ROS recommendation

Re: ROS recommendation

Ron in Sterling, CT

Bill,

Happy Thanksgiving. I bought a new 5" Bosch ROS this summer based on recommendations on this forum, as well as reports in one of the woodworking mags. I am very pleased with it. It outperforms my old Porter Cable which I wore out. It handles well, is fairly quiet, and has good dust collection with the bag. Just a satisfied customer. M 2 cents.

Ron

Re: ROS recommendation

Virgil Johnson

I have a Festool that I really like.

Re: ROS recommendation

AZ in Colorado Springs

I have a DeWalt 5" that works great.

thanks

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

that was detailed information I can act on.

Re: thanks  *LINK*

Sgian Dubh

The best random orbital sanders I've come across are the Mirka Deros range. Coupled with their Abranet pads and a vacuum cleaner they're excellent … but not cheap. In my opinion having used both systems, coupled with a money no object attitude (or for professional heavy duty daily use), I prefer the Mirka kit over the Festool offerings. Slainte.


Mirks Deros sanders

Re: thanks

Barry Irby

I have used the PC 5" Ros' for years, worn out and rebuilt one several times. No Complaint.

Recently acquired a Festool 6" one with whatever they call their aggressive mode and regular ROS mode. The aggressive mode is amazing, more related to a belt sander than a ROS. It's a truly excellent tool but like all things Festool expensive to the point of being overpriced. I really like the 6" pad and sandpaper. Very worth considering, but for detailed work I readily switch back to the 5" PC. Dust collection on the Festool is excellent, even before I got the Festool dust extractor I hooked it up to a Rigid shop vac and it worked fine. The PC does well on dust pick up if connected to either the Rigid or the Dust Extractor.

Re: ROS recommendation

Bruce, a MN Galoot

I have the Makita BO541, too, that I like a lot. I tried a less powerful Bosch and it just didn’t have the power when I bear down.

The recent FWW did a test and the Festool came out on top, of course, but the best value was a Craftsman 320.39592. They didn’t even test the Makita.

I'm a big fan of Bosch ROS

Re: ROS recommendation

Jesse Cloud

OK, I won't mention the "F" brand, but if you can find a six inch sander you are doing yourself a favor.

The area of a circle (or a sheet of round sandpaper) is pi times the square of the radius so a 5 inch sander has 19.6 sq in of abrasive while the 6 incher has 28.4, about 50% more.

That means fewer passes and faster results - a good idea unless you really enjoy sanding.

Re: ROS recommendation

Alan Schaffter

If he has compressed air, no question, get a Dynabrade with dust port! Small form factor, minimal vibration, variable speed, relatively quiet- used in commercial furniture and autobody shops.

Re: ROS recommendation

John Jardin

The ROS FWW article that Bruce mentioned is in Tools & Shops, Winter 2019, #272, P 43-47

Re: ROS recommendation

Paul Leuba

I’ve used the Bosch 5” ROS for about 5 years and like it a lot. It has excellent dust collection with the 8 hole sanding pad. In particular I like that Bosch sells an extra soft pad for this sander that is very effective in sanding shaped surfaces, such as, the saddle of a Windsor Chair.

Paul in Hunt Valley, MD

thanks...got it

Re: thanks...got it

TomD

In the boatyards we all use the Porter Cable, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7346SP-6-Inch-Random-Polishing/dp/B002EQ96MG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543195240&sr=8-4&keywords=porter+cable+random+orbit+sander

It is also what I use when sanding a finish in the cabinet shop, as and when.

There are a lot of different ROSs: Ones that can get it done like the PC, and ones that are basically jitterbugs. Body work ones, and one for polishing finishes. The PC can do it all. A lot of them are palm sander format, and to me, they just don't have enough power.

I gather PC is now not what it used to be, but it still seems to be getting good reviews. This one will polish, but it will also take care of hardened epoxy.

One of the big decisions to make is what kind of sanding you are doing, and whether you need a hook and loop extractor model or want a adhesive backed paper version, preferably without extraction (this is mostly a mater of getting the right package as pads and hoses can be expensive when bought separately). The extraction actually works, and is great for non-toxics indoors, but if you want to do stuff like boats, for me that is outside, and yield will be a lot better with adhesive. Yield is normally better with adhesive if you do a lot in one grit. Velcro really only maters on small projects when you are switching. Generally people need to change paper a lot more than they do, and this is particularly true of ROSs as they only work a narrow band of the paper.

Pneumatic ROS is great if you have big air in the shop. My first was a pneumatic, but I never had quite enough air, and then they came out with the PC/electric.

For a lot of work a 7" polisher is a very much more efficient tool. Needs a good pad and paper.

Rotex versus "finishing" sander

David Yoho

Barry, you have the Festool Rotex sander. I do too. For many years I used my 5-inch PC ROS (right angle style) that did a good job but there was always dust everywhere afterward. One day I ordered my first Festool sander that was on special. It was their "finish" sander model 150/3. Loved the way it worked so much I ordered their Rotex model RO 150 E along with their dust extractor CT 22 E.

I bought the Rotex for when it was necessary to hog off wood quick, which ended up not being often. Found I ended up using it mostly for polishing a waxed finish along with a wool pad. The real workhorse has been the finish sander. Attached to the dust extractor, I no longer had fine dust all over my shop or lungs and that made a significant difference in my shop.

Pick up one of their finish sanders (whatever the model is now) coupled with 100 and 150 grit pads and I bet you use the Rotex less and less.

Re: Rotex versus "finishing" sander

Barry Irby

David, sorry to be slow to respond, lots of turmoil in my life right now.

The sander I have is one of the long 2 handed models (RO 150 FEQ?) and will switch from finishing to rotex. Are you saying some other sander will do a better job in the finishing mode? Uses 6 inch paper and I am impressed with it. Dust collection on it is better than any other sander I have ever had.

Re: Rotex versus "finishing" sander

David Yoho

Barry, both of my Festool sanders take 6 inch pads. Yes, the "finish" sander I referenced does a very nice job. I think better than the Rotex. From what I can tell on my Rotex the adjustment control looks like it basically switches between straight orbital to random orbit. The finish sander is smaller and much more comfortable to hold and use over a long sanding session.

Re: Rotex versus "finishing" sander

Jesse Cloud

I agree with David. The finishing sander is so well balanced you barely need to hold on to it, and never with two hands. Dust collection is at least as good as the Rotex.

It will not, however, hog out massive amounts of wood quickly as the Rotex can.

I have both, the finish sander gets 95% of my work.

Exactly which sander??

Re: Exactly which sander??

Jesse Cloud

I have an older version of the Festool ETS 150/3 and love it.

Re: Exactly which sander?? *LINK*

David Yoho

I'm guessing you're probably not wanting to pony up for a new one but you can find out all you need from Bob Marino. He can tell you which current model would be correct or maybe a lead on finding an older one. His contact information is on his website below.


Bob Marino Festool Website

You calling me cheap?

Barry Irby

Oh, wait, it's Festool, maybe frugal is a better word. No Cheap is about right.

Thanks.