Favorite Random Orbit Sander

[check327]

If you are sanding material that generates dust that is an irritant or is toxic I recommend the Festool system. The dust collection and sanders work well together and the ETS 5" is very light and vibration free. The Rotax 6" is a beast and will take down material very quickly and still leave a fine finish. The DTS finish sander can save you hours of hand sanding. These tools are obscenely expensive though; cheap bastard that I am, when it comes to tools I follow the old adage "buy once, cry once". Hope you find a reasonable solution.

[jamhass]

No experience with the current line of Porter Cable tools, but my (way) older PC 6-inch RO right-angle variable speed sander is great. Sanded bottom paint and barrier coat at a marina that insisted I rent their Festool system due to dust concerns, but when I showed them how mine did they let me use my stuff. It's still my go-to tool for near everything from rough fiberglass to fine woodwork (sanding-wise that is).

[shimari]

+1 on the festool 5" and dust recovery system. Although, I think my wife almost filed for divorce after I told her the price.

[dkenny64]

I used the bosch 6" 6 hole for years..until to stopped working correctly. I think it can be fixed.. but in the mean time I've been using the rigid 6". works well..tends to leave starting scratch marks when going up in grits. dust collection is better than the bosch since a 2in or 1.25 in hole connects directly to the unit. the Bosch needed an adapter that didn't always stay on..but the Bosch is circa 1995...or earlier..


-dkenny64

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by shimari

I think my wife almost filed for divorce after I told her the price.

That's a good one, I mean your wife, 'cause "almost" doesn't count except in horseshoes.
A successful businessman I once worked for gave me some sage advice; he said, (paraphrasing,) "Don't buy the cheapest product nor the most expensive one. The cheapest one will leave you unsatisfied with its performance and the most expensive one will cost more than it should. The best value per dollar will be the one in the middle."
The lumber yard I deal with is a Festool dealer, I do like them, but in some ways it's like buying a Snap-On socket wrench to change a spark plug in a lawn mower, (says the guy with lots of Snap-On tools).

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by jamhass

No experience with the current line of Porter Cable tools, but my (way) older PC 6-inch RO right-angle variable speed sander is great. Sanded bottom paint and barrier coat at a marina that insisted I rent their Festool system due to dust concerns, but when I showed them how mine did they let me use my stuff. It's still my go-to tool for near everything from rough fiberglass to fine woodwork (sanding-wise that is).

Porter cable variable speed random orbital sander was a great pick and still working today.
6" pad.
Boatyarddog

[Benz]

Originally Posted by shimari

+1 on the festool 5" and dust recovery system. Although, I think my wife almost filed for divorce after I told her the price.

I simply bought mine FOR my wife when we had a big sanding project indoors. She regards it as HER sander, but lets me use it, if I'm careful.

[psk125]

Have a DeWalt 1/4 sheet sander that has started to die after being used for 20+ years for boat varnish and home projects including floors. Based on reputation for sturdy tools got a Milwaukee for latest boat project. Dust box retaining clip broke in less than an hour. Can't be taped on (no surface area for tape to adhere to or wrap around) and vacuum force blows the dust collector off unless it's held in place by hand. With the other hand holding the sander. Not helpful. Milwaukee is about to get a call...

[RiverRat37]

You might consider the Bosch GET65-5 corded dual action (turbo and regular actions) random orbital handheld sander. The turbo mode is esp. aggressive and the regular orbital action is excellent. The downside is the weight -- it's not light. It has a speed dial adjustment and a side handle that can be mounted on either side or left off altogether. Dut collection (with a vac) is first-class. It takes 8-hole discs. It's the best orbital sander I've ever owned. Festool is not how I want to spend my hard-earned $$$ regardless of how 'great' they are.

[Bill O]

Porter Cable variable speed. We had an older one and have used it for years.

Needed a sander w/vac. attachment to do a bottom job and purchased a Dewalt. What a joke in comparison to the PC sander.
After that we purchased a vac. attachment kit for the old PC sander.

Anybody want to purchase a Dewalt sander for cheap?

[bullislandken]

I plane, scrape, and sand a lot. I have used porter cable, dewalt, Makita, 5 inch and festool 6 inch. The festool would get uncomfortably warm under heavy use. Makita runs all day nice and cool. Dust collection is ok but with a vacuum it is better than 100 percent. Cleans the dust and sawdust so after sanding it is cleaner than when I started. Traded the Festool away.

Usually I buy Makita sandpaper since it holds up well and Velcro lasts a good while. I do frequently replace hook and loop pads. If I had a nickel for every hour I have put on my Makitas, well, I would have retired earlier! I usually buy Makita since they work and have held up well. I think there are three on the shelf now and one laying around for parts.

[rslifkin]

As a note on dust collection, I always have a vacuum hooked to the sander and I also typically use the mesh sanding disks rather than the paper ones as they seem to do a better job of getting the dust into the vacuum holes (although the Makita sander does also pull some air in around the outside to catch stray dust).

[c.K.]

Originally Posted by thinwater

I'm sick of the one I have (Dewalt. Durable as hell, but not random, slow, and poor dust collection.)


What is fast and not Fein-expensive? Bosch seems to make some nice ones.


Corded preferred.

MAKITA

[bil56]

Mirka !

[Orion Jim]

Festool is simply the best I have ever used. I have the Festool CT Midi HEPA dust extractor and a Festool ETS EC 125/3 brushless sander. The Festool Granat Net sanding discs are superb. I sand my bottom every fall so I never build up layers of bottom paint again and to keep the bottom fair. I know this equipment is an extravagance but so is boat ownership, and both are one of life’s little pleasures.