Metabo SXE 450 Turbotec- How?

[scrimper]

After reading the reviews here I have just taken delivery from Axminster of a new Metabo 450 Turbotec RA sander, I feel that it is a good quality well made sander but I am a little confused with the Duo oscillating setting, I have followed the instruction book but the red push in button does not seem very positive to me, the button does not seem to actually lock in and pops out again, is it supposed to stay pushed in, how does one tell which oscillating circuit is selected?

Any advice from owners of the tool would be much appreciated.

 

[gidon]

Not sure if this is a different model but I have the Metabo RAS - you push the red button in then rotate the wheel a/c until it clicks, then turn until it clicks again to change orbit IIRC.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Slim]

Yes you're right Gidon. Push in the button and rotate the sanding pad to change orbits.

 

[Nigel]

As has been said the way to change the orbit is to push and hold the button while turning the disc till you feel a click,

be aware it is difficult to tell which orbit is selected at first but you get used to viewing the pad against the body as it slows down and seeing the arch it is making

Cheers Nigel

 

[kmhphoto]

Use a pencil to put a "dot" in the centre of the abrasive, switch on and you'll see what size orbit you've selected.

 

[gidon]

Or briefly hold you thumb on the disc and start it up - you'll see the size of the orbit from the dust holes.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Gary M]

As everyone has stated,
Turn the sander face up and push in the red button rotate the pad until it "clicks" then continue rotating until it "clicks" again release the red button.
On mine the second "click" isnt as noticible as the first, so i rotate it slowly so i can "feel" it.
I find it easy enough to tell which orbit is selected just by rotating the pad with one finger in the same spot and pushing it around. You can see the size of the orbit against the body of the sander easily.
HTH,
Gary.

 

[wizer]

I have this sander and never understood how to change between modes. Which ever mode I'm in, it seems to have a mind of it's own and want to pull itself and me across the work piece. I tend not to use it. :roll:

 

[OPJ]

I've never really figured it out either, but I find it helps me if I listen to it running free, away from the workpiece.

WiZeR, are you keeping BOTH hands on the tool??

I'm not certain of the "correct" method to using a random orbit sander, other than the work in the same direction as the grain, but I don't seem to have that same feeling of no control.

 

[scrimper]

Thanks for all the advice and comments, I have been getting top grips with it and it does seem to work but it seems quite an odd way to do it IMHO, it does not seem very positive and after the 'two clicks' there is no indication as to which mode one is in, I wonder why they didn't make it so that the button latched in on one of the settings thereby giving a positive indication as the mode setting.

 

[cyberdog]

Changing orbit: turn machine upside down, hold in the red button and turn the backing pad Anti-clockwise until you hear a click, release button. you have now changed orbit size. you can but the machine on the slowest speed and see the size of orbit when looking at the pad.