Dual Action Sanders

[Slim]

Hi all,

I'm after a new sander to replace my knackered ROS. I am intrigued by the dual action sanders such as the Bosch GEX150, Festool Rotex 125/150 and Makita BO6040.

I have been agonising over this for a while now. I have found plenty reviews on the Festools, but not much on the Bosch or Makita. Has anyone used these models? If so what is your opinion. Also are there any other models I should consider?

Is the Festool really worth the considerable difference in price? and is a 150mm disk that much better than a 125mm?

A lot of questions, sorry.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tim]

I'm surprised that the Metabo Duo hasn't made your list. Highly recommended.

Having looked it up at Axminster, I can see why it might be missing - its not under dual action sanders!! When Oh when will they sort out their bloody search engine ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Metabo-SXE-450-Duo-Sander-Pro-Pack-559054.htm

Its a pretty good deal considering you get the polishing bonnets and a systainer to boot.

There is a new Metabo duo as well but i don't know whether its a big improvement or not http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Metabo-SXE-450-Turbo-Tec-Duo-Sander-719957.htm

Cheers

Tim

 

[Jake]

The Metabo is different though, it just alters the amount of eccentricity in its random orbit. The Festool (and I assume the others are copies of it) is either a rotary sander/polisher or a random orbital sander depending on the setting.

 

[Slim]

Tim, thanks for pointing out the Metabo. I have read the few comments that came up on a search of this forum, and it certainly seems good.

Anyone have any comments on the Bosch, Festool and Makita?

 

[OPJ]

Another vote for the Metabo from me. I have the older version, but I think the newer one comes with a better extractor bag? I find the current one to be very efficient on almost everything, but it could be better on MDF.

I've also used one by Mafell, which was pretty much identical!

I wonder how much difference there is in the Bosch and Makita?

 

[Jake]

The Festool is excellent if you are looking for versatility - I can't speak for the Bosch or Makita. On the rotary setting it is a beast, not that far off a belt sander in terms of aggressiveness. In ROS mode, it is both more gentle, and leaves a better finish, faster, than my Bosch GEX (non dual mode) ROS. The 9 hole pattern is fantastic at dust removal. I can't fault it.

On the other hand, there are rumours that Festool has had a spate of gearbox problems with the new style RO150, so I'd look for assurances that that is now sorted (or was unfounded) before forking out that much money.

I bought mine ex-demo for a couple of hundred quid and have no regrets at all - I never pick up the Bosch anymore and should put it on ebay. The new price is enough to make anyone pause for thought, though.

I've got a semi-permanent job on the go diy-renovating my house, so the rotary mode is more useful (for removing old finishes and the like) than it would be if I was just using it to finish cabinetwork, where the dual mode ROS might well be more useful.

 

[Slim]

Thanks Jake, Although I'm sure the Festool is a fantastic piece of kit, I think I will rule it out. Mainly because of the higher cost, but as you say, for cabinet work, maybe a dual mode ROS would be better.

So, on this forum's recommendation, I think I will go for the Metabo, but probably the new one. D&M tools sell the Propack (Systainer, polishing mop and sponge, 50 sanding disks) for £200. A considerable saving over the Festool. The polishing kit will also be useful when it comes to laquering my guitar project.

Thanks all.

 

[Green]

I have the bosch at work, the square dust extraction point on the rear is totally stupid. wouldn't recommend.

 

[mailee]

Another vote here for the Metabo. Recommended by forum members and it is spot on. :wink:

 

[andy king]

DeWalt have an identical model to the Metabo SXE450 Duo, although the DW is more expensive. (Made for them by Metabo iirc, so their own profit margin needed to cover some costs I would imagine, hence the increase in cost, and also no doubt, a proviso from Metabo that it has to be more expensive as well!)
The SXE450 is a cracking random orbit sander as well, certainly one of the best on the market.
Anyway, Metabo now have a new improved version of the SXE450, with aTurbo button to increase the stock removal even more when needed.
I've got one on the way for testing... 8)

heres the link: (can't do the shortened link version )
http://www.metabo.co.uk/Disc-Sanders-SXE-425-450-TURBOTEC.23425.0.html

cheers,

Andy[/quote]

 

[Slim]

Thanks Green, Mailee and Andy.

I didn't realise the Bosch had a square extraction port. So I can discount that one as well.

Andy, The new improved Metabo was the one I was thinking of getting. This deal from D&M Tools to be more precise.

Now onto abrasives. What do you use and recommend? Has anyone tried the Hermes multi hole-discs?

 

[andy king]

Hi Slim,
The Bosch port is designed for their own dust box system, whih is surprisingly efficient, but when I looked at it, if you had the ktbox version it also had an adaptor to swap it over to a round one for standard extraction.
The Hermes discs are great! I've looked at them, and they certainly seem to do a great job, and have good wear characteristics. They don't seem to wear as quickly as standard discs.
Like buying bandsaw blades, getting a decent quality abrasive lifts the performace of the machine, so whether these, or another such as Mirka, with a standard hole configuration, the work and tool will benefit.
Mind you, I would imagine if you go for the D&M deal, which looks to be superb value, you won't need any discs for a while!
Apart from the quality, the Hermes discs are great if you have an obscure hole pattern that is difficult or expensive to find discs for.

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Metabo Duo and it is superb!! (and very quiet) Easily as good as the Festool (I have treied one a couple of times) and much cheaper.

 

[Slim]

Cheers Tony. Another vote then. I think it's settled, Metabo it is.

 

[tim]

The Hermes discs are great! I've looked at them, and they certainly seem to do a great job, and have good wear characteristics. They don't seem to wear as quickly as standard discs.
Andy

Interesting comment Andy - I find that they seem to wear much faster than say the bosch discs that Axminster used to stock. I certainly find that the edges collapse much more quickly if they touch anything when spinning. I wonder if its my technique?

Do you mount them straight on to the base of the sander or use a felt spacer (like with Abranet discs)?

Cheers

Tim

 

[Chris Knight]

I use Hermes on my Festool 150/3 ROS (not dual action) and the disks always look good if the edges don't hit stuff. However, looks can be deceiving, I find that the grit seems to blunt quite quickly. The Festool suction system just keeps the disks so clean that they always look near new whereas they aren't actually cutting nearly as well as a new disk. I have to force myself to change them more often than feels natural.

 

[andy king]

hi Tim,

I had a few samples sent to me for review and used them on flat veneered stock and standard timber, and while the edges showed wear and tear much the same as other abrasive (although the discs did seem a little thinner paper weight than normal ones) they didn't seem to get localised wear around the centre of the discs, or get build ups of resin dust. On standard discs I tend to find that the build up can occur where the hole pattern sometimes won't quite gather as much dust as you sand.
I only had a few to use, so I'll go back to them and see if they will send more for a long term evaluation.

Andy

 

[tim]

The one thing that I have found to make a difference is to reduce the suction rate on the vacuum cleaner (which is what festool recommned when sanding) since the suction can be so high that it makes too good a seal between sander and surface thus requiring the sander to work harder and discs to wear more quickly.

However, my comments before are based on taking that action with both types of abrasive. I concur with Chris that appearance is deceptive and that comparing a new disc with an apparently clean but used one on a machine will show that the grit is considerably worn.

Andy, I think a long term test would be valuable. I have a lot of sanding to do at the moment. If you'd care to conduct your test here then I will provide tea and biscuits :lol: :lol:

Cheers

Tim

 

[andy king]

If you'd care to conduct your test here then I will provide tea and biscuits :lol: :lol:

Hahaha!!! :lol: After an apprenticeship that involved more sanding than I thought physically possible, I try and stay well away from it unless absolutely neccessary - i'm practically allergic to it!
I'll take the tea and biscuits though! :lol:

cheers,

Andy

 

[Slim]

Interesting comment Andy - I find that they seem to wear much faster than say the bosch discs that Axminster used to stock

The Bosch discs from Axminster (which they still seem to sell) are what I have used up until now. Would you say that these are one of the better makes?