Orbital sander

[Dan Adamson]

Hi all, I’m looking at purchasing a new orbital sander to replace my cheap Aldi middle isle sander and il looking for some recommendations please, here’s my thought process on the subject so far.

Recently I’ve became a bit of a Bosch Professional (BP) fanboy and I like the look of the BP GEX-34-150 but I think the price is high for what it is and it may be a bit big & heavy for most of what I’d be using it for. So then I recently bought one of the BP 12v multi head drill/drivers and I was really impressed with the quality and power so that lead me to look at the BP GEX 12V-125 as it uses the same battery system but I’m a little concerned about the run time and lack of power it may have. Then there’s also the fact of I’m probably 99% of the time going to have it tethered to the extraction unit so not really sure I would see the benefit of having a cordless sander.

I have Milwaukee drill and impact drivers so also looked at the Milwaukee M18-BOS125 with having that battery system also, but the above put me off of having it tethered to the extraction unit.

Oh I also have a couple of Ryobi tools so their orbital sander is a possibility also?

I’m stuck at the moment don’t know what to do so any advice would be helpful.

Thanks Dan

 

[Spectric]

With these tools where you want consistant power and are connecting an extraction hose then little point in cordless. I have a 110 volt Bosch GEX 125-150 which is great for what I want it for and it has never missed a beat, also not too much vibration unlike some.

 

[Dan Adamson]

Hi all, update:

I’ve stumbled across Rutlands website this evening and their orbital sander…

https://www.rutlands.com/products/brushless-random-orbital-sander

From the advertisement it certainly looks a lot of sander for the money, does anyone have experience of this brand?

Thanks Dan

 

[alex robinson]

You may get some strong reactions to rutlands stuff here. I have never tried any of their power tools and the hand tools I have got from them have been fine.

If you don't care about cordless, have you considered the metabo sxe450? I bought it as an upgrade from a cheap Screwfix own brand one and it is in a different league. Really solid and I love the 2 different orbit sizes.

A coarse grit the 6mm orbit and the boost switch on and it rips through stuff. Fine grade and 2.8mm orbit it is surprisingly delicate.

A lot cheaper than the Bosch so you could put the difference into getting abranet pads. Extortionate, but once you have tried them, everything else feels rubbish!

 

[TRITON]

Makita 9046 1/2 sheet with a 5mm orbit.

I don't know what it is about Makita when it comes to sanders, but they seem to make the best.
Both big belt sanders, the 9403 and 9404 you can run all day, and the small yet really handy and versatile 9911 is just as capable.
I've used the bigger ones sanding oak pretty for hours at a time till the machine is roasting hot, and have the 9911 here at home as its light and easy to handle.
I've also (at home) got the big Bosch blue 4", but tbh it's got a tendency to rock and can dig in it you're not careful.
Another thing is the Makita seem to have sorted out extraction much more than other manufacturers.

 

[Mickjay]

+1 for the metabo and abranet disks, but get yourself a backing pad too.

 

[johnnyb]

I use the mirka sander. The one with the big transformer. Styled like an air sander. Can't fault it tbh. It's light and nimble. Leaves a great finish.
On site I've got an old bosch 3 inch sander that's made in scintilla Switzerland very like the festool. Its an excellent buy.

 

[johnnyb]

Pbs 75 but the old one(like the gbs 75)

 

[Sideways]

Forget battery powered sanders.

If you are going to sand flat horizontal surfaces, weight isn't an issue.

Mirkas ceros / deros are lovely machines but a big step up from a supermarket middle aisle model and you are paying a premium for light weight and ergonomics that suit car body prep, etc.

Bosch blue and Makita have some nice models at more affordable prices.
The Metabo sxe450 is a classic, cheap and well built but it's vibration is high.

Best advice: read the specs of the machines you are interested in carefully. Low vibration and low noise are things you want so read the specs and compare those aspects of your shortlisted machines.

I assume you understand large orbit diameter for fast stock removal, small orbit for finer finish so you won't be comparing a 3mm and 6mm orbit machine. Decide which you need and compare apples with apples.

Mesh abrasives are a revelation (abranet / 3m cubitron).

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mesh abrasives are a revelation (abranet / 3m cubitron).

Yes. A chap who runs one of the local builders' merchants made the point one day - it always amazes him that people spend a small fortune on power tools, then use the cheapest blades, bits, papers they can get their hands then moan about the performance of the tool.

 

[Essex Barn Workshop]

I recently upgraded to a Bosch GEX 34-150 and am impressed. It is easier and more comfortable to use than I was expecting, and feels solid in the hand. I haven't used dozens of others, but am more than happy with it for what I paid.
I have liked and second Phil's comments above, why have a decent tool and cheap accessories like the paper.

 

[johnnyb]

You'll find getting a nice finish is a money pit. Everything plays a part abrasive/machine/extraction/ filler/ finish. Much is derived from the car finish industry. Mostly I try fir an OK (acceptable)finish as fast as possible. Every panel item cornered prior to my festool delta was sanded using a Cork block. It left a good finish but took longer. Same with mouldings there hand sanded very slow and dusty.

 

[Chris152]

We went for one of these three or four years ago, it's never missed a beat and really capable, I think.

https://www.metabo.com/uk/en/tools/...sxe-3150-600444000-random-orbital-sander.html

Since, we've bought all Metabo kit, mostly cordless tho. Had a problem with the angle grinder, sent it back (extended warranty) and they returned it fixed in little time.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I bought a base level 1/4 sheet Metabo - it put me off ever buying Metabo again.

 

[stuart little]

Hi all, update:

I’ve stumbled across Rutlands website this evening and their orbital sander…

https://www.rutlands.com/products/brushless-random-orbital-sander

From the advertisement it certainly looks a lot of sander for the money, does anyone have experience of this brand?

Thanks Dan

Looks like an air sander converted to electric!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

They all look much like that with extraction hoses fitted.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a 125mm DeWAlt. Not the best by a mile but it does everything I want at a price I was happy to pay.

 

[stuart little]

Makita 9046 1/2 sheet with a 5mm orbit.

I don't know what it is about Makita when it comes to sanders, but they seem to make the best.
Both big belt sanders, the 9403 and 9404 you can run all day, and the small yet really handy and versatile 9911 is just as capable.
I've used the bigger ones sanding oak pretty for hours at a time till the machine is roasting hot, and have the 9911 here at home as its light and easy to handle.
I've also (at home) got the big Bosch blue 4", but tbh it's got a tendency to rock and can dig in it you're not careful.
Another thing is the Makita seem to have sorted out extraction much more than other manufacturers.

I've got both Makita 125 & 150 DA sanders, can't fault them. Both have low vibes, which suits my CTS problem. I had a Metabo 150, but too much vibration, so it went. I had a DW 18v 120, but found it inadequate for anything more than to just grab for a quick sand-off of rough saw cut edges.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a 30 y. o. Makita 1/2 sheet I no longer use - the DeWalt RO is faster. The most irritating thing is that the bag connects to a "L" shaped slot - it should have been "j" shaped. If you were sanding e.g. a door lining and your wrist touched the bag it would shoot across the room, becoming a flour bomb. It spoiled a good tool. I contacted Makita customer services with the observation but after three letters they didn't see fit to reply. I've not bought Makita since.

 

[Lons]

+1 for the metabo and abranet disks, but get yourself a backing pad too.

Make that +2

I've had mine for years and at times had very heavy use. Bought a couple of pad savers right at the start, they're cheap enough and a stack of Abranet though I use normal abrasive disks as well.

I originally bought it when I was fitting a lot of kitchens with solid surface worktops (Mistral, Corian etc) and could get a great finish with down to 600g Abranet but these days it gets used for all sorts.