 smoother.

20150303_133209.jpg
Ill curse that gum pocket until the day I die!!!

I think ill be buying a mirka from bccoatings on monday, only 550bux, cheap as expensive chips.

Originally Posted by Kuffy

I was making 4 coffee tables. 1490x640x380 in spotted gum. Apron flush to face of leg with a 4x4 shadow line on top of leg/apron. So the flush aprons need some sanding, and I rushed the tabletop glueups leaving a few steps here n there and I only have a #6 foreplane and a block plane. Sanded the tops from 60grit to 4000grit oiling at 400grit. So......theres a bit of sanding to be done. I dont have a belt sander....I wish I i did for this, or a #4 smoother.

20150303_133209.jpg
Ill curse that gum pocket until the day I die!!!

I think ill be buying a mirka from bccoatings on monday, only 550bux, cheap as expensive chips.

there's nothing wrong with a #6.
they are a very versatile plane -- I have two blades for mine
one with a very pronounced camber used for flattening panels and taking out steps left from hurried glue ups
and another with slightly cambered corners used for jointing and smoothing

Originally Posted by Kuffy

I think ill be buying a mirka from bccoatings on monday, only 550bux, cheap as expensive chips.

It's not quite around the corner, but if you want to try before you buy my workshop is in Moorabbin.

Hi Have you considered a drum sander?
If you are gluing up table tops you will save yourself hours of sanding, you can get the panels flat in no time with a 120 or 180 grit and finish off with fine grits with the ROS.

I bough one brand new from Carba-tec a few years ago for around $750 it is an open ended design so although it is only 400mm wide you can turn the panel around and do panels up to 800mm wide.

Originally Posted by Kuffy

I was making 4 coffee tables. 1490x640x380 in spotted gum. Apron flush to face of leg with a 4x4 shadow line on top of leg/apron. So the flush aprons need some sanding, and I rushed the tabletop glueups leaving a few steps here n there and I only have a #6 foreplane and a block plane. Sanded the tops from 60grit to 4000grit oiling at 400grit. So......theres a bit of sanding to be done. I dont have a belt sander....I wish I i did for this, or a #4 smoother.

20150303_133209.jpg
Ill curse that gum pocket until the day I die!!!

I think ill be buying a mirka from bccoatings on monday, only 550bux, cheap as expensive chips.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

It's not quite around the corner, but if you want to try before you buy my workshop is in Moorabbin.

thanks for the offer, but I reckon since you say its good, and from what i can see on the videos on utube, and the spec sheet says 5mm orbit and only 68dB...it will serve my purpose.


mark, i did consider a drum sander. my concern with those machines is that there is so much leverage against the open end drum that i would be tapering all of the panels, and with lots of use the arm would be permanently bastardised. I would prefer a wide belt sander with at least 2 belts 900mm wide. but...that will be for when i have a factory with suitable power supply.

i just have to remember that I dont have all of the machinery that im used to using, and therefore I have to pay attention to the glue ups.

You might think there would be a problem with the arm, but is in fact very rigid, you do get slight deflection if you attempt a heavy cut but springs back perfectly.
In any case you turn the board around between sanding runs and the accuracy is far greater than that c an be achieved by just using an ROS.

Originally Posted by Kuffy

thanks for the offer, but I reckon since you say its good, and from what i can see on the videos on utube, and the spec sheet says 5mm orbit and only 68dB...it will serve my purpose.


mark, i did consider a drum sander. my concern with those machines is that there is so much leverage against the open end drum that i would be tapering all of the panels, and with lots of use the arm would be permanently bastardised. I would prefer a wide belt sander with at least 2 belts 900mm wide. but...that will be for when i have a factory with suitable power supply.

i just have to remember that I dont have all of the machinery that im used to using, and therefore I have to pay attention to the glue ups.

Thanks Elanjacobs, you put me onto a winner with the Mirka. I picked it up this morning and sanded some chopping blocks with it. it is much quieter than the milwaukee I was using. and its light enough that i can easily sand vertical faces. I was able to sand a 45degree bevel (8mm across the bevel face) around the edge of the chopping blocks quite well, i usually sanded these by hand.

Originally Posted by Kuffy

Thanks Elanjacobs, you put me onto a winner with the Mirka. I picked it up this morning and sanded some chopping blocks with it. it is much quieter than the milwaukee I was using. and its light enough that i can easily sand vertical faces. I was able to sand a 45degree bevel (8mm across the bevel face) around the edge of the chopping blocks quite well, i usually sanded these by hand.

Glad you like it, I reckon it's hands down the best ROS available. My only gripe is that there's no hard pad for it.
I'll be keen to see what the new Festool ETS EC is like when it arrives here.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Glad you like it, I reckon it's hands down the best ROS available. My only gripe is that there's no hard pad for it.

I have a 3rd party (Klingspor) pad for my ETS 150 and it looks very similar to a Mirka pad - i.e. I reckon it's made by Mirka for Klingspor. I think it's supposed to be a "one DE pattern fits all" arrangement and it is secured by an M8 bolt through the middle with an allen key. Maybe that's an option for you (contact Klingspor Aust 02 9737 0597 to find out who can get one for you - Paul Hoye is a very nice chap). The one I have is a Medium which is not as hard as the FT medium, but harder than the FT Soft.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

I'll be keen to see what the new Festool ETS EC is like when it arrives here.

It literally looks like a direct competitor for the Ceros.

Originally Posted by Kuffy

I picked it up this morning

Did you get the transformer version or the stand alone one?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I have a 3rd party (Klingspor) pad for my ETS 150 and it looks very similar to a Mirka pad - i.e. I reckon it's made by Mirka for Klingspor. I think it's supposed to be a "one DE pattern fits all" arrangement and it is secured by an M8 bolt through the middle with an allen key. Maybe that's an option for you (contact Klingspor Aust 02 9737 0597 to find out who can get one for you - Paul Hoye is a very nice chap). The one I have is a Medium which is not as hard as the FT medium, but harder than the FT Soft.

The Mirka has a 5/16" thread, I've wasted money on 3 different pads all marked as hard but they're actually FT medium. Even Mirka's own hard pad has 2mm of soft foam on it (my brain explodes when I try to work out why)
One day I'll get around to making my own out of 12mm MDF, until then I'll keep using an ETS150 with a (real) hard pad for flatness-critical jobs

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

The Mirka has a 5/16" thread

Ah, now that you mention it i think this pad came with two bolts and one of them may well be a 5/16". I'll check tomorrow if i can remember (usually need an excuse to go to the shed).

i got the one with the transformer. the lead between the sander and transformer is about 3meters long (havent measured it), its long enough to stretch up through my skyhook and back down to the benchtop.

this is the exact one
http://www.bccoatings.com.au/compone...d=43&Itemid=83
Mirka Ceros 650CV Electrical Sander.

I didnt even ask, nor think to ask about the other newer model..